You are Invited to a National Space Society Space Forum
Thursday, September 23, 2021, 9:00 to 10:15 PM EDT
Shuttle Mission Control Stories
With Guest Speaker Marianne Dyson
In Shuttle Mission Control Stories, Marianne Dyson explains the organization and responsibilities of the flight control teams during early Space Shuttle flights. One of the first women to serve as a Flight Activities Officer in Mission Control (and currently serving as Mission Control historian for the Manned Spaceflight Operations Organization), Dyson shares her own excitement of being part of developing space operations procedures as well as some of the high-risk situations faced during flights, including the loss of a fuel cell during the second Space Shuttle flight and a massive rescheduling effort caused by crew space sickness on the third flight. More first-person stories of flight controllers are highlighted in her new book, Shuttle Mission Control: Flight Controller Photos and Stories, 1981-1992.
A personal account of her journey from a stargazing girl in Ohio to becoming half of the first married couple in Mission Control is detailed in her memoir, A Passion for Space: Adventures of a Pioneering Female NASA Flight Controller. For more information about Dyson and her books, visit www.mariannedyson.com.
Be sure to join us for this insider’s view of the earliest days of the shuttle program and to hear how these dedicated flight controllers solved challenges from the mundane to the dangerous during those first flights.
Marianne Dyson helps educate the public and inspire the next generation of space pioneers by sharing her experience as one of NASA’s first female flight controllers. Dyson’s children’s books (including two coauthored with Buzz Aldrin), science articles, and stories have been recognized with top awards by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the American Institute of Physics, the Analog Magazine Readers Poll, and the National Science Teachers Association best STEM Book Award.
Dyson joined the L5 Society in 1977 when she was a Congressional intern and has served as a chapter president, NSS Board member, VP of Public Affairs, Chairman of the 1999 ISDC, managing editor of Ad Astra, and founder of the NSS Book Reviews section of the NSS website. She currently serves on the NSS Board of Advisors, occasionally writes for Ad Astra and Analog magazines, speaks to anyone who will listen about space, and looks forward to celebrating the first women to reach the Moon.
Register today to reserve your seat and to submit your questions. Register no later than September 23 at 8 pm EDT
