Sol Speaker Series
Welcome to the Sol Speaker Series sponsored by STARFLEET Sciences, a monthly online event free to SFI members! We provide interesting and inspiring presentations on a variety of science topics and you have an opportunity to ask questions of our guests at the end of their talks. All events are posted on SFI’s YouTube Channel.
Everyone can join us regardless of your language with the Zoom Translation captions!
Next Event
February 21st, 11am EST
“Analog Space Missions – What are they and how can they inform what we do in Space?”
Speaker: Mike Urvand, Analog Astronaut and NASA JPL Solar Ambassador
For as long as people have been traveling in space, scientists and engineers have been creating analog facsimiles of equipment and missions to test procedure and hardware against what astronauts might encounter while on orbit. Now analog missions have entered the private sector and with it, the opportunity for “regular” people to explore space without leaving the ground.
Mike Urvand, when not commanding Region Six, has been an Analog Astronaut and Science Educator for the last five years. He joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a Solar System Ambassador in 2023 where he gives presentations to groups of all sizes on relevant topics regarding space. He has been on two separate analog space missions as well as presented during the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. He is planning on another trip to observe the 2026 eclipse and hopefully will be participating in a Mars mission simulation in 2027.
Mike Urvand, when not commanding Region Six, has been an Analog Astronaut and Science Educator for the last five years. He joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a Solar System Ambassador in 2023 where he gives presentations to groups of all sizes on relevant topics regarding space. He has been on two separate analog space missions as well as presented during the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. He is planning on another trip to observe the 2026 eclipse and hopefully will be participating in a Mars mission simulation in 2027.