Astronauts Land in Mesa
If you have ever lain under the stars wondering what it would be like to travel among them, this weekend is your chance to find out. No, you can't actually travel into space. You can, however, talk to and hear from people who have at Spacefest 2007.
I was particularly thrilled that Scott Carpenter, one of the original seven American astronauts, was attending. When I was about 15, "The Right Stuff" by Tom Wolfe appeared on a summer reading list. It was obviously the token "boy's book", added so the guys would read something over the summer, but, having read the other titles on the list, I figured I might as well give it a try. I loved it. Seriously. I couldn't put it down. More than 20 years later, I am still hauling the same paperback book around but now. along with my schoolgirl notes, the book bears the signatures of many of the individuals featured in the book.
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to have met 4 of the Mercury astronauts. Until yesterday, however, I had never had the opportunity to meet Scott Carpenter. Carpenter was always my favorite because he was not only an astronaut, he was also an aquanaut. He was also the pilot most interested in science, which, although I didn't know it at the time made a big impression on me. Thanks to him, and how Tom Wolfe portrayed him, I discovered science and experiments could be, well, fun. Exciting. Interesting. Fascinating. Important. All those words girls of that time were supposed to use about clothes and houses, not science and math. That he followed up one of the most scientifically productive space flights with a career that took him under the sea, even living for 28 days aboard Sealab, was just icing on the cake for a girl who dreamed of becoming an oceanographer. I didn't end up pursuing that dream, calculus at 8 a.m. was my undoing, but I hope by writing about science for kids continues his inspirational tradition in some small way.
Carpenter is not the only history making astronaut attending Spacefest. Among them are six moonwalkers, Edgar Mitchell, Charlie Duke, Alan Bean, Buzz Aldrin, Dave Scott, and the last man on the moon, Gene Cernan. For the aviation-minded, who recall that the first astronauts were pilots, or naval aviators, legendary test pilots Bob Smyth (Grumman), Ray McPherson (Boeing ) and Ken Chilstrom (USAF) are also attending. So is Richard Hatch, the actor otherwise known as Apollo in the first Battlestar Galatica series and as Tom Zarek in the current series (yes, he is that handsome in person). Fees for autographs vary. I have to admit, I was saddened to see how little attention some of these daring men were receiving from the crowd. That cliche about the most important figures of an age not being properly valued in their own time, springs to mind.
As amazing as these men are, they are not the only reason to attend. The public will have the opportunity to hear from such speakers as Rick Tumlinson of the Space Frontier Foundation who is a primary force for private citizens going into space; NASA's Dr. Phil Plait whose Bad Astronomy website is an outstanding resource for all this space-related; Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, who is also chairman of the B612 Foundation, an organization that plans to significantly alter the orbit of an asteroid in a controlled manner by 2015; and John Young, who has flown more NASA spacecraft than anyone else. Only two women, Dr. Carolyn Porco, imaging team leader for Cassini-Saturn, and adventurer Reda Anderson who is scheduled to go into space aboard Rocketplane XP, will be speaking.
In addition to the astronauts, test pilots, and speakers, Spacefest 2007 hosts the world's largest collection of space art. Hundreds of images from such artists are Rick Sternbach, Don Davis, Julie Jones, Paul Calle and many others, will be on display. Some images will be available for purchase, as well.
Spacefest 2007 can be found at the Mesa Convention Center, on the Southeast corner of University Drive and Center Street. Admission is $25/person/day. The astronaut room, Art Show and exhibitors area is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m today (Aug. 
and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m on Sunday, August 19. The speaker schedule varies, and some have a $10 entry fee. For more information visit www.novaspace.com/spacefest/overview.html.
Spacefest 2007 is sponsored by Novaspace and the Planetary Society.
