Roger That! Conference to explore space and communication, present keynote from astronaut who conducted multiple spacewalks

This year's Roger That! conference will focus on the ways space exploration and communication can intersect and will feature a keynote from a retired NASA astronaut who did three spacewalks focused on the International Space Station's construction.

John Herrington, whose distinguished career also includes roles as a U.S. Navy commander and service as a naval aviator and test pilot, will deliver the keynote on both days of the event, Feb. 14 and 15. Herrington is also the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space.

Programming will explore how humans on the ground communicate with those in space, engineers in spacecraft and the many ways that people on Earth share ideas and information about space exploration with the larger community.

The annual conference, a joint venture between Grand Valley and the Grand Rapids Public Museum, celebrates space exploration and the life of Grand Rapids native Roger B. Chaffee. Chaffee, along with Gus Grissom and Ed White, died in 1967 during an Apollo I pre-flight test when a fire broke out in the cockpit of their command module.

The events include an academic and public conference at GVSU, programming for K-12 students from both partner organizations and a public celebration at the GRPM .

Deana Weibel, GVSU professor of anthropology and co-organizer of Roger That!, said the celebration has become a "beloved West Michigan winter tradition."

"Commander John Herrington's extraordinary journey – from performing spacewalks as a NASA astronaut to his work as an engineer, educator, and author – really demonstrates the power of communication and collaboration," Weibel said. "His participation highlights a two-day event designed to engage and inspire our community, including a public online conference with expert speakers, in-person workshops, an art panel, and hands-on activities for K-12 students. We love how Roger That! brings space exploration to life, making it accessible and exciting for everyone."

Herrington will speak at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the Loosemore Auditorium on GVSU's Pew Grand Rapids Campus. It will also be livestreamed. Register for the event at the Roger That! website .

On Feb. 15, Herrington will speak at 11 a.m. in the GRPM's Meijer Theater. Guests can register for the event at the museum's website .

Grand Valley's free academic conference on Feb. 14 is open to educators as well as the general public and offers a variety of learning opportunities.

Some highlights:

• A slate of speakers with expertise ranging from space-focused musical composing to space journalism to engineering
• In-person STEM workshops for the whole family and a panel on science and art
• The Design That! challenge, which offers students in fourth-eighth grades an opportunity to produce projects that reflect space-related topics