Marshall Space Flight Center
Science Outreach 2024
Astrophysics
NASA Marshall Astrophysicists, Former Astronauts Discuss Chandra X-ray Observatory for its 25th Anniversary
Astrophysicists Dr. Steven Ehlert and Dr. Jessica Gaskin of NASA Marshall joined retired NASA astronauts and U.S. Air Force colonels Eileen Collins and Catherine (Cady) Coleman at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) on the evening of Aug. 23, 2024, for an event to discuss the launch, operations, and science of the Chandra X-ray Observatory to a sold-out audience. The event included a planetarium show describing the development, launch, and science of Chandra followed by a Q&A session with Ehlert, Gaskin, Collins, and Coleman. Questions were solicited from the USSRC’s Intuitive Planetarium and seven other planetariums around the country. Included in the audience were Marshall experts on X-ray astronomy, Chandra engineers and managers, Senior Vice President for Economic Development in Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Lucia Cape, and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. NASA Marshall Center Director Joseph Pelfrey opened the event highlighting Marshall’s significant role in the Chandra mission and while mentioning Marshall’s upcoming 65th birthday, the hope for continued involvement and success.
NASA Marshall Joins Huntsville, Alabama to Celebrate “Legacy of the Invisible”
A celebratory event coined “Legacy of the Invisible” was held in downtown Huntsville, Alabama, to reveal “No Straight Lines” a mural by the local artist Float. The mural honors Huntsville’s extraordinary legacy of astrophysics research and breakthrough discoveries made possible by scientists and engineers from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. This event, which coincided with Chandra’s 25th anniversary, featured talks by Marshall Chief Scientist Renee Weber and astrophysicist Colleen Wilson-Hodge. The installation also features brass plaques highlighting previous astrophysics missions including the Apollo Telescope Mount, the BATSE Instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor on NASA’s Fermi Space Telescope, the HEAD Program, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, and the Science Research and Projects Division’s X-ray and Cryogenic Facility.