The highlight and keynote of Ice Fest will be Astronaut Dr. Don Pettit, who heads an IPY project (proposal #78) involving the International Space Station (ISS) and studies auroras and other polar phenomenon from the vantage of the International Space Station and from field work on the ice in Antarctica.

Dr. Pettit's official NASA bio makes only passing reference to how he, fellow astronaut Kenneth Bowersox, and Russian flight engineer Nikolai Budarin returned from the ISS after seven of their colleagues headed back to Earth on Space Shuttle Columbia died on February 1, 2003. A new book by author Chris Jones entitled "Too Far From Home" details the race against time to bring the three back down to Earth. It has all the elements of a blockbuster book (and perhaps Apollo 13-styled film). Very gripping.

Needless to say, we're thrilled to have Dr. Pettit attend Ice Fest and to learn more about his experiences and insights.