By Janene Scully
Noozhawk North County Editor

Vandenberg Space Force Base accounts for a $4.5 billion economic impact annually in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, but that value could grow in the coming decade to reach $6 billion based on forecasts.

On Friday, the same day Vandenberg was renamed to note its role in the U.S. Space Force, a study revealed the installation’s contribution to the regional and state economies — and forecast how future plans could benefit. 

“What we found is what many people in communities around the base already know — that Vandenberg provides substantial positive economic benefits well beyond its borders and that its anticipated future growth presents even greater economic opportunities to nearby counties and the state as a whole,” said Dr. Cyrus Ramezani, a finance professor at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and lead author of the study.

The study, commissioned by REACH, a regional economic development organization, and conducted by Cal Poly, also was funded in partnership with Santa Barbara County. 

The base is responsible for 16,000 direct and indirect jobs in the two counties, the study noted.

According to estimates, 1,968 new jobs per year could be added in key careers such as professional, scientific and technical services as well as construction and administrative services. 

However, longtime Santa Barbara County residents know that programs planned for Vandenberg often never materialize. Additionally, the axe can fall abruptly on programs — such as the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, the West Coast space shuttle and American Rocket Co. — before any liftoffs because of government cancellations or financial woes, especially among commercial firms.

“The analysis undertaken in this report showed that the economic impact of VAFB on the surrounding communities and the State of California will grow over the next decade by the anticipated increase in military activity on the base, the potential infrastructure improvements in the City of Lompoc, and the proposed private-sector commercial space activities envisioned in the Commercial Space Master Plan,” the report states.

The first phase of that plan, a multiagency effort, should be released in the coming weeks, REACH officials said. One proposal calls for building a business park outside Vandenberg’s security area to foster aerospace and technology firms as the base looks to become “the spaceport of the future.”

“Vandenberg is excited to be launching into a new era of cooperation with commercial partners to further national security strategic interests while contributing to the economic vitality of the region,” said Col. Anthony Mastalir, commander of the base’s renamed primary unit, Space Launch Delta 30.

The study also noted that retired military personnel and veterans, who remain on the Central Coast, boost the local economy through direct spending and contributing valuable skills as employees for local industries and as small-businesses owners.

Additionally, local communities benefit from a sizable number of government and business visitors to the base along with tourists attracted to the area for missile tests and rocket launches. Both employees and tourists fill hotel rooms, rent vehicles and eat at local restaurants, providing a boost to the economy.

The study identified several benefits of growing military and commercial space activity at the base beyond total economic impact and job creation.

Those include creating more long-term, higher-paying jobs, which have been growing more slowly than lower-paying jobs in the two counties and increasing employment opportunities while helping reduce income disparities in the county. 

More activity at Vandenberg also would mean additional avenues to retain and attract high-skilled talent, including graduates of UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly. 

“This study really illuminates the many and far-reaching ripple effects of having the nation’s premier West Coast launch site in our backyard,” said Andrew Hackleman, REACH chief operating officer.

Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com.

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Staff Report

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE — Seasonal restrictions for Surf, Wall and Minuteman beaches began Monday, March 1, as part of the annual program to protect the Western Snowy Plover and its nesting habitat.

Under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Biological Opinion requires the 30th Space Wing Commander to enforce restrictions on all three beaches annually, March 1 through Sept. 30, to protect the threatened Western Snowy Plover and its nesting habitat.

“During plover season, the general public can still access much of Surf Beach, but must be careful to avoid the designated restricted areas,” said Col. Anthony Mastalir, 30th Space Wing commander. “Our goal is to maximize beach access for the local community, while still adhering to environmental requirements and safety measures. If everyone does their part, I believe we can protect the snowy plover while we enjoy our beautiful coastline.”

The section of Surf Beach available for recreational access during the nesting season has not changed, but will remain open year-round.

“Violations will continue to be counted and staying out of posted restricted areas is critical to ensuring public beach access. Together we can protect Surf Beach for current and future generations in our local community,” said Samantha Kaisersatt, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron biological scientist. “A trail is available to walk between Surf Beach and Ocean Park behind the restricted nesting area for all to enjoy and plans are in place to construct a permanent boardwalk in the near future.”

