As a NASA astronaut Mark Lee boldly went where most men and women have only dreamed of going. While exploring space, the final frontier, Lee did something most explorers advise against – he looked back. From the space shuttle, Lee gazed at Earth and was changed forever by what he saw.

What did Lee observe that caused such a dramatic change? This will be part of the retired astronaut’s presentation on Thursday, April 5^th, 2012, at Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful’s fifth Annual Earth Day Awards Luncheon at Giovanni’s.  This event will feature exclusive photos from space and NASA video that few have seen.  Following the presentation, Lee will don his flight jacket and pose for photos with visitors.

A native of Viroqua, WI, Lee graduated from Viroqua High School in 1970 and went on to the United States Air Force Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1974.  He later attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received his Master of Science Degree in 1980.  He is a Registered Professional Engineer.  He was an active Air Force pilot until he was selected for Astronaut training in 1984.  He has logged over 4,500 hour of flight time with the Air Force.

The veteran of four space shuttle missions that include Atlantis, Endeavor and Discovery, he was Payload Commander on two of those missions.  During his four space flights, Lee traveled over 13 million miles going around the world 517 times and spending 33 days in orbit. 

During his third flight he logged 6 hours and 51 minutes of EVA to test a self-rescue jetpack, undertook the first untethered spacewalk in 10 years and deployed and retrieved a solar science satellite.  On his final flight, in 1997, He made three space walks totaling 19 hours and 10 minutes of EVA.

Lee has received numerous medals and awards from both the Air Force and NASA including the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He retired from NASA and the Air Force in 2001 with the rank of Colonel.  He currently resides with his wife and three sons in Madison, WI.

Hear his first-hand account of space travel and appreciate this remarkable perspective of our world ecology from afar.  Luncheon tickets are available to the public for $50 each by calling 815-637-1343 before March 29, 2012.