Astronomy and Space Exploration
&
Lectures and
Photo Mosaics

Dr. Ken Kremer

NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador

The Planetary Society

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society

Universe Today Author

Email: kremerken@yahoo.com
Princeton, NJ

Dr. Ken Kremer is a research scientist  and freelance science journalist (Princeton, NJ) whose articles and space exploration images have appeared in magazines, books and on websites, including Astronomy Picture of the Day, ABC News, Aviation Week, Spaceflight Now, Spaceflight, New Scientist, The Planetary Society, Universe Today, Science News, International Year of Astronomy, 2010 Year in Space Calendar, NASA and the covers of Aviation Week & Space Technology, Spaceflight and the Explorers Club magazines.

Ken has presented at numerous educational institutions, civic & religious organizations, museums and astronomy clubs including the National Air & Space Museum, Princeton University, the Explorers Club, the Franklin Institute Science Museum and the NorthEast Astronomy Forum. Ken aims to educate and excite kids and adults about science and space exploration.

Ken has reported first hand from the Kennedy Space Center and lectures on both Human and Robotic spaceflight including the Space Shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope, Spirit & Opportunity Mars rovers, Mars Phoenix, Dawn Asteroid Orbiter, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter & LCROSS, Cassini, International Space Station, Atlas and Delta Rockets.

Please contact me by email for further information.

Upcoming Lectures Listing below - March 2010 Lectures now Posted Below

Dr. Ken Kremer stands in front of the space shuttle Discovery,sitting atop the crawler transporter, as it is being rolled out to Launch Pad 39 A at the Kennedy Space Center

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society meeting: Ken Kremer describes the 9 Jun 2008 Aviation Week magazine cover he created soon after the Phoenix spacecraft landed on 25 May and which shows the discovery of water ice blasted free by the retro rocket thrusters on the Phoenix lander at the martian north polar region. See the full Mars mosaic at the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) website on 12 June 2008: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080612.html

Mars Mosaics by Ken Kremer & Colleagues 

Opportunity at Victoria Crater: Marco Di Lorenzo and Ken Kremer NASA/JPL/Cornell / Aviation Week & Space Technology
Photo Cover for Spaceflight Magazine January 2008

Follow the Shuttle Rollout (STS 130 / I.S.S.)
with Dr. Ken Kremer (RAS Member-at-large)
Ken bundles up for a return to Florida to cover the rollout of STS 130.

What Would NASA Do with an added Shuttle Flight? (Universe Today 12/21/09)	New Year's Greetings from Team ISS and 2010 ISS Calendar (Universe Today 1/3/09)
Soyuz Blasts off with International Crew to Build out ISS (Universe Today  12/21/09)	Shuttle Endeavour Rolled to Pad; Countdown to the Final Five Begins (Universe Today 1/06/10)
Mars 2016 Methane Orbiter: Searching for Signs of Life (Universe Today 12/22/09)	STS-130 Shuttle Flight Facing Delay due to Payload Technical Glitch (Universe Today 1/9/09)

Follow the Shuttle Launch (STS 129)
with Dr. Ken Kremer (RAS Member-at-large)

