During 2004, the Chicago Society for Space Studies was active educating the public about space exploration, both human and robotic, and the new NASA “Vision
for Space Exploration”. There were 23 public education programs, 6 meetings, 2 field trips, 2 Moon Base construction meetings and 1 barbecue. The average attendance at chapter meetings was 8 and the average attendance at public education programs was around 35. What follows is a brief overview of the activities we were engaged in during the course of the year 2004.
| Date | Activity | Description |
| 1/7/2004 | Public Education, Evanston Library |
John Vittallo gave his presentation “The Cassini Mission to Saturn”. |
| 1/13/2004 | Public Education, Glenview Library |
John Vittallo gave his presentation “The Cassini Mission to Saturn”. |
| 1/18/2004 | Public Education, Niles Library |
With an audience of some 50 people, Jim Plaxco gave a one hour presentation “Mars Exploration Rovers”. This was followed by a panel discussion “New Vision for Space Exploration” featuring Jim Plaxco, Jeff Liss, and Larry Boyle. |
| 1/27/2004 | Public Education, Rolling Meadows Library |
John Vittallo gave his presentation “The Cassini Mission to Saturn”. |
| 2/3/2004 | Public Education, Schaumburg Library |
Jim Plaxco made a one hour presentation on “Mars Exploration Rovers”. |
| 2/10/2004 | Public Education, Northbrook Village Presbyterian Church, Boys Scout Troop 67 |
Jim Plaxco made a one hour presentation on “Mars Exploration Rovers” to a scout audience of approximately 100. In addition, a short presentation of 3D images of Mars was well received and handouts were distributed to all in attendance. |
| 2/20/2004 | Public Education, Men’s Club of Friendship Village, Schaumburg |
Jim Plaxco gave his “Mars Exploration Rovers” presentation to an audience of 30 people. |
| 2/29/2004 | Chapter Meeting, Omega Restaurant, Niles, IL |
A business meeting was held to discuss chapter activities and to plan for future events. |
| 3/3/2004 | Public Education, Deerfield Library |
John Vittallo gave his presentation “The Cassini Mission to Saturn”. |
| 3/11/2004 | Public Education, Morton Grove Library |
John Vittallo gave his presentation “The Cassini Mission to Saturn”. |
| 3/19/2004 | Public Education, Lake County Astronomers |
Larry Boyle gave his presentation “2003 Space Year In Review” to the Lake County Astronomers club. |
| 3/28/2004 | Field Trip/Meeting, Adler Planetarium, Chicago IL |
About 15 people joined in on our field trip to the Adler Planetarium. |
| 4/10/2004 | Public Education, SF Convention, Rosemont IL |
Jim Plaxco participated in a panel discussion on the “Bush Space Initiative” at the ToBeContinued Science Fiction Convention. |
| 4/24/2004 | Chapter Meeting, Lou Malnatis, Schaumburg IL |
A business meeting was held to discuss chapter activities, plan for future events, and partake of some excellent pizza. |
| 4/24/2004 | Field Trip, Harper College |
About 10 CSSS members made a field trip to Harper College in Palatine IL to attend the Astronomy Day activities being held there by the Northwest Suburban Astronomy Club. |
| 5/23/2004 | Chapter Meeting, Panera Bread, Niles IL |
A business meeting was held to discuss chapter activities and to plan for future events. |
| 6/5/2004 | Public Education, Lincolnwood IL |
Jim Plaxco participated in the panel “The Future Mars: Red, Green, or Blue Planet?” at the Duckon Science Fiction Convention. |
| 6/12/2004 | Public Education, Illinois Institute of Technology |
The CSSS contacted the Illinois Institute of Technology and made arrangements to have NSS Executive Director George Whitesides present Apollo 13 astronaut Captain James Lovell with the NSS’ Heinlein Award, the society’s top award. Mr. Whitesides presented Captain Lovell with the award before an audience of approximately 1,000, who were there as a part of a special alumni event. |
| 6/17/2004 | Public Education, Motorola, ED/CAS/SSC Societies of IEEE, Schaumburg, IL |
Jim Plaxco made his presentation on “The Future of Human Space Exploration” at a meeting of the IEEE held at Motorola’s corporate headquarters. |
| 6/19/2004 | Summer Barbecue/Meeting, Robert Jeske Home |
Lunar Display Project starts (a working model of the moon with rovers in connection with the Bush Initiative) |
| 7/19/2004 | Public Education, Highland Park Library, Highland Park IL |
John Vittallo gave his presentation “The Cassini Mission to Saturn”. |
| 7/20/2004 | Public Education, Indian Trails Library, Wheeling IL |
John Vittallo gave his presentation “The Cassini Mission to Saturn”. |
| 7/21/2004 | Public Education, Wauconda Library, Wauconda IL |
Jim Plaxco made his presentation on “The Future of Human Space Exploration” as a part of the Wauconda Library’s monthly public programming. |
| 8/8/2004 | Chapter Meeting, Omega Restaurant, Niles IL |
A business meeting was held to discuss chapter activities and to plan for future events. |
| 8/27/2004 | Public Education, Men’s Club of Friendship Village, Schaumburg IL |
Jim Plaxco gave his presentation “The Future of Human Space Exploration” to the Men’s Club of Friendship Village. |
| 9/22/2004 | Chapter Meeting, Omega Restaurant, Niles IL |
A business meeting was held to discuss chapter activities and to plan for future events. |
| 9/23/2004 | Public Education, Skokie Library |
John Vittallo gave his presentation “The Cassini Mission to Saturn”. |
| 9/27/2004 | Public Education, Schaumburg Library, Schaumburg IL |
Jim Plaxco gave his presentation “The Future of Human Space Exploration” as a part of the Schaumburg Library’s public programming. |
| 10/27/2004 | Public Education, Planetary Studies Foundation Henize Science Center, Crystal Lake IL |
Jim Plaxco gave his presentation “The Future of Human Space Exploration” to a group of mostly Harper College students at the Henize Science Center. |
| 11/13/2004 | Public Education, Windycon SF Convention |
Jim Plaxco and Bill Higgins participated in the panel “Current News in Planetary Science and Astronomy” at the Windycon Science Fiction Convention. |
| 11/14/2004 | Public Education, Windycon SF Convention |
Jim Plaxco gave his presentation “Mars as Art” at the Windycon Science Fiction Convention. |
| 11/20/2004 | Chapter Meeting, Omega Restaurant, Niles IL |
A business meeting was held to discuss chapter activities and to plan for future events. |