Colorado School of Mines received a special gift from Lockheed Martin, with NASA leaders in attendance, during halftime at the Mines football game on September 20.
The presentation of a framed collection of artifacts flown aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, made by Paul Anderson ’85, Orion Deputy Program Manager at Lockheed Martin, highlighted the multi-decade relationship between Mines and Lockheed Martin. Anderson was joined on the field by Mines alumni who contributed to the Orion program and special guests from NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Howard Hu, NASA Orion Program Manager, and Paul Marshall, retired Deputy Program Manager. Mines President Paul C. Johnson accepted the gift on behalf of the university.
The memento—composed of items flown on Orion’s first two missions—will be displayed on campus for students, faculty and alumni to see. Orion, designed and built by Lockheed Martin as NASA’s deep-space crew vehicle, is central to NASA’s Artemis program. Launching atop the Space Launch System rocket, Orion will return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, beginning with Artemis II early next year.
For Anderson, the moment was personal. Hired by Martin Marietta after graduating from Mines in 1985, he has witnessed both the aerospace giant’s evolution and Mines’ growing role in shaping the industry.
“There were five Mines grads at Martin Marietta when I started,” Anderson said. “Now there are over 500 at Lockheed Martin, and 90 percent of them are in the aerospace division. We’re by far the No.1 employer of Mines grads. I remember when we hit the top 10 in 2010. I couldn’t believe it. Now we’re at the very top.”
Anderson emphasized the significance of Mines’ contributions to the future of space exploration. “The Apollo program was all about beating the Russians, a Cold War victory. The Orion project is about something bigger--long-term, generations and long sustainment in space. We are going to the Moon permanently. This is just the very beginning of a different world and a different economy. Mines is such a big piece of this story.”
The gift not only represents NASA and Lockheed Martin’s recognition of Mines’ past contributions but also symbolizes the university’s ongoing impact on humanity’s future in space.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