STS 129 Astronauts Arrive at Cape Canaveral (Planetary Society  11/13)	Atlantis Roars to Space for Trek to ISS (Universe Today 11/17)
Clock Ticking on Shuttle Atlantis On Critical Re-Supply Mission (Universe Today - 11/15  Scroll down)	Kremer Reports for NDTV (Second television interview 11/17) v
Atlas Launch Halted by Orca; Shuttle Atlantis Next in Line (Universe Today 11/15 - Scroll down)	Atlantis Rockets to Orbit on Crucial ISS Resupply Flight (The Planetary Society 11/18)
Tweeters and Atlantis Ready to Launch (Universe Today 11/16)	Spectacular Shuttle Belly Flip As Atlantis Docks To ISS (Universe Today 11/19)
NASA ready for Atlantis Launch,  So is Twitter (Ken's first television interview 11/16)	Tranquility Module Formally Handed over to NASA from ESA (Universe Today 11/23)
As the shuttle enters its final year of operation, the countdown clock is ticking towards blast-off of Space Shuttle Atlantis and her six man crew at 2:28 PM EST on 16 November 2009 towards the International Space Station (ISS) I am reporting from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Press site to witness the STS 129 launch and provide on-site coverage for readers of Universe Today. The weather is gorgeous here at KSC with clear blue skies and moderate temperatures.	Atlas 5 rocket at sunset surrounded by 4 lightening masts at pad 41. Multiple tanks of compressed gaseous nitrogen at 4800 psi in foreground. A technical glitch with the ORCA electronics unit critical for flight control forced a scrub for what would have been the 19th flight of an Atlas 5. Credit: Ken Kremer
The protective Rotating Service Structure is about halfway through its 25 minute long rollback at dusk on 15 November 2009 to expose Atlantis for launch at Kennedy Space Center Pad 39 A. Credit: Ken Kremer	Close up of Space Shuttle Atlantis and crew walk out arm and platform at 195 ft level of pad 39 A. Close out crew assists crew into their seats. Thereafter the orbiter hatch is closed for the 11 day mission to the ISS. The arm swings away a few minutes prior to launch. Credit: Ken Kremer
The six person crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis walk out from crew quarters at 10:38 AM to greet the cheering crowd of media and NASA officials and then head out to pad 39 A to strap in for space launch with hours. Credit: Ken Kremer	Moments after 2:28 PM EST blast off of Space Shuttle Atlantis and six person crew on 16 November 2009 from pad 39 A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer	I visited the huge Tweet Up Tent which NASA set up for the first time at the Kennedy Space Center Press center so that ordinary folks from around the world could observe a shuttle launch and share it globally straight away as events unfolded. This reminded me of a high tech command center. Credit: Ken Kremer

	Ken Kremer LRO & LCROSS NASA Solar System Ambassador RAS Member-at-Large  reports at The Planetary Society LRO & LCROSS Up Close Tour LRO & LCROSS UP Close Tour: Part 2, Hunting for Lunar Water LRO & LCROSS Up Close Tour: Poised on Atlas V Rocket at Launch Complex 41 LRO & LCROSS: 1 Day Launch Delay LRO & LCROSS: Ready to Roll to Pad 41	Ken Kremer inspecting LRO and LCROSS LRO & LCROSS: Launch LRO & LCROSS : One-on-One Chat with LCROSS Scientist Kimberly Ennico LRO and LCROSS Enter their Respective Orbits New Updates on LRO and LCROSS
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) entered lunar orbit on 23 June 2009 Lunar Crater and Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will impact the moon's south pole moon on 9 October 2009

Credit: Marco Di Lorenzo, Douglas Ellison, Bernhard Braun and Kenneth Kremer.  NASA/JPL/Cornell/Aviation Week & Space Technology

“SPIRIT’S SOAR” -self portrait at the summit of Husband Hill was the cover image for the 14 November 2005 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine (reprinted by permission) and the April 2006 issue of Spaceflight magazine. The image was derived by an international team of Mars enthusiasts.

Upcoming Presentation Schedule:

Please contact me for more info or science outreach presentations by email :  kremerken@yahoo.com

September 2009

Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton at Princeton University:  Princeton, NJ, Sep 8, Tue, 8 PM. “Eyewitness to LRO & LCROSS: America Returns to the Moon”

Website:  http://princetonastronomy.org/activities.html

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society (RAS) at the Franklin Institute: Philadelphia, PA, Sep 9, Wed, 8 PM.  “Fixing Hubble: Eyewitness to Shuttle Atlantis Launch to save The People’s Telescope”

Website: http://www.rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org

October 2009

Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton at Princeton University:  Princeton, NJ, Oct 13, Tue, 8 PM. “ LRO & LCROSS: Post Impact Update” , “Mars Rover Update”

