| 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 prestigious leaders in the space industry, activities with the NYC Star Trek Away Team and Museum educators, never-before-displayed Space Shuttle artifacts from the Museum's collection, 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 remarks from Amit Kshatriya, NASA Associate Administrator and Chief Engineer, followed by 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:
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., Americaʼs most experienced astronaut, flew on three NASA long-duration space flights and Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) and Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), accumulating 695 days in space, more than any other American astronaut or woman astronaut in the world. Her most recent trip to space was in 2025 as the Commander of Ax-4.
Whitson has over 37 years of space and science experience with NASA and is currently serving as director of human spaceflight for Axiom Space. Throughout her career, Whitson has held various positions to include NASAʼs chief of the Astronaut Office, chair of NASAʼs Astronaut Selection Board, chief of NASAʼs Operations Branch, and deputy division chief for both NASAʼs Medical Sciences and the Astronaut Office.
On Ax-2, Whitson became the first female commander of a private space mission, adding to her accomplishments as the first two-time female commander of the ISS, and the first woman, non-military chief of NASAʼs Astronaut Office. During her three previous space missions to the ISS (Expeditions 5, 16, 50/51/52), she conducted 10 spacewalks, logging over 60 hours. Throughout Whitsonʼs career, she has contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science, and Earth science.
Whitson received degrees in biology and chemistry from lowa Wesleyan and a doctoral degree in biochemistry from Rice University.
She has been honored with numerous awards, including NASA medals in Leadership, National Air and Space Museum’s Michael Collin’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2024); Outstanding Leadership, and Exceptional Service; Forbes 50 over 50 (2023); TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World (2018); and Women in Aviation Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) and the 2025 inductee of the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Serves as NASA’s Associate Administrator and Chief Engineer, making him the agency’s highest-ranking civil servant and chief operating officer. He leads NASA’s 10 center directors and advises the Administrator on the technical readiness and execution of the agency’s programs and projects.
Kshatriya has spent more than two decades at NASA, with a career spanning International Space Station operations and the Artemis program. He served as an ISS flight director and held leadership roles overseeing station engineering and operations before becoming the first head of NASA’s Moon to Mars Program, where he was responsible for integrating the agency’s plans for human missions to the Moon and Mars. He also played a key role in Artemis I and the development of NASA’s broader Moon to Mars architecture.
A software and robotics engineer by background, Kshatriya holds degrees in mathematics from Caltech and the University of Texas at Austin. His honors include NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal and the Silver Snoopy Award for contributions to human spaceflight safety and mission success.
MODERATOR:
Covered spaceflight and space science for over two decades as a correspondent at NPR, producing features and news pieces for Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as for the science podcast Short Wave. She reported on space shuttle missions as well as the retirement of the shuttles to museums, and also reported on the recent Artemis II moon mission for NPR.
Prior to working for radio, Greenfieldboyce spent a decade working in print journalism, mostly for magazines including U.S. News & World Report and New Scientist. She authored a book of essays entitled Transient and Strange: Notes on the Science of Life, published by W. W. Norton.