Violation limits for Vandenberg’s beaches are imposed per the terms and conditions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Biological Opinion for Beach Management. Entry into posted restricted beach areas counts as a violation and violators can be fined up to $5,000 in federal court. Violators of the Endangered Species Act (e.g. crushing eggs or chicks) can face fines up to $50,000 in federal court and imprisonment for up to one year.

“We protect the snowy plover by restricting specific areas of the beaches, managing predators, and restoring plover habitat to compensate for the effects of recreational beach use during the breeding season,” said Kaisersatt. “Beach restrictions also include the prohibition of dogs, horses and kites.”

To ensure continued access, the community is asked to take care of the beaches and abide by the requirements to maintain recreational access for everyone. Visitors are also asked to read and follow the rules on the posted signage to avoid violations and beach closure.

Open hours at Surf Beach are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Beach access at Wall and Minuteman is allowed from sunrise to sunset.

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Santa Ynez Valley native and Texas Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Timothy Luke Manchester passed away January 20, 2021 in Kuwait. He was born December 30, 1986 in Lompoc, and grew up in Buellton.

Manchester, 34, died at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in a non-combat related incident that officials say remains under investigation. No details about his cause of death were released.

Manchester went to Jonata Elementary and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School where he played baseball and ran cross country.

Baseball was his true love and he dreamed of coaching one day, according to his family members.

“We as a Pirate family mourn the loss of alumnus Tim Manchester, who passed away while serving his country in Kuwait. All of our prayers go out to the Manchester family,” the Pirates Baseball page said.

Manchester enlisted in the Marines immediately after graduating high school in 2005, and served nearly a decade as a Middle East cryptologic linguist. Manchester attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA and became fluent in Arabic. He served on two deployments to Iraq, first in 2008 and again in 2009. He went on to serve in the US Embassy in Cairo, Egypt during the tumultuous revolution in 2011.

He joined the Texas Army National Guard in April 2018 in the rank of Staff Sergeant with the 636th Military Intelligence Battalion as a Cryptologic Linguist and transferred to the 36th Infantry Division HHBN where he deployed to Kuwait in October 2020 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield).

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Posthumous; two Joint Service Commendation Medals; five Army Commendation Medals; three Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy); two Army Good Conduct Medal; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Posthumous; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal w/M device, Posthumous; Army Service Ribbon; two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons
Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon; Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Overseas Service Bar (indicates the recipient has served six months overseas in a theater of war); Texas Outstanding Service Medal
and the Texas Federal Service Medal.

Manchester is survived by his parents Timothy and Cheryl Manchester, his siblings Jon Paul, Caleb, and Laura Manchester, and his nephews Quinn and Tristan Cook.

Due to the pandemic, there will be no funeral service. However he will receive a dignified transfer from Vandenberg Air Force Base to Santa Ynez Valley on Friday, January 29. Those wishing to pay respects may gather on the side of Highway 246 on the lawn of the Solvang Veteran’s Memorial Hall to honor Manchester as he is brought through town. The drive should happen between 2- 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Santa Ynez Pony Baseball league that Manchester grew up playing in and loved so much.

Military Times Staff Reporter Kyle Rempfer contributed to this story.

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Executive Director for Central Coast Film Society

The entertainment magazine Variety recently published an article talking about how Tom Cruise has a serious need for speed. NASA administrator Jim Bridentsine tweeted that “NASA is excited to work with @TomCruise on a film aboard the @Space_Station!” 

Plot details have not been revealed, although the website Deadline Hollywood reports that it will not be an installment of Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible” franchise. It is also reported that Cruise has been working with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and they were in the early stages of teaming up with NASA for an action-adventure feature film. NASA confirmed this would be the first feature film to be shot in outer space. 

Cruise is known for doing all his own stunts and it is expected that he will make the journey to the International Space Station for the film. No word on any other aspects of crew, equipment or other details that may hint to the production. Films have been made at the ISS in the past, but not a narrative feature film. However, Bridenstine sees this as a major plus hoping to “inspire a new generation.” 

The Central Coast has beautiful evening skies, which make our launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base all the more dramatic. But also, it’s a perfect place to spot the ISS orbiting overhead. So make sure to look up and watch the newest out-of-this-world filming location when cameras roll. Check out the schedule of flyovers at https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/index.cfm. 

What do you think about the news? Looking forward to real space movies?

Cruise’s next film is “Top Gun: Maverick,” in which he reprises his role as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a test pilot and flight instructor. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Paramount has moved “Top Gun: Maverick” off its July 12 release date to Dec. 23.

