posted 03-25-2022 05:14 PM               

Aim Higher Gala

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 16, NASA's Artemis Mission, Commercial and International Space, and showcasing the way space exploration makes life better on Earth

Purchase tickets here.

Schedule of Events:

May 2, 2022

• 2:00pm Astronaut Panel at Science Museum IMAX Theater (Open to the Public - Reservations required through the Science Museum)

• 3:00pm Book signing with Nicole Stott and Dr. Sian Proctor (Open to the Public)

• 7:00pm Private VIP Sponsor Reception at Science Museum

May 3, 2022

• 6:45pm Aim Higher Gala at Science Museum (Private - Invitation only)

May 4, 2022

• 8:00pm May the 4th Be with You After After Party (Location TBA - Invitation only)

Confirmed Speakers and Panelists:

• Tim Peake, first British ESA astronaut
  
• Nicole Stott, NASA Astronaut
  
• Susan Kilrain, NASA Astronaut
  
• Noako Yamazaki, JAXA Astronaut
  
• Soyeon Yi, South Korean Astronaut
  
• Dallas Campbell, BBC Presenter
  
• Professor Brian Cox, Physicist and BBC Star

Award Recipients:

• Charlie Duke, Space Icon Award
  
• Poppy Northcutt, Space Pioneer Award
  
• Inspiration4 Crew, Space Inspiration Award

posted 05-03-2022 09:58 AM               

• Charlie Duke, Moonwalker, space veteran and outnumbered six to one by the female participants... lucky Charlie

• Poppy Northcutt, former NASA engineer from mission control, unflown pioneer in her own right.

• Nicole Stott, NASA Astronaut (I never use the term former, once an astronaut always an astronaut), feisty and full of energy

• Susan Kilrain, NASA Astronaut, not aged a bit just like the STS-83/94 crew photos, space pioneer

• Sian Procter, Inspiration 4 crew member, would have liked to have seen more, a real bubbly personality, I felt inspired by her energy

• Soyeon Yi, South Korean Astronaut, I remember meeting her in the U.K. after her flight she has lost none of the enthusiasm and excitement from that time

• Noako Yamazaki, JAXA Astronaut, a pleasure to listen to we need more of these accomplished ladies to visit and lecture and tour... please.

Well done London Science Museum and Space for A Better World. Science museum's Claire Hazell did a fine job on hosting the panel and fielding pre-set questions and questions mainly from the youngsters in the audience.

Older audience members were termed 'seasoned' being one of them I liked that but we were reminded it was not too late to go into space even yet, but not likely with my bank balance.

Questions that strangely did not include using the bathroom in space did cover a wide range of topics that included laundry and the cutting of finger/toe nails on board the ISS, life in the Universe and life on Mars.

As the panel guests departed, they set up tables for the Nicole Stott book signing. Nicole was fun and accommodating serving the needs of the young and enthusiastic and the seasoned and equally enthusiasts alike. Nothing was too much trouble and she was up and down like a yo-yo between signing and posing for photos (with a copy of "Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet — And Our Mission to Protect It" in hand).

A great line-up of space exploration ambassadors I do hope that more of these events can be organised in the not-too-distant future.

Nice to catchup with friends and fellow enthusiasts a dozen at least from the collectSPACE forum.