Quick Navigation

Northern Illinois University

NIU Office of Public Affairs


News Release

Contact: Joe King, NIU Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-4299

Sept. 14, 2004

NASA scientist to discuss preparations
for manned flights to MARS

DEKALB, Ill -- NASA scientist, and Northern Illinois University alumnus, Michael C. Greenisen, will speak at NIU on activities underway to prepare astronauts for manned space flight to Mars.

 

The program, “International Space Station: Transitional Platform for Moon and Mars,” will be at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23, in the Barsema Hall Auditorium. Greenisen’s presentation is co-sponsored by the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology and the NIU College of Business. The lecture is part of CEET’s Executive Speaker Series.

 

He is currently assigned as the International Space Station Human Life Sciences Scientist. As the ISS HLS Scientist he is responsible for all of the life sciences experiments flown on each expedition. Supported by NASA and a contractor team, he is responsible for insuring that all experiment hardware is in place and operates within required specifications. Supported by this team Dr. Greenisen is also responsible to insure that all preflight, in-flight and post-flight data is accurately collected. In addition, he directs the pre-flight and post- flight medical assessment testing for each crew.  His current responsibility is to insure that all data is gathered and distributed to appropriate groups.

 

Insights gained through his work may ultimately be applied for use on future lunar bases or during long duration space flights to other planets. A moon base would be the test bed for resolving the engineering obstacles for later establishment of the Mars Crew Habitat.

 

Greenisen, has received several NASA awards for his contributions to the space program. He was also named the 2001 Outstanding Graduate by the NIU College of Education.

 

The Sept. 23 program is free and is open to the public.

###