St. Louis Space Frontier Celebrates Recent Achievements, Successful International Space Development Conference

(SLSF graphic)

By Carmelo Turdo

Members of the St. Louis Space Frontier, a chapter of the National Space Society, gathered at the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum Sunday to celebrate their contributions to the successful 2017 International Space Development Conference and other recent local chapter achievements.  The chapter has received recognition from the National Space Society over the last few years, including the 2015 Chapter of the Year Award and 2016 Chapter Excellence Award for Outreach and Innovative Projects.  In 2017, St. Louis Space Frontier was the host chapter for the International Space Development Conference held at St. Louis Union Station in May.  

 

St. Louis Space Frontier President Christine Nobbe thanked the chapter members for their behind the scenes work during the conference, recognizing the efforts of individual members with tokens of appreciation.  Chapter members gave updates on projects they were leading and future events, especially concerning the upcoming solar eclipse on August 21.  The path of the rare total solar eclipse runs southeasterly through Missouri, and many communities in the state are offering viewing events throughout the day (see link above).  

The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, a co-sponsor of the conference, welcomed the St. Louis Space Frontier to their location at St. Louis Downtown Airport for this special chapter event.  Dinner was enjoyed under a large tent on the unusually cool evening, and the museum was open after hours for members to browse through the St. Louis aviation and space program exhibits.  Many members also checked out the interior of the Lockheed Jetstar, once owned by Howard Hughes, on display in front of the museum's 1929 Curtiss-Wright Hangar No. 2.

Congratulations to the St. Louis Space Frontier for all they have achieved in recent years.  Here are some views of Sunday's event.

Space Pioneers Meet for Monthly Luncheon in St. Louis Following Recognition at International Conference

By Carmelo Turdo

Members of MAC's Old Team, a group of retired McDonnell Douglas employees who designed and built America's Mercury and Gemini spacecraft, met for their monthly luncheon at The Corner Pub & Grill in Chesterfield today following their May 27th appearance at the International Space Development Conference.  At the conference, members of MAC's Old Team participated in the Saturday Panel Presentation with astronaut Thomas Stafford and they received the National Space Society 2017 Space Pioneer Award for Special Merit. 

The luncheon usually serves as a casual way for these aerospace pioneers to visit and share the latest personal news, and occasionally visitors attend to give some updates on local projects or events of interest.  Today's general topics of interest were the recent conference award, the construction at The Space Museum in Bonne Terre, MO and the upcoming solar eclipse.  Here are some views of today's luncheon.

Group organizer Norm Beckel reads to award to the group

Chuck Poplstein visited from The Boeing Company 

St. Louis Space Frontier members celebrated a successful conference

Dean Purdy gives an update on the Space Museum construction

Members of MAC's Old Team frequently participate in community outreach events at The Space Museum and other venues, and are reticent to seek recognition for their contributions to the early U.S. manned space program and the subsequent advancements in the aerospace field.  The Aero Experience is privileged to recognize these American space pioneers as a national treasure, and celebrate their recognition by the National Space Society.

International Space Development Conference Convenes at Birthplace of U.S. Manned Spacecraft

By Carmelo Turdo

The National Space Society (NSS) wrapped up its 36th annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) Monday in St. Louis, the birthplace of the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft that propelled the U.S. into manned space exploration.  The ISDC was hosted by the local NSS chapter, St. Louis Space Frontier, and held in the historic St. Louis Union Station hotel and convention center.  A full agenda of presentations attracted attendees and exhibitors from around the world, and St. Louis aerospace education organizations were there to support the weekend's activities.

Mayuko Ishii, Astrax Studio,

with The Rocket Prince book

The Aero Experience joined with other local co-sponsors, the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, Missouri Aviation Historical Society, The Space Museum Bonne Terre Missouri, and Mac's Old Team, among others, to support the conference and contribute to its success.  Exhibits were available daily during the conference days Friday-Sunday, and lunch sessions included keynote speakers NASA Space Shuttle Astronaut Dr. Linda Godwin, Gemini and Apollo Astronaut and retired USAF General Thomas Stafford and World View Enterprises CEO Jane Poynter.  Of special interest was the Saturday Panel Presentation and Luncheon with members of Mac's Old Team, a group of St. Louis-based McDonnell Aircraft engineers who helped design, build and launch the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft at the dawn of the U.S. manned space program.  More from Saturday's Mac's Old Team program will be featured in an upcoming story. 

Some of the exhibitors on Saturday included:

Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum President Mark Nankivil visits with Michael 

Mackowski from Phoenix, AZ 

Space Museum, Bonne Terre, Missouri President Earl Mullins with some

of the museum's displays

Martin Harris with Missouri Aviation Historical Society aviation and space

program display

Beautiful paintings from Janice Schoultz Mudd

Missouri University of Science and Technology Mars Rover Design

Tesla Model 90D S-Series All-Electric car

Saturday's Panel Presentation featured a two-hour session with Mac's Old Team and Astronaut Thomas Stafford.  During the luncheon that followed, Mac's Old Team and General Stafford received the NSS Space Pioneer Award.

ISDC Chair Christine Nobbe welcomes us to the morning session

Moderator Amy Shira Teitel checks on the panelists

The Panel Presentation gets underway

Bob Schepp

Earl Robb

Dean Purdy

Norm Beckel

Jerry Roberts

Astronaut Thomas Stafford

A brief time to visit after the session

Mac's Old Team with Thomas Stafford and Amy Shira Teitel

The luncheon featured the Keynote Speaker, Astronaut and Retired USAF General Thomas Stafford, and the presentation of the Space Pioneer Awards.  Accepting the awards from Mr. Philip Newell are Thomas Stafford and Norm Beckel representing Mac's Old Team.

The Aero Experience was honored to participate and record the day's activities with Mac's Old Team and General Stafford.  In the next story on the ISDC in St. Louis, we will include selected excerpts from the Panel Presentation that will take us back to the pioneering days of manned space flight!  We thank all who produced this conference and for the access needed to present this story.

Sponsorship Announcement: The Aero Experience to Co-Sponsor International Space Development Conference in St. Louis May 25-29

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience has become a co-sponsor of the International Space Development Conference to be held May 25-29 in St. Louis.  Over the next few months, we will be promoting the conference and bringing the highlights of the event to our audience as it progresses.  The Aero Experience team will also partner with the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, another co-sponsor, with an exhibit at the conference.  

We encourage you to attend the event, which features world-renowned speakers and cutting-edge breakout sessions that push the envelope of conventional space exploration.  Topics such as return to the moon, living in space, mars settlement and advanced propulsion systems will be explored.  

The Aero Experience commends the National Space Society and the St. Louis Space Frontier for their hard work in hosting this amazing event.  Click on the image below for more information and check back for future updates!