Roger
That!
Roger That! is a two-day celebration of space exploration and the life of Grand Rapids native Roger B. Chaffee, a former American naval officer and aviator aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut in the Apollo program. The GRPM and Grand Valley State University (GVSU) are proud to bring you the eleventh annual Roger That! symposium on the weekend of February 12 + 13, 2027.Â
Roger That! Day 1
February 12, 2027, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Calling all the aspiring astronauts in lower elementary: this day is for you! Join us at the Grand Rapids Public Museum on February 12 for fun with STEAM and space. In partnership with GVSU, this day of programming honors the life of Grand Rapids native and astronaut Roger B. Chaffee through a variety of engaging activities and programs designed for lower elementary students.
- Embark on an “Astronaut Training Mission” by completing activities throughout the Museum
- Complete a space-themed discovery hunt
- Join BenJammin for an interactive space-themed musical adventure
- Enjoy a variety of stellar hands-on crafts, experiments, and activitiesÂ
Roger That! Day 2
February 13, 2027, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Listen to a presentation by a real astronaut
- Gaze through telescopes
- Enjoy the magic of an immersive show in the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium
- Meet local groups and organizations who are doing “Out of this World” work in the world of STEAM
- Earn a prize for taking part in an astronaut training mission around the Museum
Roger That! at Grand Valley State University
There’s even more fun with space happening at Grand Valley State University!
- Experience in-person events at GVSU’s Pew Campus
- Listen to a live panel discussion
- View entries to the annual Design That! Challenge submitted by local students in 4th through 8th grade
2027 Keynote Speaker, Dr. Linda Godwin
11 a.m. in the Meijer Theater, free with general admission
Born on July 2, 1952, Dr. Linda Godwin grew up in Jackson, Missouri. She completed a Bachelor of Science in physics and mathematics and a Master of Science degree. She taught undergraduate physics labs and conducted research in low-temperature solid-state physics, the results of which are published in several journals.
Dr. Linda Godwin earned her doctorate in physics from the University of Missouri in 1980, and joined NASA the same year. She was a flight controller and payload officer on several Shuttle Missions before becoming an astronaut in 1986.Â
A veteran of four space flights, Dr. Godwin has logged over 38 days in space, including over 10 EVA hours in two spacewalks. In 1991, she served as a Mission Specialist on STS-37, was the Payload Commander on STS-59 in 1994, flew on STS-76 in 1996, a Mir docking mission, and served on STS-108/International Space Station Flight UF-1 in 2001.
Dr. Godwin’s special honors include the NASA Outstanding Performance Rating, Sustained Superior Performance Award, Outstanding Leadership Medal, Exceptional Service Medal, and Distinguished Service Medal.
Community Involvement
We would love if you or your organization got involved in this stellar event! Sign up to join us on Saturday, February 21 with a demonstration, information, or activity table. We also welcome vendors for a small fee of $25. Help us inspire all ages to reach for the stars and get involved with STEAM.
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium.
Continue celebrating space exploration by visiting the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium.Â
Shows in the Chaffee Planetarium take place every hour on February 21 and are $4 per person or $2 for Museum members.Â
In addition to planetarium shows, the GRPM also partnered with astronaut Brent Bos and created a set of new interactive experiences outside of the Chaffee Planetarium. These include a lunar crater station, meteors under a microscope and a meteor pinball machine.Â
The Planetarium lobby also features an exhibit with Roger B. Chaffee artifacts that tell a detailed story of his life.
Apollo 1 Tragedy
On January 27, 1967, tragedy struck NASA’s Apollo program when a flash fire occurred in command module 012 during a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn space vehicle being prepared for the first piloted flight, the AS-204 mission. Three astronauts, Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, a veteran of Mercury and Gemini missions; Lt. Col. Edward H. White, the astronaut who had performed the first United States extravehicular activity during the Gemini program; and Grand Rapids Native Roger B. Chaffee, an astronaut preparing for his first space flight, died in this tragic accident.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum renamed its planetarium to the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium the same year.
This event, scholarly in nature and open to the general public, is co-organized by the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Valley State University, and the Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship Fund. Roger That! seeks to honor Chaffee and highlight local research in a two-day celebration of space exploration.
Sponsored By:
Patron
