Join us for National STEM Day, a day filled with STEM activations and special presentations!
STEM/STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. This National Day is celebrated every year on November 8th to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in STEM/STEAM.
Mission Memories with Astronaut Captain Mike Baker
Mission Briefing Center
11:30-12:15pm
1:20-2:05pm
Baker was born in Memphis, Tenn, but he considers Lemoore, Calif. his hometown. After graduating from The University of Texas in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering, Baker was commissioned in the U.S. Navy and earned his Wings of Gold in 1977. He was assigned to Attack Squadron 56, on the USS Midway, homeported in Japan, and flew the A-7E Corsair II. He attended the
U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) in 1981 and was then assigned to the Carrier Suitability Branch of the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. He has served as an instructor at both USNTPS and the Empire Test Pilots School in England. He has logged over 5,400 hours flying time in 50 different types of airplanes and has over 300 carrier landings.
Baker was selected by NASA in 1985 and is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions. He served as the pilot on STS-43 Atlantis (1991) and STS-52 Columbia (1992). He then served as the commander on
STS-68 Endeavor (1994) and STS-81 Atlantis (1997). Baker has logged 965 hours in space. Between space missions, he held numerous positions at NASA including CAPCOM on 11 shuttle
missions, the assistant director of NASA Johnson Space Center for Human Space Flight Programs, Russia and as the International Space Station Program Manager for International and Crew Operations. Baker left NASA in 2017 and was the President and CEO of RD AMROSS, a US/Russia joint venture until 2019.
Baker has been honored with multiple awards including the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Navy Unit Commendation, three Meritorious Unit Commendations, the Battle “E” Award, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, three Navy Expeditionary Medals, the National Defense Medal, two Sea Service Awards, and the Overseas Service Award.
Special Presentations and Speakers to be announced!
We will have pop-up science lab activities in the Main Plaza throughout the event.
