| Event Name: | The Space Shuttle: Thirty Years of Flight - Thirty Years of Lessons Learned |
| Description: | The Space Shuttle is the most complicated machine designed and built by human beings. An extraordinary team of thousands has tirelessly committed itself to safely flying this vehicle since 1981. Thirty years and 135 missions after STS-1, the final Shuttle mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on July 8, 2011. During the three decades of Space Shuttle Flight, NASA had countless great triumphs two significant tragedies - Challenger and Columbia. From both tragedy and success, the NASA team took lessons enabling Shuttle to fly safer after every mission.
Matt Melis provides a look into the inner workings of the Space Shuttle and a behind the scenes perspective on the impact analysis and testing done for the Columbia Accident Investigation and NASA’s Return to Flight programs. His presentation is full of rich, still and motion picture imagery, and, although technical, is easily understood by all audiences. In addition, highlights from recent Shuttle missions are presented demonstrating how NASA conducts it’s operations differently today as a consequence of the lessons learned from Challenger and Columbia. |
| Type of Event: | Astronomy - Space Events |
| Event Agenda: | Speaker: Matthew Melis, NASA Glenn Research Center
Matt received both a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Engineering Mechanics from Michigan State University and has worked at the NASA Glenn Research Center for twenty six years. His primary area of focus is in advanced finite element modeling and analysis methods including nonlinear and dynamic impact loading. Trained in engineering mechanics, he has been recognized for expertise in actively cooled structures, stress analysis, ballistic impact research, and multiphysics analysis during his tenure at the Research Center. He has worked on numerous aeronautics and space programs for the agency including the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle and NASA’s Exploration Program. In the four and one half years that followed the Columbia accident, Matt was assigned full time to working the Columbia Accident Investigation and the Shuttle Return to Flight Program as technical lead of the NASA Glenn Ballistic Impact team. Most recently Matt has worked on landing impact testing of various design concepts for the Orion crew module and is currently involved in a high-temperature materials development program for NASA’s Hypersonics Program.
In addition to his technical commitments, Matt also devotes significant effort to public outreach and teaching for NASA at all levels of education as well as professional groups. Since 2003, he has delivered dozens of invited lectures and keynote presentations at conferences pertaining to Ballistic Impact Research, The Columbia Accident Investigation, NASA’s Return to Flight and the Space Shuttle Program. Organizations he has spoken to include The National Transportation and Safety Board (USA), The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, Dartmouth College, The Canadian Royal Astronomical Society, Ontario Science Center, and Ivey Business School in Canada, The University of Reykjavik, Iceland, The American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Society for Mechanical Engineers, and the American Society for Metals.
Each member may also obtain a free ticket for one guest subject to availability of space. |
| Event Location: | British Interplanetary Society |
| Event City: | London |
| Type of Venue: | Laboratory |
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| Event Start Date | 27-Oct-11 |