ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University students in Don Flournoy's satellite communication class experienced a unique and historic opportunity on Jan. 28, 2003, when they communicated with Ohio University alumnus and NASA scientist Ron Sicker, via telephone as he worked at NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas.
Sicker, a NASA project manager based in Cleveland, met Flournoy in the early '90s when Ohio University and NASA officials teamed up to create a university-based research consortium utilizing a NASA satellite. Since their meeting, Flournoy's classes have benefited from their acquaintance. Some classes have joined Sicker in Cleveland and others have gained insight and knowledge of NASA's work through teleconferences like the one conducted during the Columbia's 16-day mission.
Just four days after the teleconference, the Columbia exploded during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. Sicker, Flournoy, the students and the nation were shocked.
Sicker was responsible for the 80 or so anti-gravity, combustion, medical and other science experiments being conducted on Flight STS-107 of the space shuttle Columbia. The chance was ripe for interaction with the Flournoy's satellite communication class, and Sicker was more than happy to help.
"I get a lot of enjoyment talking with students," Sicker said. "I also get the personal satisfaction that students are interested in what we do at NASA, especially if they pursue it after graduation."
Prior to the telephone interview, Sicker sent the class a couple of photos of the Columbia crew at work. Later, the class shared the photos and watched the NASA channel on television as they spoke to Sicker via speakerphone for an hour. Sicker fielded technical questions, shared personal tidbits from several of the astronauts' lives and spoke fondly of his alma mater.
Senior electrical engineering student Michael Hackenberg was impressed.
"It was really cool to be talking to someone with Mission Control," Hackenberg said. "The most touching parts were the descriptions of each astronaut, where they were from and the nicknames they used for one another. This allowed us to see a much more personal view of the astronauts than the general public."
What had been a cool experience for the students became a poignant reminder of the importance of communication and the fragility of time.
Flournoy, who has been an avid follower of NASA's mission his entire career, was on his way to the university when he heard the news. E-mails among the class members began flying among their keyboards, and Flournoy called Sicker immediately.
"I tried to express the regret we felt," Flournoy said. "He had just experienced irreplaceable loss, loss of colleagues, loss of life's work."
Sicker is absolutely convinced that NASA's endeavors in space must continue, and feels that the future depends on the students he inspires.
"I feel the desire to pass on information so that these students can take my place, just as I've taken others' places," Sicker said. "These students are the third generation of NASA scientists. There is a heritage here, and I'm anxious to pass on my knowledge and that of NASA."
In the meantime, an alumnus, a professor and a class mourn together.