Website:  http://princetonastronomy.org/activities.html

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society (RAS) at the Franklin Institute: Philadelphia, PA, Oct 14, Wed, 8 PM.  “LRO & LCROSS Impact Update: America Returns to the Moon”, “Mars Rover Update”.       Website: http://www.rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org

Stella Della Valley Star Party & Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association (BMAA): Ottsville, PA, Oct 17, Sat, 3 PM. “Fixing Hubble: Eyewitness to Shuttle Atlantis Launch to save The People’s Telescope”. “Mars Rover Update”,  “LRO & LCROSS Impact Update”

 Website: http://www.bma2.org/Sdv.html

UACNJ Astronomy Symposium: Hope NJ, Oct 18, Sun, 2 PM.  "Eyewitness to Hubble/Shuttle Launch & Personal Postcards from Mars",   “LRO & LCROSS Impact Update”

Website: http://www.uacnj.org/

NJ Gifted Children at Mercer County Community College: West Windsor, NJ Oct 24, Sat, 9 AM. “Twin Robots Exploring Mars (IN 3-D)”

Website:  http://www.njagc.org/

November 2009

Space Shuttle Launch Coverage

Reporting direct from the Kennedy Space Center

STS 129 mission to the International Space Station

Tranquility & Cupola: Next manned Modules for the International Space Station

Atlas 5 Launch from Cape Canaveral

December  2009

Riverside Elementary School, Family Astronomy Night: Princeton, NJ, Dec 9, 6 PM

“Phoenix and the Twin Mars Rovers (in 3-D)”

January 2010

Gloucester County College Astronomy Club: Sewell, NJ, Jan, TBD, 7 PM.   “Fixing Hubble: Eyewitness to Shuttle Atlantis Launch to save The People’s Telescope”

Website:  http://www.gccnj.edu/news_and_alerts/rotating_ads/ken_kremer.cfm

January 2010

Gloucester County College Astronomy Club: Sewell, NJ, Jan, TBD, 7 PM.   “Fixing Hubble: Eyewitness to Shuttle Atlantis Launch to save The People’s Telescope”

Website:  http://www.gccnj.edu/news_and_alerts/rotating_ads/ken_kremer.cfm

Year in Space 2010: Weekly Desk Calendar: Dec 28 - Jan 3. Spirit Mars mosaic from Martian mountaintop, published in celebration of 6^th anniversary of Spirit landing on Mars

Website: http://www.yearinspace.com/the-week-in-space/148-december-28-2009-robot-revisited.html

Space Shuttle STS 130 Pre-Launch Coverage from the Kennedy Space Center

February 2010

Plantation Astronomy Club: Leesburg, FL , Feb 15, 7 PM. “Eyewitness to LRO & LCROSS: America Returns to the Moon”

Website: http://www.palhoa.com/id103.html

ISCJ School:  Monmouth Junction, NJ, Feb 28 “Twin Rovers Explore Mars (in 3-D)”

Space Shuttle Launch Coverage

Reporting direct from the Kennedy Space Center

STS 130 mission to the International Space Station; Delivery of Tranquility and Cupola

Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) , Atlas 5 Launch from Cape Canaveral

March 2010

Villages Astronomy Club: The Villages, FL. Mar 16, 7 PM. “Eyewitness to LRO & LCROSS: America Returns to the Moon”

Websites & Photos:

http://www.vlgastroclub.org/2101.html

http://www.vlgastroclub.org/31601.html

http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2009/05/20/news/news01.txt

Joy Lutheran Church: Ocala, FL, Mar 20, 11 AM. “6 Years of Mars Rovers and the Search for Life (in 3-D)” Website: http://www.joyocala.org/index.htm

Littlebrook Elementary School, Astronomy Night: Princeton, NJ, Mar 25, 6 PM “Twin Mars Rovers (in 3-D)”

April 2010

Space Shuttle Launch Coverage

Reporting direct from the Kennedy Space Center

STS 131 mission to the International Space Station

May 2010

STAR Astronomy Club: Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ. May 6, 7 PM. “LRO & LCROSS: America Returns to the Moon”

