OLLI to Offer Unique Look Inside Outer Space

Photo Submitted

On Friday, March 15, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will offer the opportunity to step into the unknown, and listen to experienced geologist and planetary science enthusiast Travis Atwood.

Registration is required for the class, which will be from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Drake Field, 4500 S. School Ave., in Fayetteville.

We've seen the science headlines and maybe even read the scientific publications, but what would it truly be like to visit these places? What would it feel like? What could we do there that we couldn't do here? What amazing things have been discovered that we haven't heard about? From the seas of Titan to the glaciers of Mars, Atwood will take the data and turn it into wonder.

Atwood is a University of Arkansas and Louisiana State University geology alumni. Since graduating, he has worked as a science educator in Hawaii and as an adjunct professor at the University of Alaska. He has been part of the planning committee and a frequent speaker for an informal monthly lecture series call Nerdnite — which is much what it sounds like. His expertise is in paleontology, but he maintains a passion for planetary science.

In addition to his own expertise, Atwood will bring in two engineers. One has managed and controlled the deep water remotely-operated vehicles for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and also operated the NOAA's only dedicated research vessel. Atwood has also invited an aerospace engineer from the National Aeronautics Space Administration who is working on the Orion and Space Launch System.

The Space Launch System is an American Space Shuttle-derived super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle. It's part of NASA's deep space exploration plans, including a crewed mission to Mars. SLS follows the cancellation of the Constellation program, and is to replace the retired Space Shuttle.

The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is an American-European interplanetary spacecraft intended to carry a crew of four astronauts to destinations at or beyond low Earth orbit.