August 12, 1999 Huntsville, AL
While the weather was hot, the number of interested visitors to the Space
Product Development display was even hotter at Experimental Aircraft
Associations' AirVenture 99 airshow at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. More than 4,600
people stopped at the display to ask questions, hear presentations, and
have a hands-on experience with the commercial products and research
hardware on display.
The display included the STS-95 ASTROCULTURE™ training hardware used by
John Glenn and his crewmates, a PentaPure™ water purification system, and
a Ford engine block. The STS-95 hardware was used for two extremely successful
commercial experiments, the "Space
Rose" and a soybean
experiment , while the other products represent items that have been improved
through commercial microgravity research.
Representatives of the Wisconsin
Center for Space Automation and Robotics were on hand to answer questions
about the ASTROCULTURE™ hardware and the work being done through this Commercial
Space Center. The Center, located in Madison, Wisconsin, focuses on agribusiness
research.
One visitor to the display got a view of things to come. Astronaut Scott
Horowitz, who will pilot the upcoming STS-101
mission, visited the display after speaking at the show and conducting
an autograph session. STS-101 will feature two commercial payloads,
Commercial Protein Crystal Growth and ASTROCULTURE™. The ASTROCULTURE™
payload will feature a follow-up flight of the soybean experiment from
STS-95.
In addition to the SPD display and materials, visitors were treated to a
view of the International Space Station and one of its research modules
through surrounding displays. While visiting the site, located in the EAA
pavilion, the public could also try Shuttle landing and docking simulators
and get their photographs made in a space suit.
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