Kimbrough offered to take the soccer ball with him on his recent mission to the International Space Station, allowing the ball to complete its journey into space. The Nov. 3 game was the backdrop for the very special return of the soccer ball to its original owners. After the Clear Lake High marching band set the stage with their halftime performance, Space Odyssey, Col. Kimbrough presented the soccer ball to Janelle Onizuka. “This ball has been on quite a journey,” Col. Kimbrough said. “Over 73 million miles, it’s orbited our planet 2,768 times, it’s been in every module of the International Space Station and now it’s my distinct honor to present it back to the Onizuka family.” The Onizuka family in turn handed over the space artifact to the principal, Dr. Karen Engle, and Clear Lake High, where the ball may continue Former JSC Director Mike Coats, in black, and NASA astronaut Col. Shane Kimbrough, at to signify a journey left, assist Lorna Onizuka during the Historic Handoff of the soccer ball that was aboard the of many miles, and Space Shuttle Challenger when it went down and was found and taken to the space station perseverance, to all who before the presentation to Clear Lake High Principal Karen Engle at CCISD Challenger view it. Columbia Stadium. At right are Cheryl McNair, widow of Challenger astronaut Ronald McNair Lorna Onizuka also (immediately to Lorna’s left), and JSC Acting Deputy Center Director Vanessa Wyche. presented a signed photograph of the Space Shuttle Challenger crew to Dr. Engle. “It is very special because there are not very many of them. But I would like very much for Clear Lake High School to have this,” Onizuka said. Challenger Astronaut Col. Ellison By Eva deCardenas Also on field for the special Onizuka had originally intended to presentation were several members take the ball on his journey into space ov. 3, 2017 marked the of the 1986 soccer team and their poignant end of a 31-year on the ill-fated flight. His daughter, coach, Amy Woolsey; Cheryl McNair, journey for a soccer ball, a Janelle Onizuka, was a member of the widow of Challenger astronaut family and a school. Clear Lake High soccer team in 1986. Ronald McNair; former astronaut and During halftime of that Nov. 3 She and her teammates had signed former Johnson Space Center Director Clear Lake High versus Clear Creek the soccer ball before giving it to her Mike Coats; former astronauts Loren High Friday football game, a special father before the flight. Shriver, Jim Buchli and Mike Fincke; reunion took place bringing people Soon after the Challenger accident, JSC Acting Deputy Center Director bound together by a soccer ball that the soccer ball was discovered in Vanessa Wyche; Clear Creek ISD was intended to fly on the Space the accident debris and eventually Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith, Dr. returned to Clear Lake High School. Shuttle Challenger 51L mission in Engle and Clear Lake High School 1986. Expedition 50 Commander Shane Soccer Coach Jered Shriver.
Fans witness historic handoff at Creek-Lake football game
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Lunar Rendezvous court applications now available
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pplications for the 2018 Lunar Rendezvous Festival Court are available online at www.lunarrendezvous. org Eleventh grade students who are interested in becoming a Princess or Lieutenant or children between the ages of 7 and 9 who wish to be a Little Lady in Waiting or a Page are encouraged to complete an application. All completed applications must be emailed to lunarrendezvousfestival2018@ gmail.com no later than Jan. 31, 2018. An informational meeting will be held on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. at the University of Houston-Clear Lake Bayou Building. The 2018 Lunar Rendezvous Festival will feature events such as a Splashdown Party, TopGolf Golf Tournament, Fun Run, Sunset Service, Fashion Show and Coronation Ball. Now in its 53rd year, the Lunar Rendezvous Festival is dedicated to providing community based support including scholarships for higher education, youth development, and educational programs, and funding for the arts and historical preservation in the Bay Area Houston/NASA area. The Lunar Rendezvous Festival began in 1965 as a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization formed to preserve the rich history and many accomplishments in the space sciences made in the Bay Area. The first Festival, which took place over two weekends in June of 1966 and included more than two dozen events, was a salute to the space program’s historic 1965 rendezvous of Gemini VI and Gemini VII in space. Since its inception, Lunar Rendezvous has hosted fun and entertaining festivals enjoyable for the entire family. Each year hundreds of volunteers join together to promote charity, and to celebrate, and honor our community. For additional information, contact 281.326.5950 or go to www.lunarrendezvous.org
DECEMBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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