Maintenance and Invention: Lessons from Hubble

Dr. Sullivan …. flies us 200 miles above the sky, using her head, heart, and hands to solve problem after problem— and help us take in views that are out of this world….What an adventure—no wonder she loves it.

Bill Nye, CEO, The Planetary Society

In her new book, Handprints on Hubble: An Astronaut’s Story of Invention, the first American woman to walk in space recounts her experience as part of the team that launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained the Hubble Space Telescope.

The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. It has, among many other achievements, revealed thousands of galaxies in what seemed to be empty patches of sky; transformed our knowledge of black holes; found dwarf planets with moons orbiting other stars, and measured precisely how fast the universe is expanding. 

In this conversation with CHM’s David C. Brock, Kathryn Sullivan will explore the lessons that her experiences with the Hubble Space Telescope taught her about the importance of maintenance, invention, and leadership. Sullivan and other astronauts, engineers, and scientists launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained Hubble, the most productive observatory ever built.

What are the lessons about maintenance and repair from this previously untold story of Hubble? How do they apply more broadly? How did these lessons shape Sullivan’s career after NASA, as chief scientist, and then Deputy Administrator and Administrator of NOAA, the National Oceanic, and Atmospheric Administration? Join us as we explore these fascinating questions, and ask questions of your own. 

This virtual event will begin at 11:00 a.m. PT and conclude at 12:30 p.m. PT. Please use this link to watch the program.