Hubble Space Telescope 25th Anniversary

Watch live on NASA TV

Join the National Air and Space Museum to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope. Enjoy presentations and panels from NASA astronauts who worked on Hubble Space Telescope. Learn about the astronomical advances made possible by Hubble and participate in educational activities for all ages.

Astronaut Autographs
On the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar Mezzanine

• Get autographs from NASA astronauts from the Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Missions.
  11:00 am – 2:00 pm (line will close at 1:00 pm to accomodate prompt departures)

NASA Astronaut Panels
At the back of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar
Presentations and panels with NASA astronauts from Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Missions.

• Astronaut Panel 1 featuring astronauts from STS-31, STS-61, and STS-103: Bruce McCandless, Loren Shriver, Claude Nicollier, and Jean-Francois Clervoy; moderated by Jim Crocker, vice president of civil space, Lockheed Martin
  11:05 am
• Astronaut Panel 2 featuring astronauts from STS-109: Scott Altman, Duane Care, Nancy Currie, Jim Newman, and Rick Linnehan; moderated by Antonella Nota, associate director, ESA, STScI
  12:05 pm
• Astronaut Panel 3 featuring astronauts from STS-125: Scott Altman, Greg Johnson, John Grunsfeld, Andrew Feustel, Michael Good, Megan McArthur Behnken, and Mike Massimino; moderated by John Grunsfeld, associate administrator, NASA
  1:00 pm

Hubble Space Telescope Presentations
At the back of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar

• Welcome Remarks
  Valerie Neal, senior curator and chair, space history department, National Air and Space Museum
  11:00 am
• History & Science of Hubble Space Telescope
  HST Program Scientist Jennifer Wiseman
  1:55 pm
• James Webb Space Telescope & Beyond
  JWST Program Director Eric Smith
  2:30 pm
• Closing Remarks
  Steve Williams, chief, STEM engagment education department, National Air and Space Museum
  2:55 pm

Ask an Expert Talks

• The Hubble Space Telescope
  Senior Curator David DeVorkin
  Meet in the Boeing Aviation Hangar at the rear of the SR-71 Blackbird
  10:30 am
• Testing of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU)
  NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless
  Meet in the McDonnell Space Hangar at the nose of Space Shuttle Discovery
  12:00 pm
• Space Shuttle Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope
  Curator Valerie Neal
  Meet in the McDonnell Space Hangar at the nose of Space Shuttle Discovery
  12:30 pm

Hands-on Activities with Museum Staff & Guest Presenters
All day (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) in various locations within the Udvar-Hazy Center; pick up a map on Saturday for more details

• Experience hands-on learning with experts to guide you at Discovery Stations.
• Test your skills on the Space Shuttle Mission Trainer hands-on interactive.
• See and learn about some amazing telescopes with the Westminster Astronomical Society, and Northern Virginia and National Capital area Astronomy Club members.        
• Have fun using your imagination and your cameras at an astronaut cut-out.
• Visit the Discover Your Universe Passport Center and pick up some free NASA STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) giveaways.
• Talk to Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp STEM professionals to learn more about the Hubble Space Telescope scale model.
• See a mosaic mural of the Andromeda Galaxy and learn about infrared cameras presented by Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) STEM professionals.
• Take a virtual visit to the stars in one of the Museum’s Portable Planetarium Shows.
• Talk with NASA’s Eric Smith to learn more about the James Webb Space Telescope and beyond.
• What’s a robot end effecter? In this activity, learn how this little device is as important as the human hand.

Hands-on Activities for Our Youngest Visitors
At the North end of the Boeing Aviation Hangar

• Take-a-part Space Shuttle Activity
  10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Window to Space Art Activity
  10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Flights of Fancy Story Time: Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery read by Pluto’s Secret authors Margaret Weitekamp and David DeVorkin and illustrator Diane Kidd
  11:00 am
• Flights of Fancy Story Time: Astronaut Handbook by Meghan McCarthy, and a space food demonstration
  10:30 am, 12:45 pm, and 2:00 pm

Book Signings
On the Upper Level across from the Museum store entrance

• Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery by Margaret Weitekamp, Diane Kidd, and David DeVorkin
  11:30 am – 12:30 pm
• Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir by NASA astronaut Tom Jones
  12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
• Discovery: Champion of the Space Shuttle Fleet by Valerie Neal
  1:30 pm – 3:30 pm