Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2015 09:36:40 -0400 (EDT) From: Greg Loescher <onthelake2@tds.net> Message-ID: <1981196888.136547826.1436794600212.JavaMail.zimbra@tds.net> Subject: PRESS RELEASE: 1960s NASA space program explored at Iola Historical Society presentation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lee Halverson, lesuhalv@wi-net.com , or Greg Loescher, onthelake2@
tds.net
“When we left earth” - NASA Space Program explored at Iola
Historical Society presentation this Saturday
America’s venture into space in the 1960s comes to life in a specia
l presentation Saturday, July 18, at the Iola Historical Society. The prese
ntation begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Society’s “Machine Shed
” at 222 Depot Street.
A viewing of a Discovery Channel documentary entitled Ordinary Superman wil
l open the program. The documentary looks at NASA’s selection of th
e seven men who became the country’s first astronauts, ushering in
a new space age. They were all test pilots and understood the enormous risk
s, as no one at the time had attempted a vertical space launch on top of a
rocket.
NASA and the Mercury Seven, as the astronauts were dubbed, embarked on a bo
ld journey into the unknown. Rigorous training hours prepared them for trav
el exceeding 17,000 miles per hour on a converted intercontinental ballisti
c missile.
Iola native Robert Stamstad will be available after the documentary viewing
to talk about the mission and answer questions. Stamstad worked at the Red
stone Arsenal (later renamed George Marshall Space Flight Center) in Huntsv
ille, Ala., as an engineer responsible for aligning the guidance and contro
l equipment for the Redstone missiles and Mercury capsules. His work with g
yroscopes, telemetry equipment, accelerometers, and spacial attitude-contro
l nozzles were very critical to the success of the launch, ride, and re-ent
ry of the missiles.
The Iola Historical Society’s historic village will be open from No
on to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays through the end of August. Seven buildings inc
luding the Machine Shed, Iola’s original vintage railroad depot, to
wnship hall, 1930s hunting log cabin, museum, replica one-room schoolhouse,
and replica fire station are all open for viewing.
For more information, go to www.iolahistoricalsociety.org or www.ischamber.
com .
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