Press Releases

Astronaut Rex Walheim visits Chabot on Friday, March 9

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts Astronaut Rex Walheim For NASA's Family Night Destination Station

February 29, 2012- Oakland, Calif. - Chabot Space & Science Center welcomes NASA's Destination Station- a family celebration of space and science on Friday, March 9 from 6pm- 9pm. San Carlos resident astronaut Rex Walheim will be signing autographs, posing for photographs, and answering questions from visitors as part of the celebration from 6pm-7:15pm.

Destination Station is NASA Johnson Space Center's national awareness campaign promoting research opportunities and community education about activities on board the International Space Station. Mr. Walheim was a Mission Specialist on STS-135, the final NASA Space Shuttle flight. He'll speak about the real and potential impacts of the International Space Station on our everyday lives.

Astronaut Rex Walheim is a veteran of three space flights, and has logged over 36 days in space, including more than 36 extravehicular activity (EVA) hours in five spacewalks. Walheim graduated from San Carlos High School, then went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force before being selected by NASA in 1996.

"NASA Johnson Space Center and astronaut Walheim are very excited to share the wonders of the International Space Station with the Chabot Space & Science Center and the city of Oakland. The space station is such a treasure to our nation. We want the community to know the research conducted aboard the station truly improves our life on Earth," said Ciandra T. Jackson, Public Relations Specialist at NASA Johnson Space Center.

Although the space shuttles have been retired, there is still a great deal of NASA research taking place on the International Space Station. Some of the related activities on the International Space Station are on display in the Beyond Blastoff: Living and Working in Space exhibition at Chabot Space & Science Center.

The special NASA visit to Chabot Space & Science Center includes astronaut presentations, a Question and Answer session with Rex Walheim, demonstrations, and craft activities for the whole family. The event is free with General Admission to Chabot Space & Science Center. For ticket information visit ChabotSpace.org or call the Chabot Box Office at (510) 336-7373. The Center is open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with live planetarium shows at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, and telescope viewing (weather permitting).

Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org