Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM

Monday, October 2, 2006 / 3:30 PM, Building 3 Auditorium

Thomas D. Jones

"Sky Walking"

ABSTRACT -- In his lecture, Thomas Jones will discuss his experiences as mission specialist and payload commander. Payloads on his missions included orbital radar, deployables such as the Wake Shield Facility, and a space station module. Dr. Jones will also discuss human space exploration and will raise the question of whether the Moon is the best stepping-stone mission on the way to Mars.

Copies of his book, Skywalking will be available for purchase and signing.

SPEAKER -- Thomas D. Jones, Ph.D. is a scientist, author, pilot, and former NASA astronaut. He holds a doctorate in planetary sciences, and flew on four space shuttle missions. On his last flight in 2001, Dr. Jones led three spacewalks to install the space station Destiny laboratory. He has spent fifty-three days in space.

Tom was a 1977 Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Academy. He later piloted B-52D strategic bombers, studied asteroids for NASA, engineered intelligence-gathering systems for the CIA, and, as a NASA contractor, developed advanced mission concepts to explore the solar system.

Tom writes frequently on space exploration and aviation history in magazines such as Air and Space Smithsonian and Aerospace America. His latest book is Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir, published in February 2006 by Smithsonian Books - Collins.

Dr. Jones’ awards include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He is active in the current debate over the direction of America’s space exploration program. Dr. Jones consults, writes, and speaks from the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. His website is www.astronauttomjones.com. (a non-NASA, non-government site).