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Our Mission....
The ongoing mission of the Scobee Planetarium is to serve our community as a resource of astronomy and space science knowledge, providing everyone with an enriched understanding of our place in the Universe.
Our History....
Since opening in 1961, the San Antonio College Planetarium has been visited by over a million people, including school children, college students and the public. On July 9, 1994, this facility was rededicated The Scobee Planetarium to honor former San Antonio College student and NASA astronaut, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee - Commander of the Space Shuttle Challenger's final flight. On behalf of Dick Scobee, the Planetarium is committed to continuing the Challenger's mission of discovery.
The Planetarium Projector....
The star projector in the center of our cosmic theater is the heart of the planetarium. Standing over 10 feet tall, this specialized instrument optically projects over 4,000 stars onto the curved projection sky-dome. Intricate gearing allows for accurate positioning and motion of the Sun, Moon and the visible planets. This machine is the planetarium. As a celestial simulator, this amazing instrument is capable of recreating the heavens as viewed from our city or any other location on the Earth.
Observatory and Telescope....
Introducing The NEW Telescope....
Replacing the Celestron 14 which served as the primary observatory instrument for over 31 years , the new telescope, a 10 inch refractor manufactured by D&G Optical, is situated in the center of the remodeled observatory. The telescope is mounted atop a 7 foot steel pier and features an ultra-precise German Equatorial Mount manufactured by Parallax Instruments. This mount is capable of automatically positioning the telescope towards the Sun, Moon, any of the planets, stars, or over 17,000 other objects stored in its computer database.
The refracting telescope tube is nearly 11 feet long and weighs 75 lbs. It has a lens 10 inches in diameter that focuses the image 10 feet down its tube. It is a monstrous instrument that rises 3 feet above the surround ing walls, and 12 feet above the observatory floor. Much of time the eyepiece that visitors will be looking through will be conveniently placed for viewing.
Gone is the old observatory dome - replaced by a sloping roof structure that retract s to provide a greater view of the night sky! The east-facing door of the observatory has also been widened to provide easier wheelchair access to the observatory. Eventually, a small video camera will be attached to a n auxiliary telescope allowing our telescopic target s to be displayed on a nearby monitor .
The observatory telescope is opened at about 9:00pm, weather permitting, following the completion of our final planetarium program on Friday night.
More about Astronaut Francis R. (Dick) Scobee....
Francis R. (Dick) Scobee was born May 19, 1939, in Cle Elum, Washington. Died January 28, 1986.
He is survived by his wife, June, and two children. He enjoyed flying, oil painting, woodworking, motorcycling, racquetball, jogging, and most outdoor sports.
EDUCATION:
Graduated from Auburn Senior High School, Auburn, Washington, in 1957; attended San Antonio College in the early 1960's, received a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1965.
ORGANIZATIONS:
Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Tau Beta Pi, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and the Air Force Association.
SPECIAL HONORS:
Awarded the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and two NASA Exceptional Service Medals.
Francis R. (Dick) Scobee enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957, trained as a reciprocating engine mechanic, and was subsequently stationed at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. While there, he attended night school and acquired 2 years of college credit at San Antonio College which led to his selection for the Airman's Education and Commissioning Program. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering. He received his commission in 1965 and, after receiving his wings in 1966, completed a number of assignments including a combat tour in Vietnam. He returned to the United States and attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Since graduating in 1972, he has participated in test programs for which he has flown such varied aircraft as the Boeing 747, the X-24B, the transonic aircraft technology (TACT) F-111, and the C-5. He has logged more than 6,500 hours flying time in 45 types of aircraft.
NASA EXPERIENCE:
Dick Scobee was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978. In August 1979, he completed a 1-year training and evaluation period, making him eligible for assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flightcrews. In addition to astronaut duties, Mr. Scobee was an Instructor Pilot on the NASA/Boeing 747 shuttle carrier airplane.
He first flew as pilot of STS 41-C which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 6, 1984. Crew members included spacecraft commander Captain Robert L. Crippen, and three mission specialists, Mr. Terry J. Hart, Dr. G.D. (Pinky) Nelson, and Dr. J.D.A. (Ox) van Hoften. During this mission the crew successfully deployed the Long Duration Exposure Facility "LDEF"; retrieved the ailing Solar Maximum Satellite, repaired it on-board the orbiting Challenger, and replaced it in orbit using the robot arm called the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). The mission also included flight testing of Manned Maneuvering Units (MMU's) in two extravehicular activities "EVA's"; operation of the Cinema 360 and IMAX Camera Systems, as well as a Bee Hive Honeycomb Structures student experiment. Mission duration was 7-days before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on April 13, 1984. With the completion of this flight he logged a total of 168-hours in space.
Mr. Scobee was spacecraft commander on STS 51-L which was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 11:38:00 EST on January 28, 1986. The crew on board the Orbiter Challenger included the pilot, Commander M.J. Smith (USN) (pilot), three mission specialists, Dr. R.E. McNair, Lieutenant Colonel E.S. Onizuka (USAF), and Dr. J.A. Resnik, as well as two civilian payload specialists, Mr. G.B. Jarvis and Mrs. S. C. McAuliffe. The STS 51-L crew died on January 28, 1986 when Challenger exploded after launch.
On May 1, 2004, Dick Scobee was enshrined in the Astronaut Hall of Fame during a public ceremony at the
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
The Scobee Planetarium is a component of the Continuing Education Training Network division at San Antonio College.
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