For more information on Central Coast Film Society visit www.centralcoastfilmsociety.org. 

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Vandenberg Air Force Base has been identified as the future location for a thriving spaceport which will be developing a masterplan looking at infrastructure and the future of the space industry from commercial to education advances with several local, state and federal partners. 

The memorandum of understanding was developed by leaders from the State of California, REACH, the 30^th Space Wing, Cal Poly State University and Deloitte who will be identifying the required infrastructure, human capital development, governance and financing necessary to support the United States Space Force mission.

“This is an exciting time in space for our country and just a year ago we set up Space Force command at Vandenberg and have been working diligently to craft a lean agile mission focusing to ensure our nation preservers in space,” said Colonel Anthony Mastalir, 30th Space Wing Commander at Vandenberg. 

The partnership objective is to create a vision for the future of Vandenberg that grows launch services activities from increasing capabilities and additional launch types; building an ecosystem that diversifies the space companies and associated value chains such as working with space data and service companies. 

The commercial space activities centered on the base could support a larger industry, and parties envision a robust cluster of space-related activities taking root in the region, with sustained presence of companies across the ecosystem from manufacturing and launch to maintenance and support and enabling human spaceflight for the first time in California. 

“The potential for the commercial space industry to provide significant jobs and economic impact to not only the Central Coast, but the entire state of California, makes it worth pursuing aggressively. Through diverse partnerships and collaboration, we will ensure the Central Coast of California is the launchpad for the next frontier of commercial space,” said Melissa James, CEO of REACH.

James added that the space industry is predicted to increase eight-fold, soaring from $350 billion to $2.7 trillion annually over the next three decades and generating high- paying job opportunities in engineering, software, advanced manufacturing and other STEM fields.

NASA’s reinvigorated space program and ambitious Mars plans could also prove a boon to Vandenberg, which launched its first planet-bound mission in 2018. Santa Ynez Valley resident Rich Fisher was a part of that mission as his company Pacific Design Technologies developed advanced cooling and pumping systems for space exploration. Its team of engineers, technicians and support staff worked on the past three Mars explorations of Curiosity Rover and Pathfinder projects. PDT has also help projects on the International Space Station, such as the AMS-02 Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer particle detector.

“California has been at the forefront of the aerospace industry for more than a century. This MOU cements that leadership and serves as a critical investment in California’s innovative economy as we work to safely recover from the COVID-19 induced recession,” said Chris Dombrowski, acting director of GO-Biz. 

The region boasts several attributes that make it an ideal location for commercial space operations, a sector that is likely to lead high-quality job growth over the coming decades. Vandenberg already maintains active launch capabilities and favorable geography, and Cal Poly said their part of the partnership focuses on producing world-class engineering and science talent. 

“With its strong tradition of Learn by Doing, Cal Poly is pleased to work with other institutions in the region to play an instrumental role not only in developing the workforce of the future but also in spurring innovation and teaming with industry to foster growth and reach new milestones. We’re excited to play a key role in supporting the possibilities this landmark agreement holds,” said Jeff Armstrong, Cal Poly President. 

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Vandenberg Air Force Base has a critical need for volunteer docents now through the end of September at Surf Beach and Ocean Park.

As a Docent, you will help ensure continued access to Surf Beach by the local community through informing beach visitors of the restrictions that are in place. Docents also help protect the Federally-listed threatened western snowy plover from disturbance during the nesting season and create awareness among beach visitors. Duties can be performed while socially distanced from others.

Duties include:

Welcoming visitors to the beach and informing them about beach restrictions, specifically location of closed areas

Roving the beach or standing at the entrance to make contact with beach visitors

Educating visitors about the natural history, plight, and protection of the western snowy plover

Communicating with conservation law-enforcement officers when necessary

Providing general information and assistance to visitors

Using interpretive materials to help communicate information

Docents need to have strong oral communication skills with a diversity of people, be non-confrontational, able to work independently; and be comfortable around people and dogs.
A one hour Western Snowy Plover Docent training will be provided along with t-shirt, hat, and other materials.
To sign up for training and start volunteering, please contact the Plover Docent Coordinator at 30CES.CEIEA.NaturalResources@us.af.mil.

