SEATTLE, Oct. 13, 2016--The Museum of Flight's annual SpaceFest brings together the top people in the arts and sciences of space, spaceflight and all things out of this world. This year themed "Ladies Who Launch," the Nov. 3-5 SpaceFest will focus on women in the world of spaceflight from NASA to private companies. Guests include astronauts, doctors, authors and vloggers. This year's SpaceFest shows how spaceflight is not just for men with the right stuff, and how it never has been.
The keynote speaker will be Nathalia Holt, author of "Rise of the Rocket Girls," on Nov. 5. Guest speakers include author and internet favorite Amy Shira Teitel, creator of Vintage Space. There will also be daily virtual reality experiences by tech company VALVe, music by the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle, a look at women characters in space movies, and for children the Sprout TV launch party for the new season of the animated Space Racers.
Events are free on Thursday Nov. 3, 5-9 p.m., and free with admission to the Museum Nov. 4-5.
SpaceFest 2016: Ladies Who Launch
Schedule of Events
(Due to the nature of space travel, the calendar is subject to change)
THURSDAY, NOV. 3 - FREE
5-9 p.m.
VR Experiences in Space with VALVe
Entertainment software and technology company VALVe will provide cutting-edge VR experiences at SpaceFest. The experiences include Three Minutes on Mars, Mars VR and Space VR. VALVe has created several of the world's most award-winning games, and is also a developer of leading-edge technologies including the Source® game engine and Steam®, the premier online gaming platform.
6:30, 7:30 p.m.
Ladies Musical Club of Seattle
Performances
6-8 p.m.
Amelia's Aeroclub Event
Recruitment event for the Museum's middle school girls' program, Amelia's Aeroclub, featuring "Peeps in Peril"
FRIDAY, NOV. 4
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
New Girl Panel
A panel discussion with young women in aerospace fields moderated by Sarah Knights of Blue Origin
Speakers: Ashley Verhoff of Blue Origin, and Chelsea Olson of Boeing Aerospace
12-5 p.m.
VR Experiences with VALVe
Entertainment software and technology company VALVe will provide cutting-edge VR experiences at SpaceFest. The experiences include Three Minutes on Mars, Mars VR and Space VR. VALVe has created several of the world's most award-winning games, and is also a developer of leading-edge technologies including the Source® game engine and Steam®, the premier online gaming platform.
1-2:30 p.m.
Orbit with Me
A presentation by South Korean astronaut Soyeon Yi.
2:45-4 p.m.
Your Body in Space: What Every Girl Needs to Know
A discussion of women's health in space moderated by Dr. Chris Lienesch
Speakers: Dr. Varsha Jain of King's College London, and Dr. Virginia Wotring of Baylor College of Medicine, expert on women's health for space missions.
5:30-7:30 p.m.
From Barbarella to Interstellar: Evolving the Role of Commander
Courtney Sheehan of the Northwest Film Forum will lead a visual tour of the changing representations of female commanders in space flicks. This special presentation is for Museum of Flight members only (become a Member now!), and includes space food snacks and SpaceDust IPA. Costumes are encouraged.
SATURDAY, NOV. 5
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Scale Modelers Mini Show
Northwest Scale Modelers display their latest space-themed creations.
10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sprout's Space Racers Pre-K Launch Party
Young SpaceFest visitors will be treated to exclusive preview screenings of the new season of Sprout's Space Racers. Space Racers is an original, half-hour animated series for preschoolers that follows young spaceship cadets at the Stardust Bay Space Academy as they soar through the Solar System. Young viewers will learn about the power of scientific investigation and observation, the wonders of space exploration, and the importance of working together as a team, all with fun and engaging characters they can relate to.
10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
VR Experiences with VALVe
Entertainment software and technology company VALVe will provide cutting-edge VR experiences at SpaceFest. The experiences include Three Minutes on Mars, Mars VR and Space VR. VALVe has created several of the world's most award-winning games, and is also a developer of leading-edge technologies including the Source® game engine and Steam®, the premier online gaming platform.
10:30-12 p.m.
Off-Planet Inc.
A panel discussion about the newest plans within commercial space companies
Moderator: Caitlin O'Keefe Dietrich, Marketing Director, Planetary Resources
Speakers: Erika Wagner, Business Development Manager, Blue Origin; Aarti Matthews, Products and Programs Manager, SpaceX; and Cassie Lee, Systems Development Director, Vulcan Aerospace; Hanna Kubiak, Business Developer, Virgin Galactic.
1-2 p.m.
Live From Mars: A One-Year Mission
A presentation about HI-SEAS IV, a crewed, one-year Mars mission simulation operated by the University of Hawaii on the slopes of Mauna Loa in Hawaii
Speaker: Dr. Sheyna Gifford, MD, Chief Medical and Safety Officer, Crew Journalist for HI-SEAS IV.
2:15-3:30 p.m.
Rise of the Rocket Girls
SpaceFest Keynote Presentation - Lecture and Book Signing About Women Spaceflight Pioneers
Speaker: Nathalia Holt, author of Rise of the Rocket Girls.
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Breaking the Chains of Gravity
A presentation by "Breaking the Chains of Gravity" author, vlogger and creator of Vintage Space on YouTube
Speaker: Amy Shira Teitel, Vintage Space
Top image: Woman at NASA JPL with IBM computer tracking lunar missions, 1959. NASA/JPL image from "Rise of the Rocket Girls."
Lower image: Women "computers" at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1953. NASA/JPL-Caltech image from "Rise of the Rocket Girls."
Press Releases Online
You may access Museum press releases and photos online.
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Founded in 1965, the independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, serving more than 560,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 160 historically significant airplanes and spacecraft, from the first fighter plane (1914) to today's 787 Dreamliner. Attractions also include the original Boeing Company factory, and the world's only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 150,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum's on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field halfway between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum admission for adults is $23 on-site and $21 online. Youth 5 through 17 are $14 on-site and $13 online, youth 4 and under are free. Seniors 65 and over $19 on-site and $18 online. Groups of ten or more: $21 per adult, $13 per youth, Thanks to Wells Fargo, on the first Thursday of every month, admission is free from 5 to 9 p.m. And parking is always free. There is a full lunch menu café in the Museum and a limited menu café in the Aviation Pavilion, both operated by McCormick & Schmick's. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org
Ted Huetter
Senior Public Relations Manager
206.455.5360
Rachel Dreeben
Associate Manager, Marketing and Communications
206.768.7201
