A Talk on Man's Future in Space is Set for Foothill College

LOS ALTOS, CA -- A visiting astronomy professor is scheduled to give a talk on man's future in space at 7 pm Wednesday, Feb. 15 in the Smithwick Theater at Foothill College in Los Altos.

Dr. Chris Impey, a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona and Associate Dean of its College of Science, will give a free, illustrated, non-technical talk titled “Beyond: Our Future in Space” as part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series, now in its 17th year.

The talk will review the history and landmarks of the international space program, give a snapshot of the current situation, and plot the trajectory of the future of space travel.

Dr. Impey will also sign copies of his book “Beyond,” in the college's Appreciation Hall after his talk.

Decades after humans last set foot on the moon, and several years after the space shuttle was retired, space activity is finally leaving the doldrums, according to Impey.

A private sector led by SpaceX and Virgin Galactic plans to launch supplies cheaply into Earth orbit and give anyone the chance of a sub-orbital joy ride. New materials are being developed that could lead to space elevators and transform the economics of space travel. Fighting gravity will always be difficult, but engineers are rethinking rockets and propulsion technologies. Permanent bases on the moon and Mars are now within reach, Impey said.

As a professor, Impey has won 11 teaching awards, was selected as Arizona Professor of the Year, and has been heavily involved in curriculum and instructional technology development. He served as Vice President of the American Astronomical Society, an NSF Distinguished Teaching Scholar, and a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar.

He has written over 40 articles on cosmology and astrobiology, and two introductory textbooks. He's also the author of seven science books.

Foothill College is just off the El Monte Road exit from Freeway 280 in Los Altos. For directions and parking information, see: http://www.foothill.edu/news/t... For a campus map, see: http://www.foothill.edu/news/m...

The lecture is co-sponsored by the SETI Institute, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, NASA the Ames Research Center, and the Foothill College Astronomy Program.

The lecture is free, but there is a charge of $3 for parking on campus and exact change preferred, the school says.

Past lectures in the astronomy lecture series can be found at http://www.youtube.com/SVAstro...

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