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Pence and his wife, Karen, landed at the base shortly after 5 p.m. for a whirlwind visit that included offering appreciation to military members for their service.

“Rest assured, just as Vandenberg has been at the center of American leadership in space in years past, so too, I promise you, Vandenberg is going to be crucial to ensuring American dominance in space for decades to come,” Pence said as the crowd applauded. “This base is proof that in today’s space age, the public and private sectors can achieve far more together than they ever did apart. Really wonderful.

Vice President Mike Pence greets friends and family members shortly after arriving at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Wednesday.

“The American companies that you are working with here are on the cutting edge of the space industry — developing new rockets, spaceships, satellites and technologies that will take us higher, further and faster into space than ever before.”

The Trump administration wants to see the private space market grow “because, as he said, ‘Rich guys love rockets,'” Pence said, quoting President Trump.

“And we’re going to let them build them. And we’re going to let them fly them,” Pence said. “They’re going to fly right out of Vandenberg Air Force Base.”

Recently, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross visited the base to talk about steps toward combining the awareness capabilities of the military with his agency, according to Pence.

“We developed our nation’s first comprehensive space traffic management policy, and Vandenberg is going to play a critical role in this effort,” Pence said. “Frankly, you already are.”

That policy comes as satellite operators have expressed concern about the crowded space domain, especially as some commercial firms have proposed systems employing hundreds of spacecraft.

Pence noted that the base’s first polar-orbiting satellite launch, Discoverer 1, occurred in 1959, the year he was born. More recently, the base made history again when it launched two missile-defense interceptors in March, achieving success. 

“It was like a bullet hitting a bullet, and Vandenberg, you did it,” Pence said. “Well done.”

Upon arriving on the Central Coast, the Pences were greeted by Vandenberg’s leaders, including Maj. Gen. Stephen Whiting, 14th Force commander; Col. Michael Hough, 30th Space Wing commander; and Chief Master Sgt. Daryl Hogan Jr., command chief, along with their spouses.

Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence wave to the crowd after landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Wednesday. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo)

Nearby, dozens of family members waved small flags and held up smartphones to get pictures of the vice president and his wife.

After leaving the airfield, Pence received a quick briefing about Vandenberg’s role as the nation’s western spaceport. He also toured the Combined Space Operations Center and heard a quick update about the mission.

“Right effect, right place, right time — where superiority starts for Americans in space,” Pence said. The year-old center “is invaluable in our efforts to identify threats in and from space.”

During the tour, the vice president heard from crew members about traffic congestion in space and noted the Air Force’s role in ensuring that satellites remain safe. He also praised the military members from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom who work alongside Americans in the Combined Space Operations Center.

“Thank you all for your service,” he told the crew. “We appreciate our international partners.”

For his speech, Pence’s audience included several local dignitaries, including at least three mayors of northern Santa Barbara County cities along with World War IIveteran Steve Yuhas, who was surprised to receive a challenge coin from Pence.

During Pence’s speech, he singled out a couple of military members and praised them as representative of the larger force.

“All of you here are making it possible for the American space industry to succeed like never before and make it possible for our warfighters to have better information than ever before,” he said.

In her speech introducing her husband, Second Lady Karen Pence noted the key role that military spouses, children and families play in supporting military members. 

“I can say without a doubt that the strength of our nation does not just come from the people in uniform who fight to protect our freedom,” she said. “The spouses and the families who serve right alongside them also make tremendous sacrifices to the betterment of our nation.”

She added that she has worked to spread the word about their importance as the backbone of military families.

“I like to say they’re the homefront heroes,” said Karen Pence, a mother of three, including a U.S. Marine Corps officer.

The Pences spent the earlier part of the day in the San Joaquin Valley and ended in San Diego after leaving Vandenberg.

— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com.

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By Janene Scully, Noozhawk North County Editor

The highly anticipated Delta IV Heavy rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base will get another chance at liftoff Tuesday evening.

The United Launch Alliance rocket blastoff is planned for  5:57 p.m. from Space Launch Complex-6 on South Base.

The team tried twice last week, but technical glitches foiled both attempts Friday and Saturday nights, leading to a delay of more than a week.

The rocket will carry a National Reconnaissance Office spacecraft into orbit for a mission dubbed NROL-71. 

Due to the top-secret payload, the launch window was not released, but lasts less than an hour.

