Astronaut Steven Hawley to return to KU

LAWRENCE -- Astronaut Steven Hawley, a University of Kansas alumnus, will return to Lawrence to make a special appearance at the Aerospace Colloquium on Friday, April 5.

"It's always a pleasure to welcome Steve Hawley back to KU," said Chancellor Robert Hemenway. "He has always been generous in sharing his experiences and observations with our students and faculty. KU is really proud to have him as an alumnus."

Hawley, who graduated from KU with a bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy in 1973 and is a veteran of five space shuttle missions, will talk about NASA's Great Space Observatories at the Aerospace Colloquium, said Trevor Sorensen, an associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The colloquium will meet from 3:30 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. in 3140 Wescoe Hall. The public is welcome.

"Dr. Hawley is an example of someone who went through school -- taking the same sort of classes with the same concerns as the current students -- who was able to continue on into what many would consider a 'dream' job," Sorensen said.

"A kid from Salina, Kansas, can get on top of the world with hard work, determination, and recognizing and taking advantage of opportunities that arise," Sorensen continued. "Dr. Hawley also brings a unique perspective for relating how the things that are learned in school are applied in practice to move the frontiers of civilization itself forward. He also has what is probably the most fascinating and interesting job in the world, which enables him to capture and hold the interest of students unlike anything else. And when the students are interested, they learn."

After graduating from KU, Hawley earned a doctorate in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 1978, he was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to be an astronaut. His first shuttle experience, in 1984, was the maiden flight of the shuttle Discovery and involved numerous experiments and deployment of several satellites. He was a mission specialist on shuttle flights in 1986, 1990, 1997 and 1999.

During his 1990 flight aboard the Discovery, the crew deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. During his 1999 flight, the crew deployed the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- the third of NASA's space observatories. He has logged a total of 32 days in space.

Since October 2001, Hawley has served as director of Flight Crew Operations in NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Hawley has received numerous honors including:
 • Kansan of the Year, 1992
 • Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame, 1997
 • University of Kansas Distinguished Service Citation, 1998
 • NASA Distinguished Service Medal, 1998 and 2000

Sorensen said he would like to see people of Hawley's caliber visit campus more often.

"Dr. Hawley is an astronaut, a real hero in the eyes of most children," Sorensen said. "Even by the time they reach university, most young people still revere and admire astronauts, who put their lives on the line in a spectacular way for the benefit of the world.

"Visits like Dr. Hawley's provide an opportunity for people to see and interact with a real hero -- and hear firsthand from someone who has experienced the unique exhilaration of space flight. For young people, listening to an astronaut and similar professionals can inspire them to try harder and achieve success in their classes at school, especially math and science."

Hemenway will conduct a reception for Hawley after his presentation on Friday. The gathering from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the rotunda of Strong Hall will be open to the public.