AeroAstro turns 100
On Friday, 11 astronauts — all MIT alumni — took to the stage of Kresge Auditorium to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The elite corps of explorers reminisced about their unique on-the-job experiences, from day-to-day tasks on the International Space Station to high-pressure exercises, such as the emergency dismantling of a handrail on the Hubble Space Telescope. Moderator Dava Newman, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics and engineering systems who was nominated last week by President Barack Obama to serve as NASA’s deputy administrator, took a moment to direct a question to the packed auditorium: “Who wants [the astronauts’] job?” In response, it seemed nearly everyone raised a hand. Indeed, a recurring theme during AeroAstro’s three-day centennial celebration was the sending of more humans into space — and in particular, the prospect of establishing a human settlement on Mars. “One hundred years from now, students will be studying...