SpaceFest 2015: Oh the Humanity!, focuses on social, cultural and physical sides of making a home away from Earth

SpaceFest Logo SEATTLE, Oct. 19, 2015--The Museum of Flight's second annual SpaceFest is not rocket science. This year's Nov. 5-7 event, SpaceFest 2015: Oh the Humanity!, is about the physical and cultural sides of making a home away from Earth. Speakers include astronauts, writers, artists, space entrepreneurs and other visionaries. There will be presentations by the Seattle Reperatory Theatre and Seattle Opera. Gaming company VALVe will provide VIVE VR headsets so visitors can virtually walk on the surface of Mars.

SpaceFest 2015 begins at 5 p.m. on Free First Thursday with paper glider workshops led by astronaut Dr. John Herrington. The Friday and Saturday programs are free with admission to the Museum.

Featured guests include:
Space shuttle astronaut Dr. John Herrington
Space shuttle astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger
Author/astronomer Dr. Chris Impey, "Beyond: Our Future in Space"
NASA JPL visual strategist David Delgado
Explore Mars, Inc., a nonprofit to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades
Chris Carberry, CEO of Explore Mars, Inc.
Seattle Opera
Seattle Repertory Theatre
Donna Roberts, M.D., brain researcher specializing in microgravity's effects on the brain
David Reyes, M.D., NASA flight surgeon and family medicine physician with Master's degrees in Planetary Science and Public Health

SpaceFest 2015: Oh the Humanity!
Thursday, Nov. 5
Wells Fargo Free First Thursday at the Museum
6 to 7:30 p.m. (Three sessions running every half hour 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m.)
Astronaut John Herrington helps young visitors make paper gliders.

5 to 9 p.m.
Multiple showings for 16-minute video preview of "Origins: Life & The Universe Astrobiology Symphony" premiering at Benaroya Hall on Nov. 7

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
VALVe provides use of VIVE VR headsets so visitors can virtually walk on the surface of Mars.

Friday
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
VALVe provides use of VIVE VR headsets so visitors can virtually walk on the surface of Mars.

11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Build a Make & Take Glider with astronaut John Herrington

1 p.m.
Introduction and Welcome presented by The Museum of Flight (Carla Bitter, Public Engagement Manager)

1:10 to 1:40 p.m.
"In Space, No One Can Hear You Sing," presented by The Seattle Opera (Nick Malinowski, Community Programs Manager)

1:45 to 2:30 p.m.
Planetary Theater: "Storytelling through Science Fiction," presented by Seattle Repertory Theatre (Kristin Leahey, Literary Director)

2:30 to 2:50 p.m.
Preview video of "Origins: Life & The Universe Astrobiology Symphony" premiering at Benaroya Hall on Nov. 7. For ticket information: http://www.astrobioconcert.com/

3 to 4:30 p.m.
"Astronauts, Aquanauts and Pillownauts"
A panel of adventurous experts compare notes about living in space, or living underwater, or surviving in some of the harshest environments on Earth, or having to spend months in bed. Panelists include astronaut John Herrington, NASA flight surgeon David Reyes, and neuroradiologist Donna Roberts.

Saturday, Nov. 7
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NorthWest Scale Modelers Mini Show
An exhibit of scale models - with an emphasis on spacecraft.

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
VALVe provides use of VIVE VR headsets so visitors can virtually walk on the surface of Mars.

10:15 a.m.
Introduction and Welcome to SpaceFest 2015: Oh The Humanity!

10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
"This is Your Mars," with astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger.

Explore Mars, Inc. panel with Chris Carberry, CEO of Explore Mars, Inc., former Executive Director to The Mars Society.

12:30 to 1:15 p.m.
"Antarctic Winter Analog," with Dr. David Reyes

1:15 to 2 p.m.
"Your Brain in Space," with Dr. Donna Roberts

2 to 3:30 p.m.
Lecture and Booking signing with Chris Impey, author of "Beyond: Our Future in Space"

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
"Imagining Our Future Life on Other Worlds"
NASA JPL David Delgado, Visual Strategist & Independent Artist

Museum of Flight Media Releases
Access this and all other Museum of Flight news releases online at:
www.museumofflight.org/press/archives

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Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, 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. Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors 65 and older, $17 for active military, $12 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org

Ted Huetter
Public Relations
and Promotions Manager
206.455.5360
Rachel Dreeben
Marketing
and Public Relations Coordinator
206.768.7201