NASA International Space Station Commander to speak at BSU

NASA astronaut and Boise State University Professor of the Practice Steve Swanson will share stories about his time aboard the International Space Station at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the Student Union Simplot Ballroom on the BSU Campus.

The event is free and open to the public. Hourly parking is available in the Lincoln Avenue Garage.

Swanson spent six months in orbit on the ISS, from March to September 2014; in May he took over as commander of Expedition 40.

During a live downlink from space sponsored by the Space Broncos student group, Swanson spoke with Boise State students and the community -- and demonstrated some of the unusual aspects of living in microgravity. The downlink was part of Boise States Space Symposium, which included presentations by students and faculty engaged in NASA-related research and education programs.

Swanson will also present Boise State University with a ball cap he wore during that downlink from space at a special on-field recognition during the Nov. 15 football game against San Diego State in Albertsons Stadium.

While in Boise, Swanson will visit with engineering students and tour several research labs on campus.

Steve Swansons visit is a great boost for our students and faculty and it reminds us that NASA is an integral part of our community, said Barbara Morgan, former NASA astronaut and current distinguished educator in residence at Boise State. We are pleased to have several strong ties to NASA, including NASA-funded research programs, participation in the Microgravity University and Zero Robotics programs, student internships, the NASA Pre-Service Teacher Institute, the McNair Scholars Program, Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars and our own Space Broncos Team Swanson student organization.

Swanson, who has a Ph.D. in computer science, became an astronaut in 1998. His flight experience includes two space shuttle missions and one long-duration mission on the International Space Station. On the 2007 Atlantis shuttle mission, Swanson helped deliver, install and repair equipment and performed two spacewalks on the space station. On 2009s Discovery shuttle mission to the space station, Swanson again delivered and installed equipment and performed two spacewalks. As commander of the International Space Stations Expedition 40, he led the team of astronauts and cosmonauts and conducted science and technology experiments.

Swanson and his family live in Houston, Texas. His parents live in Eagle, Idaho.

Steve Swanson is one of five Boise State University Professors of the Practice.

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NASA International Space Station Commander to speak at BSU