Roger That! Celebration

​A CELEBRATION OF SPACE EXPLORATION
​In 2016 Grand Valley State University Faculty in Anthropology, Physics and Engineering got together to create an unusual event whose purpose was to honor the sacrifice of Grand Rapids native and Apollo 1 astronaut Roger B. Chaffee while celebrating space exploration during and since Chaffee’s lifetime. Roger That! was born. The event combined a mini academic conference at GVSU with public keynote addresses, activities and field trips at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, musical performance and more and was spread over two days.

Roger That! 2017 was such a success that we obtained a Michigan Space Grant to help fund Roger That! 2018, 2019, and 2020 (so far). Our speakers have included Roger B. Chaffee’s daughter Cheryl L. Chaffee, Brother Guy Consolmagno, illustrators Durwin Talon and E. Guin Thompson, astronaut Guion Bluford, sculptor J Brett Grill, and astronaut Nicole Stott. The event also features a design challenge for 4th through 8th graders called Design That!

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