The Apollo Mission

NASA launched Apollo 11 to the moon 50 years ago.  What exactly did it take to accomplish this history-making mission?  Hear a behind-the-scenes account from one of the NASA scientists who helped make that dream a reality.

In Part 1, starting at 2 pm, retired NASA physicist Don Cooper will share his experiences creating the technology that helped launch Apollo 11, and the efforts that his team went through to bring the Apollo 13 crew home safely.  Cooper will also discuss the history of U.S. rockets and his role in designing the Saturn V guidance equations that help make space travel possible.

In Part 2, starting at 3 pm, Cooper will talk in more detail about how geometry, algebra, calculus, and classical mechanics were used to produce the Saturn V guidance equations.   Students considering a career in a STEM-related field will gain insight into how mathematics and physics can be used to solve real-world problems.