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ECC space day
Astronaut urges students to visit ECC, and space
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NASA astronaut and Navy Lieutenant William Oefelein shows off his favorite plane during a lecture Saturday morning at the opening of El Camino College’s annual Space Science Day. Photo by Dwight Ueda |
NASA Astronaut William Oefelein addressed local high school students Saturday at El Camino College during the school’s annual Space Science Day. Oefelein was selected by NASA in 1998 and is presently undergoing training for work on the shuttle and the International Space Station, as well as water and wilderness techniques.
Following Oeflelein’s lecture, students had the opportunity to visit with members of El Camino’s science faculty.
Dr. David Fitzpatrick discussed the winter and spring skies in the school planetarium. Professors Perry Hacking showed how his students make telescopes. Math Sciences Dean Irv Drew led students on an internet visit to the space shuttle and the space station. Officers from the Los Angles Air Force Base demonstrated space lasers. And Professor William Hood exhibited his astrophotography.
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Claude Onizuka, brother of NASA Astronaut Ellison Onizuka, the first Japanese American astronaut to travel into space, autographs a visiting high school student’s program. |
The annual Space Science Day is presented by El Camino and American Honda in memory of NASA Astronaut Ellison Onizuka. The Hawaiian-born Air Force Colonel became the first Japanese American to fly into space when named to the crew of the space shuttle Discovery for its Jan. 24, 1985 flight. He and six fellow astronauts lost their lives the following year aboard the ill-fated Challenger flight on Jan. 28, 1986. ER