Monthly Presentation: One Giant Leap - Part 2: NASA's Mercury & Gemini Projects

Standley Lake Stargazing Presents: One Giant Leap - Part 2: NASA's Mercury & Gemini Projects

Join us for an informative talk by aerospace engineers Aric Vyhmeister and Ron Havermann.

Project Mercury and its successor Gemini laid the engineering framework for the eventual step to the moon. We'll take a closer look at some lesser known aspects of the design and the incredible stories of the astronauts, engineers, and scientists that made these programs possible.

Aric Vyhmeister is the director of Standley Lake Stargazing which is a science outreach group committed to spreading wonder. It is based in Arvada and it offers year round science programming and star parties for the public. Mr. Vyhmeister holds undergraduate degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering in addition to a Master's in Piano Performance, and has worked for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company on various programs including NASA's Orion and NOAA's GOES satellites. An avid amateur astronomer with 20 years of experience, he has been leading community stargazing events and science education programs in the Denver area since 2017 through Standley Lake Stargazing and also regularly partnering with the Jefferson County Public Library system, Standley Lake Regional Park, Majestic View Nature Center, Boulder Atheists, the Secular Hub, and the Broomfield Council on the Arts and Humanities. Visit www.standleylakestargazing.com for more ways to see the night sky!

Ron Havermann is a lifelong student of physics. He earned his keep for 28 years in the aerospace industry, proposing, designing and developing electro-optic space sensors for a variety of needs and customers, including NASA. He enjoys sharing his sense of scientific awe and delight with other curious and questioning fellow travelers on spaceship earth. He would also like to extend an invitation for friendly dialog with questing intelligences beyond this planet, if it is not too inconvenient for them.

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