June 2010

Café Scientifique: Philadelphia, PA, June 1, 6 PM, Belle Cena Restaurant.  “6 Years of Mars Rovers and the Search for Life (in 3-D)”

Website: http://www.sciencecafephila.org/Home.html

Check back for updates. Recent lectures listed below

Recent Lectures

September 2009

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society Septeber-09, 7:30 PM, Franklin Institute "Fixing Hubble: Eyewitness to Shuttle Atlantis Launch

May 2009

Plantation Astronomy Club: Leesburg, FL, May 18, 7 PM. "Mars, Saturn, Asteroids, Hubble and Beyond (in 3D)"

Website: http://www.palhoa.com/id103.html

Villages Astronomy Club: The Villages, FL. May 19, 7 PM. "Mars, Saturn, Asteroids, Hubble and Beyond (in 3D)"

Websites & Photos:

http://www.vlgastroclub.org/2101.html

http://www.vlgastroclub.org/31601.html

http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2009/05/20/news/news01.txt

Space Shuttle Launch Coverage

Reporting direct from the Kennedy Space Center

STS 125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope

LRO & LCROSS: Lunar missions,  Atlas 5 Launch from Cape Canaveral

April 2009

Gloucester County College (GCC) Astronomy Club: Sewell, NJ, April 15, 7 PM. “Launching DAWN to Asteroids: From Behind the Scenes at Kennedy Space Center”

Website: http://www.gccnj.edu/news_and_alerts/rotating_ads/ken_kremer.cfm

March 2009

Rockland Astronomy Club at Rockland Community College: Suffern, NY, March 6, Fri, 8 PM.  “Mars, Saturn, Asteroids and Beyond in 3-D”

Website: http://www.sunyrockland.edu/community/calendar-of-events/astronomy-series-lecture-2/?searchterm=kremer

Amateur Astronomer’s Inc (AAI) at Union County College: Cranford, NJ, 8 PM. “Daring Flight of the Phoenix: Icy Jackpot Hit on Mars (in 3-D)”. 

Website:  http://www.asterism.org

Science and Engineering Expo, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ: March 19, 9 AM.  “A 3-D Mars Experience: Phoenix and the Twin Rovers”.

Website: http://www.princeton.edu/~pccm/outreach/seeprinceton.htm

Upper Moreland Middle School: Hatboro, PA, March 25, 7 PM. “A 3-D Mars Experience:  Mars Day Celebration”.

Website: http://umtsd.org/MiddleSchool/index_middle_school.htm

Littlebook Elementary School: Princeton, NJ, Mar 27, 7 PM, “Twin Mars Rovers in 3-D”

Feb 2009

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society at the Franklin Institute: Philadelphia, PA, Feb 11, 8 PM, “Mars Mission Update”. Website: http://www.rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org

Riverside Elementary School, Family Astronomy Night: Princeton, NJ, Feb 20, 6 PM.  “Phoenix and the Twin Mars Rovers (in 3-D)”

Kellman Brown Academy: Voorhees, NJ, Feb 27.  “Twin Mars Rovers in 3-D”

January 2009

 Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton:  Princeton, NJ, Jan 13, 8 PM. “Daring Flight of the Phoenix & 5 Years of Mars Rovers (in 3-D)”.   Website:  http://princetonastronomy.org/activities.html

Doylestown Presbyterian Church:  Doylestown, PA, Jan 7, 6:30 PM. “Phoenix and the Twin Mars Rovers in 3-D”. 
Website: http://www.dtownpc.org/frames12.html

December 2008

Riverside Elementary School, Family Astronomy Night: Princeton, NJ, Dec 4, 6 PM.  “Phoenix and the Twin Mars Rovers (in 3-D)”.

