NASA official speaking at ETSU ahead of Jupiter mission
A NASA official for the upcoming Europa Clipper mission – one of NASA’s most important missions in years – is coming to East Tennessee State University.
Trina Ray will give a public lecture that is free and open to the public on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 4:30 p.m. in the Brown Hall auditorium (room 112).
Ray will discuss the scientific mission of Europa Clipper, NASA’s upcoming spacecraft set to explore Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa.
Scheduled to launch on Oct. 10, the Europa Clipper is expected to arrive at Jupiter in 2030. Its primary goal: determine if the conditions on Europa might be suitable for life by analyzing the moon’s ice-covered ocean. The mission holds promise for understanding more about the potential habitability of icy worlds beyond Earth.
“The Europa Clipper mission is one of the most exciting endeavors in planetary science today,” said Dr. Beverly Smith, professor in ETSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Ray share her insights with our students, faculty and the broader community. Her work with NASA represents the pinnacle of scientific exploration, and this event is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about this groundbreaking mission to one of the most intriguing moons in our solar system.”
Following her public lecture, Ray will also lead a workshop for local teachers, organized in collaboration with ETSU’s Center of Excellence in STEM Education. The workshop will begin at 5:45 p.m. and will focus on bringing space science into classrooms, inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Register for the workshop here.
Ray’s career at NASA started in August 1989. Over her 30 years, she worked in planning all the Titan science opportunities of the Cassini Mission, a spacecraft sent to study Saturn. Currently she is an investigation scientist for the ice-penetrating radar instrument on NASA’s newest flagship mission “Europa Clipper."
Ray has received numerous awards, including a NASA medal for Exceptional Service and the prestigious Bruce Murray Award for excellence in education and public engagement outside of normal job duties.
For more information about the lecture and workshop, contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy at (423) 439-8681 or physics@etsu.edu.
For disability accommodations, contact the ETSU Office of Disability Services at (423) 439-8346.
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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