August 19, 2011 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Speaker:  Ron Sheffield, former Manager of Extravehicular Activity and Crew Systems

Title: Annual Dinner - Hubble Space Telescope

Abstract:   This presentation highlights the physical description, characteristics, and historical data on the Hubble Space Telescope over the 25-year period from the time it was built in Sunnyvale in 1985 to the final in-orbit servicing mission completed in 2009. It shows and discusses the in-orbit highlights of the extravehicular activities (EVA) that took place during the 2009 servicing mission, including hardware replacement, repair and upgrading of capabilities, as well as describing the EVA daily activities. In addition, the presentation highlights the scientific papers and discoveries made during the Hubble’s 20 years in orbit, and reviews the top five of the Hubble’s discoveries along with several recent Hubble discoveries. The presentation ends with a Q&A session. .

Speaker Background: Ronald L. Sheffield (Ron) was the Manager of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) and Crew Systems on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Program for Lockheed Martin from 1985-2003, and then a consultant on the same program through 2009. Ron helped build the Hubble in Sunnyvale, designed & built the original crew aids and tools (CATs), and verified the form, fit, and function of all the Hubble’s EVA interfaces with the CATs. Ron trained all the astronauts who serviced the Hubble for 20 years, including ensuring service-friendly flight hardware, developing in-orbit procedures for EVA activities, conducting training in the water tanks at multiple Space Flight Centers, and manning the consoles at Johnson Space Center. Ron earned more than a dozen top awards from Lockheed, NASA and the Space Flight Centers. Prior to his involvement in the Hubble, Ron served in the US Army for 20 years as an Infantry Aviator. Ron served three tours in Vietnam as a helicopter gunship pilot, platoon leader, and commander of a Cobra company, during which he accrued 2,200 hours of combat flight time (his total flight time is over 3,500 hours). Ron also served tours in Germany, at various Army posts in the US, and as an Air Officer Commanding at the USAF Academy. Ron earned dozens of awards from the Army and retired as an Army Lieutenant Colonel in 1982. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Ron holds a BS in Math Education from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado. Ron has lived on the Monterey Peninsula since 1978 with his wife Linda and three children, all of whom have married and left the nest.