About the Team
The Talking Space team in front of the famous NASA countdown clock after the launch of STS-135. Credit: Dr. Lucy Rogers
Gene Mikulka
Talking Space Founder and Contributor
Gene is a technical writer, trainer and business analyst. Between 1992 and 1995 he volunteered at the County College of Morris Planetarium located in Randolph, NJ where he produced, authored and presented planetarium shows, assisted with the planetarium's outreach and public programs. Gene is also an amateur spaceflight historian, amateur astronomer and model rocketry enthusiast and has presented talks about he human spaceflight programs to schools and civic groups. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Kean University and his memberships include the National Space Society, The Planetary Society, and The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He also board member emeritus of the Ferromnte Historic Society and is active in community theater. Gene calls New Jersey home, although misses his adopted home town of St Augustine, Florida.
Follow Gene on Twitter: @genejm29
Gina Herlihy
Talking Space Manned Spaceflight ContributorGina is a Senior Marketing professional for an energy media firm outside of Boston and has closely followed American Spaceflight for as long as she can remember. She has witnessed multiple Space Shuttle launches and is an active supporter of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Gina has read many astronaut biographies and attended several events where she has been able to meet and speak with American astronauts personally. She holds a Political Science B.A. from Merrimack College and a Communications M.A. from Emerson College. Gina is a member of the National Space Society.
Follow Gina on Twitter: @clearedthetower
Mark Ratterman
Talking Space Engineer and Panelist
Mark is an FAA Electronics Technician working on ground based Communications, Navigation and Weather systems since 1975 based in FL. He wanders the web looking for interesting space, astronomy and science content and believes that learning is a key ingredient to a good day. Mark is an avid Space Fan and lucky enough to see one Apollo and three space Shuttle Launches. Mark had "the experience of a lifetime" as a participant of the NASA hosted STS-129 #NASAtweetup group and VIP guest for the launch. Since June 2010 he has participated in a number of media events at KSC. Including on June 22, 2011 "Discovery Media Day," seeing the Orbiter up close from both outside and inside.
Mark is an FAA Electronics Technician working on ground based Communications, Navigation and Weather systems since 1975 based in FL. He wanders the web looking for interesting space, astronomy and science content and believes that learning is a key ingredient to a good day. Mark is an avid Space Fan and lucky enough to see one Apollo and three space Shuttle Launches. Mark had "the experience of a lifetime" as a participant of the NASA hosted STS-129 #NASAtweetup group and VIP guest for the launch. Since June 2010 he has participated in a number of media events at KSC. Including on June 22, 2011 "Discovery Media Day," seeing the Orbiter up close from both outside and inside.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @markratterman
Sawyer Rosenstein
Talking Space Editor and Host
Sawyer is a college sophomore at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY, but is originally from New Jersey. He is also a flight director running simulated space missions at the Town of Ramapo Challenger Center. During a public space mission Sawyer directs simulated space missions to the moon, mars, and to rendezvous with a coment. Along the way, he aids people from ages 6-106 and teaches them how interesting space really is, while focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education for the participating students. Sawyer is also a consultant for the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York City. Sawyer has found a large enthusiasm towards manned spaceflight missions past and present, including the Space Shuttle and Apollo programs. For more info, an article was recenty run in the "Bergen Record", a paper in New Jersey: http://bit.ly/6Umc4Y
Follow Sawyer on Twitter: @thenasaman