Jeff Woytach of Cleveland’s NASA John H. Glenn Research Center will discuss the exploration of Mars at an Akron Press Club virtual program Friday, October 1 at noon.
NASA Glenn was a key participant in the Mars Pathfinder mission, which was designed to show a way to deliver science instruments and a free-ranging rover to the Red Planet.
The air bag landing system was tested successfully at Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky. The Glenn Center also developed a way to obtain information on the abrasiveness and
adherence properties of Mars soil and dust. Consequently, Glenn developed three flight sensors for experiments on the Pathfinder Microrover, named "Sojourner."
Woytach provides engineering support for a number of NASA projects and has worked on hardware for the International Space Station and a satellite launched from the Space Shuttle.
The Scranton, Pennsylvania native earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in May 1983. He joined the Glenn Center in June 1983.
Woytach enjoys space exploration history, collecting space exploration memorabilia, astronomy and Star Trek. He is the founder of the “Glenn Band,” a concert group of NASA Glenn employees and retirees, their family members and students from the North Olmsted School District.
The Akron Press Club has not been able to hold traditional lunch programming during the current pandemic. Funds from these lunches go toward scholarships for journalism and public relations students. Between the Press Club and the John S. Knight Memorial Scholarship Fund, scholarships of $5,000 were awarded to 10 students in 2021.
As we navigate COVID-19, please consider a donation to the Akron Press Club to fund scholarships. They make a difference to the students who receive them. You can donate by following the link on the registration page for this event.
Speaker: Jeff Woytach of Cleveland’s NASA John H. Glenn Research Center.
Date: Noon, Friday, October 1, 2021
To register for this free virtual event: Go to https://conta.cc/2XaIIaG
To donate to Press Club scholarships: Go to https://bit.ly/370g0eZ
Upcoming Press Club programming:
- University of Akron Law School panel: October 20, noon.
- State of the University of Akron, Dr. Gary L. Miller: November 16, noon.
The Akron Press Club was founded in 1971 to promote a free press and serve local journalists and public relations professionals. The group has a rich heritage of offering newsmakers a forum to discuss issues of the day at Press Club luncheons and speaking events that are open to the public. The club also funds scholarships for journalists and public relations students.