By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
On Tuesday, Brenda Culbertson, NASA/JPL solar system ambassador, was at the Hays Public Library presenting highlights from the Apollo 11 mission that sent Americans to the surface of the moon 50 years ago.
A longtime observational astronomer, Culbertson ran the Washburn planetarium for over 20 years and has taught astrophotography.
She uses those skills in the ambassador program setting up observation sessions in locations across the state.
“That’s probably what I do most,” Culbertson said.
But while in Hays, she stepped away from the telescope to present three sessions at the Hays Public Library recapping the first manned lunar mission.
She believes sharing the story of the mission is important to get children interested in exploring their potential.
“When you are wondering ‘Can I really do this?’ and you look back and see other people have done harder things, I think that encourages them to try for it,” Culbertson said. “They learn from history and, if history is taught correctly and you are given a good taste of it, I think it will encourage them to go forward.”
She noted the tragedy of Apollo 1 as an example of how learning from history can be a powerful tool.
“NASA learned from it greatly,” she said. “From there, OK, we have to be more careful and more thorough.”
The lesson learned from that failure still resonates today.
“If they are taught and shown, I think it is important for them to learn this kind of thing,” Culbertson said. “You learn from failure.” she said.
With the knowledge of history, Culbertson hopes students can push forward and reach their potential.
“We give them a little bit of the tragedy as well as the success and maybe it will spark something in them to go forward.”
About the Solar System Ambassadors Program
“The Solar System Ambassadors Program is a public engagement effort that works with motivated volunteers across the nation to communicate the science and excitement of NASA’s space exploration missions and discoveries in their communities,” according to the program’s website. “The program — which started in 1997 — currently consists of 730 ambassadors who conduct approximately 2,400 annual events that, reach about 500,000 people directly, with millions reached via publications, social media, TV and radio.”