Intrepid Museum Presents Astronomy Night

Important information: This is not a ticket into the museum. You do not need to bring this the night of the program. This is just for a reminder for Astronomy Night. It is not a ticket.

Free Fridays are back! The Intrepid Museum is once again extending its hours free of charge on Friday, September 27 from 5:00pm-9:00pm. Don’t miss special programming during Free Fridays, including Astronomy Night, part of the Astro Live Series.

Astronomy Nights are FREE and feature fun-filled and educational experiences for the whole family, including talks from astronauts, engineers, and scientists and activities & demos led by Museum educators. Local astronomers will be on hand with their high-powered telescopes to help visitors navigate the night sky and answer questions about astronomy and stargazing. Guests are welcome to bring their own binoculars or look through the telescopes of the experts.

This month, hear from former NASA astronaut and author Tom Jones who will discuss his latest book Space Shuttle Stories: Firsthand Astronaut Accounts from All 135 Missions while in conversation with former NASA astronauts Mike Massimino and Sidney Gutierrez. Experience all 135 shuttle missions through firsthand accounts from astronauts who flew them in the book, and hear a few from these actual astronauts as well!

Please note: A limited number of books will be available to purchase onsite, however visitors are strongly encouraged to bring their own copy. If you would like to purchase in advance: (Purchase on Amazon)

The talk will take place in the Intrepid Museum’s Space Shuttle Pavilion. Livestreaming of the conversation will be available if you can’t make it in person to the Intrepid Museum. View the live event on Facebook or YouTube.

* American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available for the demonstration, featured speaker, telescope viewing on the flight deck, and some of the educator cart.

* Spanish language services will be available during the event, including interpretation for all presentations, activities, and discussions.

Doors will open promptly at 5:00pm, Last entry to the Museum is at 8:30 pm (doors are subject to close earlier, entry is not guaranteed). All visitors must enter through the Welcome Center to receive a free ticket prior to entering the Museum.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: THIS IS NOT A TICKET INTO THE MUSEUM. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BRING THIS ON THE NIGHT OF THE PROGRAM. THIS IS JUST A REMINDER FOR ASTRONOMY NIGHT. IT IS NOT A TICKET.

Special Guest Speakers:

Tom Jones is a veteran astronaut, planetary scientist, pilot, author, and speaker who completed four space shuttle missions and three spacewalks in helping build the International Space Station. Jones has authored six books, including Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir, and has written for aerospace magazines such as Air & Space Smithsonian, Aerospace America, Popular Mechanics, and The Planetary Report. A senior research scientist for IHMC, he appears regularly on television news as an expert commentator for space exploration and science stories.

Sidney M. Gutierrez is currently the Chairman of Vaya Space, a rocket company dedicated to changing the way we access space and making the benefits of space available to all mankind. Previously he served in various leadership capacities at Sandia National Laboratories where he led programs including satellites and space payloads

Colonel Gutierrez is retired from the US Air Force where he served as a fighter pilot and test pilot before being selected as an Astronaut by NASA. He was the Pilot of the Columbia on STS-40 Spacelab Life Sciences and Commander of the Shuttle Endeavour on STS-59 Space Radar Laboratory.

He holds a BS in Aeronautical Engineering – Distinguished Graduate – from the United States Air Force Academy and an MA in Management from Webster University. He is on the Board of Directors of PNM Resources – an electric utility. He served on NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel and the International Space Station Management and Cost Evaluation Presidential Taskforce reporting to President Bush. His awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.

About the Book:

Experience all 135 NASA space shuttle missions ever flown through the words of the astronauts themselves in this spectacularly illustrated volume. With more than 600 photos from the NASA archives, this guide is perfect for fans of space history and spaceflight.

NASA’s space shuttle was the world’s first reusable spacecraft, accomplishing many firsts and inspiring generations across its 30-year lifespan as America’s iconic spaceship. In Space Shuttle Stories, shuttle astronaut Tom Jones interviewed more than 130 fellow astronauts for personal vignettes from each mission, complemented by their written accounts for all 135 space shuttle missions, from Columbia’s maiden flight in 1981 to the final launch of Atlantis in 2011. The book is a major contribution to the historical record of a momentous era of spaceflight, and isa definitive oral history that captures the importance, wonder, and exhilaration of the Space Shuttle era.

Each mission profile includes:

• An astronaut narrative that immerses the readers in their personal mission experience
• Data about the mission, crew, launch, landing, duration, and highlights
• Captivating photographs rarely seen by the public

The program is also supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.