Inspiring the next generation: David Scott and Amjad Zaidi at the Spacefest V Banquet.
Image: Amjad P. Zaidi
would even know of Farsi and while
I may not be, the fact that this
astronaut from the 60s asked about
it astounded me. A well-travelled
and learned man.
By this time only the few
dedicated stragglers of Spacefest
remained.
Wandering
around
the exhibition hall I couldn’t help
but pick out a few giclee art
mementoes alongside some other
“swag”. Meeting Brian Cox again,
we talked about his next BBC show
which is starting to take shape. We
also discussed at length the state of
manned US space program, how
we can improve science outreach
to the public to make them more
aware of the wider world of science
and how much their lives depend
on space activities. Soon enough,
as I knew it would the moment
had arrived to bid farewell to a
very special group of friends as
we parted ways. It was clear that
for many of us this had been a life
changing experience.
A dash back for the final talk
was delivered by good friend
Nick Howes, UK’s own outreach
dynamo, comet hunter and Faulkes
Telescope Pro-AM manager. Nick
related how the effect of news
reporting over the discovery of
Comet C2007Q3 changed his life.
The incredible sighting and breakup of the comet while it was being
captured led to a media frenzy and
brought his work to the attention of
many, opening up the chance to
work with NASA, ESA, and the LARI
program with the famed Lowell
Observatory in Flagstaff. But the real
icing on the cake was his work on
Project Snoopy, the on-going hunt
for Apollo X’s Lunar Module Ascent
Stage, which was sent off into
orbit around the sun and is still out
there somewhere. Engaging again
with school students to look for this
speck among the stars is a huge
challenge but an exciting one.
Even Gene Cernan, LMP of Apollo
X is firmly on board with finding his
little ship again. Learn more about
The Search for Snoopy here! http://
www.faulkes-telescope.com/
news/2413.
The epiphany moment…
Personally, I had a strong feeling
this would happen since having to
give up my seat to Spacefest IV last
year. Everything since had been
building to these 3 days in Tucson.
Research, meticulous planning and
significant investment had gone
into not only getting me here but
to make this the most epic space
themed holiday ever.
It is sobering to know that we live
in an age where soon there will be
no more humans who can share
the experience of having walked
on another world. It is even more
saddening to know that there are
some who doubt this recent history,
and I personally make it my mission
to inform and educate others of this,
the most remarkable achiev