Few events in the last decade of space exploration have captured the world’s imagination like NASA’s ongoing Mars Exploration Program. In 2004, the successful deployment of the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity launched a new era of scientific investigation of our nearest neighbor.
On Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m., the Cradle of Aviation Museum will host “Exploring Mars: The Next Generation” with NASA engineer Kobie Boykins. For Boykins, a mechanical engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Rover’s success was also a personal triumph: he helped design and build the solar arrays that enabled the Rovers to keep going long after their planned 90-day life.
Boykins is also intimately involved with the latest venture to Mars as supervisor of the mobility and remote sensing mast teams for the Mars Science Laboratory, better known as Curiosity. Curiosity landed on Mars and has made headlines with evidence that conditions on Mars, including the presence of water, once could have supported life. For work on this and other compelling projects, Boykins received a NASA Exceptional Service Medal, one of the highest honors given to NASA employees and contractors.
Boykins’ boundless enthusiasm for unraveling the mysteries of outer space, and Mars in particular, is infectious. Now on a mission to bring his passion for space exploration to students and teachers worldwide, Boykins will meet with over 400 students, educators and space enthusiasts from across Long Island at the Cradle of Aviation’s upcoming event, which promises to be an engaging exploration of the Red Planet with an update on the very latest chapter in the ongoing story of Mars exploration.
“Exploring Mars” is part of the Cradle’s multi-year program, “Countdown to Apollo at 50,” that celebrates the Apollo program and looks to the future of space exploration.
Admission to the event is $5 and free for members. For tickets, go to www.cradle of aviation.org.
The Cradle of Aviation Museum is located at Charles Lindbergh Blvd. in Garden City.
