Episode 601: Viva NASA Viva Florida

This Episode of Talking Space brings you a recording from August 7th 2013 at the Alachua County Library Headquarters branch in Gainesville, FL. The presenter is Peter Chitko from NASA Kennedy Space Center. Peter Chitko is employed by NASA as the Mechanical Division Engineering Technical Integration Manager.  In 1983, he joined NASA at the Kennedy Space Center, which was the launch site and preferred landing site for NASA’s Space Shuttles, so, with 30 years of experience, he has a wealth of information about Florida history and space travel.

Mr. Chitko’s presentation at the Alachua County Florida Library added the very interesting aspect of spaceflight to the theme “Viva Florida 500”. Viva Florida 500 is a statewide initiative to highlight the 500 years of historic people, places and events in present-day Florida since the arrival of Juan Ponce de León to the land he named La Florida in 1513. While Florida’s Native American heritage dates back more than 12,000 years, Spain’s claim in 1513 began a new era. 2013 marks 500 years of history and diverse cultural heritage in Florida – a claim no other state in America can make – and Viva Florida 500 promotes the place where the world’s cultures began to unite and transform into the great nation we know today as the United States of America. The Viva Florida 500 commemoration is ongoing throughout 2013, and includes hundreds of events statewide. The goal is to promote 500 years of Florida’s history – its people, places and cultural achievements – and this important milestone in American and Florida history.

My apologies for the moments you miss here with this audio only recording. Mr. Chitko played several videos of key events from the Apollo program. Unfortunately the acoustics of the conference room we were in, made that audio (on my recording) difficult to understand. However I think you will find Mr. Chitko easy to understand and I ask you to let your mind’s eye fill in the pictures or video you have certainly seen before. Mr. Chitko will be telling us about the space race, about the Apollo Program and a little about what is ahead for NASA.

I want to thank Mr. Peter Chitko of NASA Kennedy Space Center and the Alachua County Library for permission to record this presentation. Several of us there felt this was an outstanding presentation from an extremely knowledgeable speaker. Thank you NASA for sharing your best with communities far and wide.

During the last two minutes of this recording you'll hear the question I asked Mr. Chitko and I think you'll find his answer well worth waiting for.

http://www.aclib.us/archer/blog/nasa-expert-peter-chitko-presents-history-space-aug-7-two-locations

http://www.vivaflorida.org/

Host: Mark Ratterman

Show Recorded 08/07/2013