The Museum’s Space Expo 2018 combines the arts and rocket science to explore and interpret space exploration. The event includes evening receptions and lectures, and offers a full day of space-related lectures, VR experiences and performance art with guests from NASA, Mars Society, San Francisco-based Media Art Xploration, and the University of Washington.

The Nov. 2 evening program, “Evidence of Space Exploration...on Earth,” will be with NASA insider and photographer Michael Soluri; the Nov. 3 evening program, “The Potential for Human Exploration of Mars,” will be with Dr. Robert Zubrin, co-founder of the Mars Society. Daytime programs are free with Museum admission; the evening programs are ticketed separately.


Friday, Nov. 2

"Evidence of Space Exploration...on Earth"
5:30 to 9:00 PM | Charles Simonyi Space Gallery

Join us for a cocktail reception, lecture and book signing with photographer and author Michael Soluri.

NASA offered Soluri rare access to restricted areas of training and research facilities before space missions. His photos capture the places where spacebound objects are crafted and assembled, and the people who train for journeys beyond Earth.

Soluri will also sign copies of his book, Infinite Worlds: The People and Places of Space Exploration, published by Simon & Schuster.

More about this event

Tickets: $15 General | $10 Museum Members

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Saturday, Nov. 3

Activities and Exhibitors
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

  • MarsVR Project: Virtual Reality demos by the Mars Society (Ages 13+)
    • Presented by the Mars Society, the world's largest and most influential space advocacy organization dedicated to the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars.
    • Experience demonstrations of the "MarsVR Program," a multi-phase effort to build VR applications for serious research. The Phase 1 environment will be used at the organization's Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) to train crew members. Located in Utah, the MDRS has been running since 2001, and represents one of the two facilities in the Mars Society's analog research program to investigate the human factors challenges of living and working on Mars.
  • MAX 2019: A Space Festival: "The Dig" and "Universal Threads"
    • Presented by Media Art Xploration, a San Francisco-based non-profit dedicated to using performing and interactive arts to explore a scientific mission.
    • Join performance artist Christine Zeurcher for interactive art piece “The Dig” in which she digs a hole "to the other side of the planet" while wearing a handmade spacesuit. During her dig, she discovers rare materials and uses a HAM radio to send and receive transmissions from all over the globe. Audience members can investigate her findings while tuning into radio transmissions.
    • Fashion and space exploration merge in “Universal Threads,” a booth where you can experience how fashion can communicate the story of the Universe and the mysteries of space. Discover wearable technology pieces that push the boundaries of fashion and science.
  • Build LEGO Robots
    • The Raisbeck Aviation High School Robotics Club will help visitors build and program LEGO Mindstorm Robots and learn more about being a part of a competitive robotics team.
  • Huskies in Space
    • The Husky Satellite Lab at University of Washington is preparing HuskySat-1, the first student-built satellite from the state of Washington, for final testing and delivery. Members of the UW HuskySat Team will talk about their spacecraft that is slated to be launched during a 2019 International Space Station resupply mission.


Lectures and Panels
12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

  • 12:00 - 12:45 pm “The Future of U.S. Robotic Planetary Exploration”; Randii Wessen, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • 1:00 – 1:15 pm “The Mars VR Program”; James Burk, Mars Society (See above)
  • 1:30 – 2:15 pm “The Intersection of Art and Space”
    • Kay Matschullat, Media Art Xploration (See above)
    • Michael Soluri, Author/Photographer (See Nov. 2 event)
    • Moderator Jim Haven, Look Up
  • 2:30 – 3:00 pm Student Mini-Talks, University of Washington
    • “Designing Landers for Icy Moons”; Mariah Danner, Graduate Student in Earth and Space Sciences
    • “HuskySat-1 and Beyond”; Paul Sturmer, Graduate Student In Physics

"Mars Direct: Humans to the Red Planet Within a Decade"
5:30 PM to 8:00 PM | Charles Simonyi Space Gallery

Join us for a reception, lecture and Q&A session with Dr. Robert Zubrin, co-founder of the Mars Society.

Zubrin’s presentation illustrates how humans can establish and maintain a presence on Mars with the Mars Society’s “Mars Direct” plan, a cost-effective approach that is achievable with current technology.

Tickets: $15 General | $10 Museum Members

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Daytime activities, lectures/panels and exhibitor booths are FREE with Museum admission.
Separate ticket price for the two evening receptions.