APL Colloquium

November 7, 2014

Colloquium Topic: Archaeology and Heritage of the Human Movement into Space

The panel will address the creation, documentation, preservation, and study of the archaeology of lunar, planetary, and interstellar exploration. This material defines the attributes of common human technological expressions within national and increasingly private exploration efforts, and explore the archaeology of both fixed and mobile artifacts in the solar system and the wider galaxy.

As space exploration has reached the half century mark, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the major events and technological development of this particular and unique 20th century arena of human history.



Colloquium Speaker: Beth Laura O’Leary, Milford Wayne Donaldson, P. J. Capelotti, and Ann Garrison Darrin

Dr. Beth Laura O’Leary, University of New Mexico
Dr. O’Leary is Professor emerita in the Anthropology Department at New Mexico State University. She is one of the leaders in the emerging field of space archaeology and heritage and has been interviewed by Smithsonian Magazine, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, CBC and other international media. She performed the archaeological assemblage at the Apollo 11 Tranquility Base site and has worked with NASA on guidelines for preserving archaeological sites on the Moon.

Mr. Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA
Mr. Donaldson was appointed by President Barack Obama as Chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in 2010. He was formerly the California State Historic Preservation Officer from 2004-2012.  Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA Inc. celebrates its 36th year with projects throughout the United States.

Dr. P. J. Capelotti, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. P. J. Capelotti’s research on the archaeology and history of exploration has taken him from the equator to the North Pole and from Indonesia to Russia.  Author of over twenty books he is a leading expert in the archaeology of exploration.  He is a Professor of Anthropology at Pennsylvania State University, Abington College, where he is also Chair of the Faculty Senate.

Ms. Ann Garrison Darrin, JHU/APL
Ms. Darrin has collaborated on several projects with this team relative to the engineering  aspects of studying the material remains in space.  She co-authored and edited with Beth O’Leary the Handbook of Space Engineering, Archaeology and Heritage (CRC Taylor and Francis).  A former NASA employee, Ann is the Managing Executive of the Space Exploration Sector at the Applied Physics Laboratory.