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Last updated on Tuesday, October 21, 2014
(BEDFORD) - Bedford native and astronaut Charlie Walker and author Heather Smith will be in Bedford on Wednesday at the Chamber of Commerce office from 1:15 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. to sign Smith’s book “Bold They Rise: The Space Shuttle Early Years, 1972-1986.”
The book is filled with information about Walker, the early days of the space shuttle program from conception through development, testing, early flights and the astronauts who were part of the development and early flights of the shuttle program.
Books will be available for purchase for $35. There will also be a lunch presentation at Noon. The cost to attend the lunch is $15 and you must RSVP ato bedford@bedfordchamber.com or call 275-4493.
Walker graduated from Bedford High School in 1966. He earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue in 1971. In the mid-1980s he flew aboard three NASA Space Shuttle missions as the first industry-sponsored engineer and researcher. As such, he became the first private astronaut in space.
Walker, who now resides outside of Tucson, Ariz., with his wife, is mostly retired. He is working on a book about his three flights on space shuttles.
The book published by University of Nebraska Press is part of the Outward Odyssey series which is chronicling the history of human spaceflight.
Walker, will speak at Purdue University Friday about his experiences in the space program. His talk, which is free and open to the public, begins at 8 p.m. in the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall.
Walker also will attend Purdue's annual Space Day on Oct. 25. He will speak at 9:30 a.m. in Elliott Hall of Music. That event also is free and open to the public.
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