Scientist visits Hazard to "smile" at the International Space Station – WYMT News (press release)

HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Smiling for the International Space Station...

"I wanted to do something a little bit more than just wave at the camera," Bobby Quimpo who is a scientist said.

Quimpo, who is also a science teacher, contacted the Challenger Learning Center and drove six hours from Lafayette, Indiana to Hazard.

He made the drive in an attempt to get a set of mirrors to reflect back into the camera of the International Space Station.

"It's actually my fourth time, but maybe that's fourth times the charm," said Quimpo.

His first attempt was outside the school he teaches at in July 2016.

Quimpo said, "That was when it had sunny days, perfect, not a cloud in the sky and that was the time they turned off the camera for three hours and I missed the picture."

Another time he missed it because of cloudy skies.

"A lot of trial and error and don't mind trying again, I learn something each time," Quimpo said.

Which is important, as getting the calculations just right is crucial.

"It tells you where the Space Station's going to be, you look up where the sun's going to be and where those angles are you aim the mirror halfway between, you bisect the angle and then put the mirrors on the ground and hope it reflects in," said Quimpo.

Quimpo used ten mirrors to make the smiley face design.

"The largest mirror is two by five feet, most of the mirrors are something like eight inches to a side," Quimpo said.

At exactly 3:25 p.m. and seven seconds on Saturday, he conducted the experiment, but he will not know if it worked for a few days to a few weeks.

"I'll check the image number and see if it actually shows up," said Quimpo.

But he said the experiment is worth the wait.

Quimpo said he used the EarthCam website to conduct his experiment, which allows teachers and students to take pictures from the International Space Station.

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Scientist visits Hazard to "smile" at the International Space Station - WYMT News (press release)