Equipped with three common booster cores strapped side by side, the Delta IV Heavy is designed to carry some of the county’s biggest national security payloads.

The rocket employs the launch pad initially built for the West Coast space shuttle program canceled before any liftoffs occurred.

Launch spectators may get an extra gift from this mission since the Delta IV Heavy’s departure near sunset could create a twilight phenomenon if conditions are suitable. 

A twilight phenomenon occurs following rocket or missile launches 60 minutes before sunrise or after sunset when exhaust particles from propellant left in the contrail of a launch vehicle condenses, freezes and then expands in the less dense upper atmosphere. 

The exhaust plume mixed with high sunlight can create a colorful contrail visible from miles away, and sometimes is mistaken for a failed launch. 

In some cases, the twilight effect is more dramatic for those several hundred miles away from Vandenberg. A Falcon 9 rocket launch last year generated the twilight phenomenon, leaving some Los Angeles area residents to think it was an unidentified flying object. 

For safety reasons, Jalama Beach County Park will be evacuated several hours ahead of the launch. 

However, several locations around the Lompoc Valley offer views of the launch, including the western end of Ocean Avenue, the peak of Harris Grade Road, near the intersection of Moonglow and Stardust roads and other sites.

— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com.

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Noozhawk North County Editor

Vandenberg Air Force Base has flipped the switch on a new solar array for harnessing the sun, ensuring the base can operate if traditional sources fail.

Approximately 64,000 solar panels sit on 188 acres along Timber Lane, once the site for the base’s East Housing Area, outside the main gate.

The 28-megawatt solar photovoltaic system is tied directly into Vandenberg’s power grid, providing what defense officials call “resilience.”

“That’s what this is about for us in the Air Force, is making sure we have resilient power to do our mission,” said Mark Correll, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for environment, safety and infrastructure. “And Vandenberg has been a leader in that all along.”

Through a mission-threat analysis, Vandenberg officials determined what it would take to complete its key chores in the event a natural disaster or something else interrupts traditional power supplies, he added.

“Power systems like this provide that kind of resilience,’ he said.

But it’s not just about resilience since cost also is a concern. The military also sought  renewable power since it’s unaffected by supply chain problems that can interrupt coal or natural gas power plants.

“You can’t shut down the sun. You can’t shut down the wind. So things like this are really important to us,” Correll said.

In case of a power outage, the system automatically will disconnect and reconnect, safety measures to avoid damage, he said.

The system, a joint effort between the 30th Space Wing, SunPower Corp., the Air Force Civil Engineer Center and Defense Logistics Agency Energy, marks the largest in the Air Force, officials noted.

“This solar farm represents a partnership and ability for us to explore renewable and clean energy for the base,” said Col. Greg Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander. “What you see around you is capable of providing one-third of all the power for this installation, which happens to be the third largest Air Force Base we have.”

During a ceremony April 10, officials participated in a ceremonial flipping of the switch, although the system actually became operational in early January.

“This is the largest solar array project in which all energy is produced and consumed by the Air Force,” said Frank Rechner, deputy director of supplier operations for the Defense Logistics Agency Energy.

The Vandenberg project is expected to lead to additional solar farms at other military installations, he said.

“In short, this is a growth industry for us at DLA Energy ,” he said. “We continue to be ready as a committed and excited partner in the effort to deliver resilient and affordable energy solutions to our military installations.”

SunPower served as the advisor, designer and installer of the Vandenberg project, according to David McIlhenny, vice president of project finance for the company. The system employs the firm’s most innovative technology, using facilities to maximize land use, he added.

“Solar’s magic. It’s amazing that this technology makes electricity from the sun,” McIlhenny said.

The base will purchase electricity under a 25-year agreement, providing Vandenberg with competitive, fixed electricity rates, officials said.

The Vandenberg site is one of two solar farms in Santa Barbara County.

A 40-megawatt solar project sits in the Cuyama Valley. Proposed by First Solar, Inc., the facility was acquired by D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, LLC last year.

First Solar touted the solar system as capable of providing enough electricity to serve 16,000 homes.

Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com.

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NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will make history from Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 5, with the first interplanetary launch on the West Coast. NASA and JPL will send an InSight lander to Mars to study the planet’s deep interior. Leading up to their historic launch, representatives from NASA and JPL, including NASA’s chief scientist, will participate in Allan Hancock College’s Mars Week from Monday, April 30, through Friday, May 4.  All events are free and open to the public.

