| Date & Time | Tickets | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, September 17 | 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM EST | Register here | Free | Onsite |
The Intrepid Museum’s Astronomy Night is free from 5:30pm-9:00pm and features fun-filled and educational experiences for the whole family. Don’t miss special programming, including a live, onsite broadcast of our Astro Live program with space professionals, interactives with the NYC Star Trek Away Team and Museum educators, and stargazing on our flight deck with observers from the Amateur Astronomers Association.
This month, join the Intrepid Museum for a special Astronomy Night commemorating the historic 50th anniversary of the public rollout of the first Space Shuttle orbiter, Enterprise! Although Enterprise never flew in space, it fundamentally changed the course of human spaceflight, acting as the prototype that proved the Shuttle concept. It not only demonstrated the feasibility of reusable spacecraft but also inspired a generation of engineers and astronauts, and helped pave the way for three decades of Shuttle missions.
The evening will feature an exclusive panel discussion with astronauts and leaders from across the space community exploring Enterprise's legacy, how the Shuttle continues to shape today's Artemis program and commercial spaceflight, and what the next fifty years of exploration may hold.
Guests can also enjoy activities throughout the Space Shuttle Pavilion, and telescope viewing on the museum’s Flight Deck (weather permitting), making this a celebration of both the history and future of exploration. New York State teachers attending this Astronomy Night will learn more about our education programs and earn one-hour of CTLE credit. Teachers must sign-in and sign-out to receive credit by visiting our Education table in the Space Shuttle Pavillion. Register here.
Livestreaming of the featured presentation 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.
Doors will open promptly at 5:30pm, 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.
SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE:
Charles F. Bolden Jr., Major General, USMC (Ret.), served as the 12th Administrator of NASA from 2009 to 2017, becoming the first African American confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the agency. During his tenure, Bolden guided NASA through the transition from the 30-year Space Shuttle Program into a new era of exploration, overseeing development of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft, expanding commercial space transportation, and advancing major science and technology initiatives.
Before leading NASA, Bolden spent 14 years in the Astronaut Office and flew four Space Shuttle missions, twice as pilot and twice as commander. His missions included the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope and the first joint U.S.-Russian Shuttle mission. Following the Challenger accident, he also served as Chief of the Safety Division at Johnson Space Center, helping oversee efforts to safely return the Shuttle to flight.
Bolden also had a distinguished 34-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, flying more than 100 combat missions and ultimately retiring as a major general. Inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2006, his career spans military aviation, the Space Shuttle era, NASA leadership, and the beginnings of the Artemis and commercial spaceflight programs that are shaping human spaceflight today.
Peggy Whitson, Ph.D., is America’s most experienced astronaut, with 695 days in space across her NASA career and Axiom Space missions. She flew three long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station, commanded the station twice, and completed 10 spacewalks totaling more than 60 hours. During her NASA career, she also became the first woman and first non-military astronaut to serve as Chief of the Astronaut Office.
Now Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space, Whitson commanded Axiom Mission 2 and Axiom Mission 4, becoming the first woman to command a private astronaut mission. Her career spans more than 38 years in spaceflight and science, including leadership roles in astronaut operations, mission science, and astronaut selection, as well as contributions to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science, and Earth science.
Inspired to become an astronaut after watching the Apollo 11 Moon landing as a child in Iowa, Whitson holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rice University. Her honors include the Michael Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement, recognition among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, and induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2025.
