Evening With An Astronaut April 17, 2009

A career in veterinary medicine takes you beyond the examination table. In fact, it can take you out of this world! Find out how a veterinarian ends up in space on April 17, when marine mammal veterinarian and astronaut Dr. Richard Linnehan comes to Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Dr. Linnehan’s presentation will feature photos and stories from his four space flights, including highlights from his last trip aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. During his four trips to space totaling more than 58 days, he has circled Earth a total of 942 times and gone on six space walks. His missions have included upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope’s systems, serving as both a subject and operator for space experiments focusing on the effect of microgravity on the brain and nervous system and, most recently, delivering key pieces of a space station.

After completing an internship at the Baltimore Zoo and John Hopkins University, Dr. Linnehan was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. During his assignment at the Naval Ocean Systems Center in San Diego, he initiated research in anesthesia, orthopedics and reproduction in support of U.S. Navy mobile marine mammal systems stationed in California, Florida and Hawaii. In 1992, he was selected by NASA to complete one year of astronaut candidate training that qualified him for flight assignments as a mission specialist. From there, Dr. Linnehan participated in four space flights. Currently, he is completing a one-year fellowship at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The event includes a wine and cheese reception and is designed for adults and families with children in grades 6 and up.

Official Website: http://www.mysticaquarium.org