“The college wants to provide students, staff and the community with an opportunity to learn more about this historic launch. What better way to do that than from the scientists who are making it happen,” said Richard Mahon, academic dean at the college. “Our committee organized out-of-this-world activities at our Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center. The week culminates with our annual Friday Night Science event that draws nearly 2,000 area children and their families for an evening where science and fun collide.”

The Associated Student Body Government (ASBG) will launch the festivities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, April 30, in the Commons on the Santa Maria campus. Students can build foil hats similar to those made in the movie Signs. Visitors can race Mars Rover remote control cars and write messages to Martians on an interactive white board.

Later that day from 3 – 7 p.m., the public can view two space-related movies during the Mars & the Silver Screen Film Festival. Hancock faculty will lead a group discussion and screen the movies War of the Worlds and Mars Attacks. War of the Worlds, a 1953 science-fiction and Academy Award-winning classic, shows the chaos that ensures when Martians attack a small California town. Mars Attacks is about the world’s reaction when a fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world’s major cities. The films will be screened in The Forum (bldg. C, Room 40) on the Santa Maria campus.

The film festival moves to the college’s Lompoc Valley Center on Tuesday, May 1, from 1- 5 p.m. Movies will be screened in bldg. 3, Room 114.

At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the college will dedicate two student murals in the courtyard of the Lompoc Valley Center, located between buildings 1, 2 and 3. Created by Ruben Espinoza, Looking to the Future and Unknown Endeavor pay tribute to the college, the Lompoc Valley, Vandenberg Air Force Base and space exploration. Commissioned by the student club SOAR, these will be the first murals displayed at the Lompoc Valley Center.

“I am honored and proud that my art will be a part of the college and add to the city of Lompoc’s rich mural history,” said Espinoza, a first-generation college student and U.S. Army veteran. “Outer space represents our greatest ambitions. I wanted to pay tribute to the roles the college and the U.S. Air Force play in the community, while still making the art relatable to other students studying different disciplines.”

Community members will get the chance of a lifetime to hear about the historic mission from NASA’s chief scientist. Dr. Jim Green headed NASA’s planetary science for 12 years until he was named chief scientist earlier this month. In his new job, Green will serve as the main adviser to the NASA chief and other top agency brass, as well as communicate NASA’s research goals and achievements to the broader scientific community. Green has managed successful missions to Mercury, Pluto, the moon and beyond. Green will provide a free presentation at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, inside the Marian Theatre.

After NASA officials visit with Hancock students and faculty on Wednesday, they will host an open lecture on Thursday, May 3, in bldg.M, Room 310 on the Santa Maria campus from 3:30 – 5 p.m. Students and the public can learn details about NASA’s historic mission and what scientists hope to discover. Seating is limited to the first 99 people.

Later in the week, NASA will set up interplanetary exhibits inside the Rabobank Student Center on the Santa Maria campus. Visitors will be able to experience space travel and realistic views of planets and the solar system through virtual reality and state-of-the-art computer simulations. Guest can also learn about the historic launch and see actual meteorites and rocks from the moon. NASA’s exhibit will be open from 12 – 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, and again from 1 – 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4.

Mars Week comes to an exciting close on Friday, May 4, when the college hosts Friday Night Science. The annual event includes spectacular scientific demonstrations and hands-on learning activities. The event is free and features fun for the entire family from 6 – 8:30 p.m. in and around bldg. M on the Santa Maria campus. The event offers dozens of exhibits, a walk-in planetarium, a design village created by Hancock architecture students and an explosive stage show featuring Hancock chemistry and physics faculty. AERA Energy, a proud sponsor of the college’s Bulldog Bound program, will also participate in Friday Night Science with an exhibit called Geology Rocks.

“This is one of the college’s biggest events of the year,” said Linda Metaxas, physics faculty and event organizer. “What better way to spark the interests of young children in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, better known as STEM, than with fun and engaging exhibits and demonstrations. To have NASA and JPL involved this year is an unbelievable opportunity for the college, our students and the entire community.”

Friday Night Science is made possible through a grant from Ted and Cheryl Maddux.

InSight is scheduled to launch under the pre-dawn skies from Vandenberg AFB on Saturday between 4:05 – 6:05 a.m.

All Mars Week events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/MarsWeek.

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