The National Space Society invites you to the next Space Forum
Thursday, May 15, 2024, 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm EST
From Moonwalks to Spaceplanes:
The Story Behind the Space Shuttle Program
With special guest
Burt Dicht
Retired Aerospace Engineer
Space Historian and Speaker
NSS Managing Director of Membership
Forty-four years ago, on April 12, 1981, astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen launched from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center aboard Columbia—the first flight of NASA’s space shuttle program. With its reusable orbiter, the shuttle was intended to lower the cost of space access and transform spaceflight into a routine operation.
Over the next 30 years, the shuttle fleet flew 135 missions, spent more than 1,300 days in space, traveled nearly 530 million miles, and delivered over 3 million pounds of cargo to orbit. The program marked a new era in space exploration, enabling the launch and servicing of satellites, interplanetary probes, the construction of the International Space Station, and groundbreaking science.
But the shuttle also carried a complicated legacy. Despite its many achievements, the program fell short of its original vision and endured two tragic accidents that claimed the lives of 14 astronauts. Join us on for the next space forum as NSS Managing Director of Membership Burt Dicht takes us through the full arc of the shuttle program—from its beginnings as a post-Apollo project to the engineering, political, and economic challenges that shaped its design. The presentation will highlight both the triumphs and trade-offs behind one of the most ambitious space vehicles ever built. Don’t miss this look back at this groundbreaking U.S. space program. Register for the space forum today.
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Burton Dicht is the Managing Director of Membership for the National Space Society (NSS) and oversees the Society’s headquarters at the Kennedy Space Center. For the past five years, he has led the NSS Space Forum and Town Hall series, moderating conversations with leading voices in space and highlighting key milestones in aerospace history. This year he is also serving as a co-chair of the Space History session at the International Space Development Conference® (ISDC®).
Burt began his aerospace career in 1982 with engineering roles at Northrop Grumman and Rockwell’s Space Transportation Systems Division, contributing to major programs including the YF-23A, F-18E/F, and the space shuttle. His first space-related experience came as a 1980 participant in NASA’s Summer Employment Training Program at the Kennedy Space Center. Before joining NSS, he spent over a decade at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as Director of Student and Academic Education Programs.
Burt holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Temple University and an M.A. in history from California State University, Northridge. A Fellow of ASME, member of AIAA, and an IEEE-HKN honor society member, he played a key role in securing ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark status for the Apollo Command/Service Modules, the Lunar Module, and the Voyager spacecraft. A published writer and frequent speaker, he brings both technical insight and historical context to his work in space advocacy.
Register today to reserve your seat and ask your questions. Use the link below.
Register no later than May 15 at 8 pm EST
1 thought on “Space Forum May 15: The Space Shuttle Story”
So often we rely on others to tell the space story when we have accomplished many noteworthy achievements in our organization. Burt, thanks for sharing your story.