Dr. Ed Gibson

Astronaut, Scientist, Pilot
  Presentations

The Power of Persistence

   
Initiative, the boldness to begin whatever you think you can do, or dream that you can, is essential for success. But so is persistence, the confidence and tenacity to never, never give up.   

Examples of NASA’s success in space, for the total team and each team member, directly apply to what we, as a businesses or individuals, accomplish down here on Earth. Our drive to land on the moon,  Apollo 13 where "Failure was not an option", and "Turning tragedy into triumph" on Skylab - America’s first space station, all exemplify the power of persistence.

Personal experiences from the speaker's life also illustrate the determination to succeed: twice failed in elementary school, yet earned a PhD from Caltech; nearly lost a leg from childhood disease, yet quarterbacked his college football team; and trained and waited in the background for eight years, then set the American endurance record of 84 days in space.

Inherent in every team, every team member is the capacity for success. The recognition and understanding of the power of persistence often makes the difference.    

Contact Information 
For Fees and availability:

Astronaut Speakers Bureau
David A. Sizemore, Director
111 Steuben Dr
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone:704-948-8720 Fax:425-696-5459
dasizemore@hotmail.com

ADVENTURE   
 

 Life on America’s First Space Station

From liftoff, space walks, to re-entry, the audience is absorbed then excited by a world that only a few hundred humans have experienced so far.

Gliding over Earth at a serene five miles a second, months without gravity, and watching Earth’s features become as familiar as the face of an old friend all begin to seem not so foreign, not so hard to comprehend.

Now, as fourteen nations around the world build another space station in orbit, the recounting of life onboard America’s first space station, Skylab, as well as the problems of return to Earth, is not just fascinating, but highly relevant.

The presentation is enriched by anecdotes of personal experiences, humor, and insight into our future outward explorations.  

TECHNOLOGY  

Space ¾ Stimulant and Beneficiary of Technology Advancement

Just as explorers then settlers have sailed the ocean and spread across our continent, we now advance into space. Not only are new technologies defined and developed to aid these exploits, but the vantage point and environment of our presence in space opens up additional technology growth opportunities.

Technology developments are considered on three fronts:

¨       Early developments driven by our broad, well-funded effort to land on the moon.

¨        Medical, engineering, and earth observations technologies advanced on board Skylab, our Nation’s first space station, as well as our current International Space Station.

¨        The expanding role of commercial enterprise in future space utilization.

In addition, space technology is considered in the context of other current major developments that are just beginning to affect mankind, bioengineering and information technology. 

Each discussion is enriched by professional insights and personal anecdotes.

Honors & Awards (Partial Listing):

¨Distinguished Service Medal - NASA, presented by          President Richard M. Nixon

¨Induction into United States Astronaut Hall of Fame

¨Robert J. Collier & Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophies

¨AAS Flight Achievement & AIAA Haley Astronautics Awards

¨Honorary Doctor of Science Degrees from the University of Rochester and Wagner College

¨National Science Foundation & R.C. Baker Fellowships at California Institute of Technology

¨Alexander von Humboldt Grant in Germany

Publications (Partial Listing):                                           

¨Reach and In the Wrong Hands, novels published by Doubleday and Bantam

¨The Greatest Adventure, as editor of this book of stories and pictures by many astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world on their space missions and our future in space accompanied by a Foreword by James Michener

¨Articles for the general public that have appeared in The National Geographic and other magazines

¨The Quiet Sun, a text book in solar physics

¨Forewords for four space and astronomy books.

¨Numerous scientific papers in solar and plasma physics