Special Seminar for Students

Vice Admiral Richard Truly gave a special lecture to students on, Space Shuttle: From Drawing Board to Flight Test to Accident Recovery, on October 17. This lecture was open to all students. Admiral Truly was command pilot for the space shuttle, Director of NASA, and is currently Vice President of Georgia Institute of Technology and Director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Truly's astronaut career included work in the Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory program, and NASA's Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz and Space Shuttle programs. He piloted the 747/Enterprise approach and landing tests in 1987 and lifted off in November 1981 as pilot aboard Columbia, the first shuttle to be reflown into space, establishing a world circular orbit altitude record. He commanded the Challenger in August-September 1983, the first night launch/landing mission. In addition, he was called back to NASA in 1986 and led the accident investigation of the Challenger accident. He spearheaded the painstaking rebuilding of the Space Shuttle, including winning approval of President Reagan and the Congress for the building of Endeavor to replace the lost Challenger. Under his leadership, NASA matured the Space Shuttle, solidified Space Station plans, and initiated new space science and aeronautics programs. He initiated major acquisition reforms and significantly streamlined the agency. He continually placed a very strong emphasis on NASA's math and science educational programs. Admiral Truly is active in national and community affairs and was appointed to the Board of Visitors to the U.S. Naval Academy by President Clinton and to the Department of Defense Policy Board and the Army Science Board. During his visit at the University, he met with faculty members, the senior design class and attended a luncheon with faculty and students from the Department.

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