People In The News
John F. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. See details about the Space Symposium at www.spacesymposium.org. To learn more about Space Foundation STEM education programs, visit www.discoverspace.org. Founded in the wake of the Challenger accident in 1986, the Astronauts Memorial Foundation honors and memorializes 24 astronauts who sacrificed their lives for the nation and the space program while on a U.S. government mission or in training. The foundation, which is a private,
not-for-profit organization, built and maintains two major facilities at the John F. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Space Mirror Memorial is a 42-foot high by 50-foot wide polished granite monument designated by Congress to be the national memorial for America’s astronauts. At the Center for Space Education, AMF partners with NASA to inspire future generations of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Students, teachers and mentors experience building rockets, robotic competitions and other hands-on space-related learning activities led by NASA space education specialists. The Center for Space Education also houses a massive conference area with state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities. This conference space is used for NASA Day of Remembrance ceremonies, as well as educational programs, and community and international conferences throughout the year, including the NASA collegiate Robotic Mining Competition involving over 500 students from almost 50 colleges throughout the country. For more information about AMF, visit www.amfcse.org, and follow it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. See award information at www.amfcse.org/alan-shepard-technology-ineducation-award. q
Iowa Woman Breaks Hot Air Balloon Records The Hard Way
The balloon Kim Magee was piloting is 1/6th the size of a standard sport balloon.
FARGO, N.D. – Kim Magee of Swisher, Iowa, broke three hot air balloon records on January 19, 2019, launching from the fairgrounds in West Fargo, North Dakota. She flew approximately 62 miles southeast, reached an altitude of approximately 10,243 feet, and a maximum speed of 56 mph. She landed near Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The feat was recorded by the FAI Ballooning Commission. 38 APRIL/MAY 2019 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE
The balloon Magee was piloting was small – 14,000 cubic feet, compared to 90,000 cubic feet for a standard sport balloon. To make the feat even more difficult, the balloon did not have a basket, only one fuel tank which was strapped to her back, and a little seat folded out for her to sit on. Magee holds a commercial pilot certificate for lighterAll strapped in and ready to fly to an altitude of approximately 10,243 feet than-air aircraft, without a parachute. and a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. She is a biostatistician by trade. Magee’s family is also into ballooning. Her husband is a commercial balloon pilot and they met at a balloon event. Her mother, father and mother-in-law are also commercial q balloon pilots.