Thursday, September 11, 2008
Steven Hawley thought about being an astronaut when he studied at the University of Kansas in the early 1970s.
However, all of the NASA astronauts were pilots at the time, and Hawley studied physics and astronomy. He found an opportunity to work with NASA when it launched space shuttle projects involving scientists, doctors and engineers.
“You really don’t know what opportunities may be out there in the future for you,” Hawley said. “You prepare yourself as best as you can for whatever opportunities come up.”
Steven Hawley, 1973 graduate and former astronaut will give a speech for the CLAS Acts lecture series Sunday. His speech will cover his experience maintaining the Hubble Telescope.
Hawley became an astronaut after these projects.
Now, as a professor of physics and astronomy, Hawley will give a presentation, “My Life with the Hubble Space Telescope,” this Sunday in Spooner Hall.
Hawley will talk about his space shuttle missions and the achievements of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble’s final mission is scheduled next month.
Hawley grew up in Salina and graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy in 1973. After he earned a doctorate in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of California, he started working for NASA in 1978.
Hawley said he hoped his presentation would inspire people, especially those from the younger generation.
breakbox
“My Life with the Hubble Space Telescope”
Who: Steven Hawley
When: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Spooner Hall
Cost: Free
“I don’t know that I ever seriously thought I could be involved in that,” Hawley said. “Just because they may be from a small town in Kansas, that doesn’t mean they can’t grow up to do cool things.”
He worked with NASA for 30 years and made five space flights to conduct research.
Hawley’s first mission was the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1984. Two of his missions involved launching the Hubble Space Telescope, which made important contributions to astronomy research.
Hawley returned to the University this fall to teach astronomy. He said he hoped to teach at the University for a long time.
Jackie Paschang, Stilwell senior, took Hawley’s astronomy class. She said the class was not a requirement for her major, but she was interested in working with NASA and took the class because of Hawley. She said his extensive background in the subject made the class interesting and made her curious.
“He wants us to get excited about what we learn,” Paschang said.
Hawley said he would bring space items to show in the presentation.
“I may leave that as a surprise,” Hawley said. “They will be able to come up and see something close up. I collected them from doing a couple missions with Hubble in the past 20 years.”
Hawley is the first speaker in a series of presentations sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which is called CLAS ACTS.
Joseph Steinmetz, dean of liberal arts and sciences, said the college started the series to provide educational outreach to the community and to encourage communication between faculty and community members. The lectures will cover eight different topics throughout the year.
Tickets are free and available at the dean of liberal arts and science’s office, 200 Strong Hall, and at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St.
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