For The Cortez Journal
The Pinhead Institute presents the first installment of its six-week Punk Science lecture series for kids of all ages featuring rocket scientist Kevin McNeill on the exploration of Mars.
The series runs at the Cortez Cultural Center Plaza, Wednesdays from July 1- Aug. 5, 5:15 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
McNeill graduated from the University of Colorado in 1974 with a degree in math and a minor in computer science. After graduation he spent five years in Seattle working at Boeing and Honeywell. Kevin returned to Colorado in 1979 to spend 28 years at Martin Marietta/Lockheed Martin. Over 25 years were spent developing spacecraft for NASA missions, including missions to Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Comets, and L1 (the point between the Earth and Sun where the gravitational attraction from each is equal).
Kevin’s final position was Program Manager for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Launched in 2005, it is still orbiting Mars and returning exceptional science from six different instruments, as well as all of the Curiosity Rover’s science data. The returned images from MRO were instrumental in determining the landing sites for the Mars Phoenix mission and for the Curiosity Rover.
After retiring in 2007, he moved with his wife to Ridgway and has participated on the Board of Directors for the Second Chance Humane Society in Ridgway and the Mount Sneffels Education Foundation. Kevin has shared his experience with students at many local area schools, the University of Colorado, the Air Force Academy, and at schools in Mexico, as well as at various organizations around Colorado and neighboring states.