In celebration of National Engineers Week: From Roebling bridges to “Roving on Mars: The Journey of Curiosity”
FLORENCE — The Roebling Museum announces a Saturday lecture 1 p.m. Feb. 23 by JPL Solar System Ambassador Frank O’Brien.
Mr. O’Brien’s talk, “Roving on Mars: The Journey of Curiosity” is a one hour lecture that will describe the mission background, science objectives and the challenges of landing a car-sized rover on Mars, the Roebling Museum said this week in a press release.
A resident of West Windsor, Mr. O’Brien is computer scientist, former pilot and a one of the editors of NASA’s Apollo Flight-Lunar Surface Journal team, the release said. His most recent book — “The Apollo Guidance Computer: Architecture and Operation” — explores the complex computer systems that have insured the successes of the Apollo lunar missions. He lectures frequently on space topics at colleges, conferences and community events.
The Roebling Museum celebrates National Engineers Week, from Feb. 17 to Feb. 23 with an open house on Feb. 23 to encourage engineers to visit the museum in honor of the engineering genius and technological advances of the Roebling Company.
The museum is open for the day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Engineers may tour the galleries, listen to the lecture and enjoy some light refreshment. The lecture will be held at the museum in the Roma Bank Media Room. The day is free of charge for all engineers who bring a business card or for student engineers with student identification.
After the 1 p.m. lecture, the museum will show a video on the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge at 15-minute intervals, the release said. The film is edited from rare archival footage produced by the company.
The Roebling Company’s contribution to this iconic structure is featured in a new exhibit, “Spinning Gold-The Roebling Company and the Golden Gate Bridge.”
The wire rope for the Golden Gate Bridge was made at the Roebling factories in New Jersey and Roebling bridgemen traveled to San Francisco to install the great cables and suspender ropes for one of the most stunning suspension bridges ever built.
The Roebling Museum is located at 100 Second Avenue in Roebling. Parking is available at the back of the Museum just off Hornberger Avenue. Visitors may take the Light Rail; the museum is a short walk from the Roebling stop.
Seating to the Saturday lecture on Feb. 23 is limited so reservations are a must to insure a space by calling 609-499-7200.
For more information call the museum offices at 609-499-7200 or visit www.roeblingmuseum.org.

