Planetary scientist and former NASA astronaut Thomas D. Jones is the first of three scientists to visit campus this academic year as part of the Voices of Discovery speaker series.
Although the solar system seems empty, there is a lot of orbiting debris out there. It’s not space garbage, but natural debris left over from the process of solar system formation, ranging from sizeable asteroids and comets to dust. The larger debris masses, including asteroids, are of great interest as sources of information about the solar system and the origin of life on Earth.
Former NASA astronaut Thomas D. Jones, who is also a planetary scientist, Air Force pilot and author, will be speaking at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 in McKinnon Hall. He is the first of three scientists to visit campus this academic year as part of the Voices of Discovery speaker series.
Jones has a Ph.D. in planetary science and his research interests have included remote sensing of asteroids, meteorite spectroscopy and uses of space resources. As a NASA astronaut, Jones flew on four space shuttle missions over the course of 11 years with achievements that included running science operations, using robotic arms to deploy and retrieve satellites and delivering and installing the U.S. Destiny Laboratory Module to the Space Station.
He is the author of several books about space and aviation including “Planetology: Unlocking the Secrets of the Solar System,” and “Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir.” As a senior research scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Jones consults regarding the future of space exploration, use of space resources and planetary defense.
Prior to his lecture Monday evening, Jones will join a number of science faculty and students for lunch that afternoon. He will also interact with students taking Classical Mechanics, taught by Martin Kamela, associate professor of physics, as well as students in Science Without Borders, taught by Mary McManamy, lecturer in chemistry. Jones will give a presentation on career opportunities in the aerospace field and answer questions.
The Voices of Discovery speaker series brings to campus preeminent scientists and mathematicians who have left an indelible mark on the way we view the world. They share their remarkable experiences and perspectives with Elon students and the community. This series plays a fundamental role in the university’s commitment to create a science-conscious community and to help students be informed citizens.