Went to the Space Program for the 21st Century Conference and met Obama (Lots-o-Pics)



So we get there around 10:30 or so, and the conference thingy started at 11:45. we parked and went to the sign in place, which wasn't even set up yet. Well, sitting there on a chair was none other than Neal ****ING Tyson.







You may recognize him from TV shows on the Science and Discovery Channel. I said hi, talked for a bit, and got a picture.







That was pretty ****ing cool. Eventually they set up the registration and we get to go in. There were lots of people from the space industry, lots of professors and physicists, a few college students like myself, and a Soyuz capsule:







After getting my name tag and agenda I notice someone... familiar. Could it be?!?! YES! BILL ****ING NYE.







OH ****! Got me a picture, but the guy who took it was apparently a shaky ****:







So I talk to Bill about the project I'm working on and what he has been up to recently, and them move on and mingle with alot of former astronauts and whatnot. Then they tell us to pile on the bus, and of course both Bill and Neal are on mine, so i get to talk to them a bit more and hear what they think about the space program and stuff. Then Michael Leinbach, the launch director of the shuttle program, got on the bus and gave us an overview of the days activities.







Then we take a ride to the old Apollo capsule assembly building, where we get our names called. Neil Tyson grew bored.







Now we are at the building where Obama is to give his speech. We go through security and I find a place to sit. This is the seating area and media folk. I was in the second row.







They had a mock-up of an Orion capsule on the side:







Secret Service guy secretly serving:







More media show up:







Continued.... So, I work on an amateur satellite project through the Florida Space Grant and the University of Central Florida. On Tuesday I got an email from the director asking if I could attend the American Space Program for the 21st Century conference and see the president speak and whatnot. I gladly accepted, and today I went with a guy I work with. You guys have probably heard all about it on the news, and maybe even watched it live. This is what happened:So we get there around 10:30 or so, and the conference thingy started at 11:45. we parked and went to the sign in place, which wasn't even set up yet. Well, sitting there on a chair was none other than Neal ****ING Tyson.You may recognize him from TV shows on the Science and Discovery Channel. I said hi, talked for a bit, and got a picture.That was pretty ****ing cool. Eventually they set up the registration and we get to go in. There were lots of people from the space industry, lots of professors and physicists, a few college students like myself, and a Soyuz capsule:After getting my name tag and agenda I notice someone... familiar. Could it be?!?! YES! BILLNYE.OH ****! Got me a picture, but the guy who took it was apparently a shaky ****:So I talk to Bill about the project I'm working on and what he has been up to recently, and them move on and mingle with alot of former astronauts and whatnot. Then they tell us to pile on the bus, and of course both Bill and Neal are on mine, so i get to talk to them a bit more and hear what they think about the space program and stuff. Then Michael Leinbach, the launch director of the shuttle program, got on the bus and gave us an overview of the days activities.Then we take a ride to the old Apollo capsule assembly building, where we get our names called. Neil Tyson grew bored.Now we are at the building where Obama is to give his speech. We go through security and I find a place to sit. This is the seating area and media folk. I was in the second row.They had a mock-up of an Orion capsule on the side:Secret Service guy secretly serving:More media show up:Continued.... Last edited by Legumeofterror : 04-15-2010 at 10:44 PM .