El Camino College welcomes astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren to Onizuka Space Science Day 2017, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 11. The ECC Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee, El Camino College and American Honda Motor Co. Inc. sponsor the free hands-on conference for students in fifth through 12th grade.
The event will feature a presentation from astronaut Lindgren, who spent 141 days in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and logged 15 hours and four minutes of spacewalk time. Lindgren began training with NASA in 2009. While on ISS, he and his crewmates took part in more than 100 scientific experiments including research in human physiology, fluid and combustion physics, Earth and space science, and technology development. Research included the "veggie" lettuce experiment, involving the first time a U.S. crew has eaten a crop grown in orbit.
Lindgren earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a masters degree from Colorado State University. He earned his doctorate in medicine from the University of Colorado and is board-certified in emergency and aerospace medicine. Lindgren was awarded the 2016 NASA Distinguished Service Medal, 2016 NASA Space Flight Medal, and the 2013 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, among other honors.
At Onizuka Space Science Day, students can participate in hands-on science activities and experiments, egg drop and paper plane competitions, and classroom presentations and demonstrations led by El Camino College professors and guests from institutions such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.
This year marks the 31st anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy where seven crew members perished, including Ellison Onizuka. The annual Space Science Day event was created to honor Onizuka's memory and his dream of inspiring youth to strive for their career goals.
For more information, view: www.elcamino.edu/academics/naturalsciences/onizuka-space-science-day/.