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society (RAS) at the Franklin Institute: Philadelphia, PA, Dec 10, 8 PM.  “Daring Flight of the Phoenix Mars Lander: Icy Jackpot Hit on Mars (in 3-D)”. Website: http://www.rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org

November 2008

Gloucester County College, Astronomy Club: Sewell, NJ, Nov 17, 8 PM. “Daring Flight of the Phoenix: Icy Jackpot Hit on Mars (in 3-D)”. Website: http://www.gccnj.edu/

Rockland Astronomy Club at Rockland Community College: Suffern, NY, Nov 21, Fri, 8 PM.  “Daring Flight of the Phoenix: Icy Jackpot Hit on Mars (in 3-D)”. Website: http://www.sunyrockland.edu/community/calendar-of-events/astronomy-series-lecture-2/?searchterm=kremer

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society (RAS) at the Franklin Institute: Philadelphia, PA, Wed, Nov 12, 9 PM.  “Mars Rovers in 3-D”. Website: http://www.rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org

October 2008

Plantation Astronomy Club: Leesburg, FL, Oct 20, 8 PM.   “Launching DAWN to Asteroids; Landing Phoenix on Icy Martian Jackpot: Behind the Scenes at Kennedy Space Center (in 3-D)”. Website: http://www.palhoa.com/id103.html

David Sarnoff Library; Martians for Education Festival: Princeton, NJ, Oct 22, 8 PM. “Looking for Life on Mars: Phoenix and the Twin Rovers (in 3-D)”.  Website: http://www.davidsarnoff.org/m4e_festival_2008.html

http://www.davidsarnoff.org/kremer-looking-for-life-on-mars.html

Stella Della Valley Star Party & Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association (BMAA): Ottsville, PA, Oct 25, 3 PM.  “Launching DAWN to Asteroids; Landing Phoenix on Icy Martian Jackpot: Behind the Scenes at Kennedy Space Center (in 3-D)”.

Website: http://www.bma2.org/Sdv.html

Selected for posting by Astronomy Picture of the Day  October 19, 2009

Also Posted at Spaceflight Now

Additionally covered by Universe Today

MAY 2009 ~~ Ken Kremer reported on the Space Shuttle Atlantis Mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.    You can read about it in our June newsletter, and access his blog posts for the Planetary Society directly below.  Now that summer has arrived, some may have more time to review his excellent series of posts that follow this historic mission from start to finish.  He will speak to us this fall on highlights of the mission, it's purpose and it's success.  Prepare by reading his posts listed below.
Mike Massimino,  Michael Good,  Andrew Feustel,  John Grunsfeld, Megan McArthur, Pilot Gregory C. Johnson, Commander Scott Altman Picture Credit: Ken Kremer		Atlantis at Dusk :at Launch Pad 39 A, RSS retracted at left. Less than 16 hours from launch to save the iconic Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: Ken Kremer
Dr. Ken Kremer's Blog Posts on Mission STS-125
NASA's Final Servicing Mission to the Hubble Space Telescope Astronauts Fly into Cape. Countdown Clock Ticking for Mission to Save "The People's Telescope" "Go" at T-2 days from launch -- Hubble Science Instruments Preview	Atlantis Exposed to the Heavens -- T Minus 14 Hours from Blast-off to Hubble Fueling Atlantis! T Minus 6 Hours and Counting Atlantis Launches on a Final Mission to Hubble One-on-One Chat with Ed Weiler on Hubble and the Future of Mars Exploration	Atlantis Astronauts Rocket into Space and Grab Hubble  Hubble Spacewalks: 2 Down, 3 to Go, Never Routine LRO & LCROSS Up-Close Tour Hubble Astronauts Boldly Go Where No One has Gone Before!	Farewell to Hubble, Obama Calls, Astronauts Testify to Congress as Shuttle is Set to Land Memorial Day: Remembering the fallen who gave their lives exploring space Atlantis and Crew Return Safely to Earth after Rejuvenating Hubble
Atlantis leaving launch pad ~ Rarely seen view from inside the VAB as I peer out from the 16th Floor towards pad 17 A and crawler-way as Space Shuttle Atlantis enters atop crawler transporter. Atlantis was rolled back from the pad in late October 2008 after postponement of SM-4 servicing mission. Credit: Ken Kremer		Atlantis Launch  Credit: Ken Kremer

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