THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 16, 1994 TAG: 9407150086
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROY A. BAHLS, SPECIAL TO THE DAILY BREAK
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
NASA ASTRONAUT Kenneth S. Reightler, Jr. has witnessed our planet's grandeur from a vantage point shared by few. He had a front seat view while piloting the space shuttle Discovery on two missions.
Reightler, a Navy captain who graduated from Virginia Beach's Bayside High School in 1969, will help launch opening day of the Space Camp Exposition at Norfolk's Town Point Park today.
The displays, exhibits, models and artifacts reveal the wonder and excitement of the space program. It also encourages young people to explore and achieve in the math and science fields.
``There'll be a little something for everyone there,'' Reightler said during a recent telephone interview from NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. ``It's for everyone. It promotes interest in the space program and Space Camp and lets people know what is out there.''
For a successful space program, Reightler said, ``education is one of the most important building blocks.''
After graduating from Bayside in 1969, Reightler went on to receive a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Academy in 1973. He received master of science degrees, in 1984, in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and in systems management from the University of Southern California.
``This is a critical time for the space program,'' Reightler said. ``It is an interesting time. Exploration in space is one of the most important things that this generation will do.''
Reightler's most recent flight, the first joint U.S./Russian Space Shuttle Mission, lifted off on Feb. 3. Overall he has logged 211 orbits and over 327 hours in space.
``Traveling 5 miles a second, 17,500 miles per hour, the view from up there is unbelievable,'' he said.``Breathtaking is too mild a word for it. First you're looking down at the Himalayas and then you're over the Chesapeake Bay.''
Reightler is now working in the space station program. Although there have been problems in the design stages and getting money appropriated, he is excited about International Space Station Alfa.
``The first delivery flight is a Russian flight set for October of 1997,'' Reightler said.
He expects the station to be operational by the year 2002.
``We have started a new era of international cooperation in space,'' he said. ``The program is reaching out to many other countries. We have partnerships with Japan, Canada, Russia and others.'' MEMO: What's at Space Camp
SPACE WEEK begins today and continues through Friday. It also just so
happens that Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon
landing. Hey - we even have a space shuttle aloft now.
So check out the U.S. Space Camp Exposition from noon to 8 p.m. today
and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday at Town Point Park,
Norfolk. Under the large tent you'll find interactive displays,
exhibits, large models and space artifacts. Astronaut Kenneth S.
Reightler, Jr. (Captain, USN) will make an appearance from noon to 5
p.m. Saturday. It's free. Call 627-7809.
Here's what else you'll find: Large models of the Space Shuttle,
Sputnik, Hubble Space Telescope, Apollo Command Module, Lunar Lander and
Lunar Excursion Module (LEM).
Interactive exhibits include the Multi-Axis Trainer, designed to
simulate a spacecraft spinning out of control and used for training
during the Mercury program; the Five Degrees of Freedom Simulator, used
in the Gemini program as a space walk simulator; and the Space Station
Mobility Trainer, which simulates conditions for movement aboard a Space
Station.
Video footage from U.S. Space Camp and NASA space missions.
Demonstration of the Space Shuttle Tile heat resistance test to show
how the tiles protect space vehicles during re-entry into the earth's
atmosphere.
American and Russian spacesuits.
Food display with typical 7-day Mission Menu.
Related story also on page E7. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Astronaut Kenneth S. Reightler, Jr. is a 1969 graduate of Bayside
High.
by CNB