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SHUTTLEFEST IV ANNOUNCES ASTRONAUTS, AGENDA FOR APRIL 11-13 EVENT IN TITUSVILLE, FLORIDAThe American Space Museum has announced that astronauts Eileen Collins, Don Thomas and Joe Tanner have committed to attend the ShuttleFest IV weekend of activities planned for Friday April 11 through Sunday April 13, 2025 at Hyatt Place Titusville.
The three-day event is limited to 125 participants, and at $90 for the weekend, it is sure to sell out. This event is a fundraiser for the museum’s parent non-profit, the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation.
More astronauts and NASA VIPs are certain to be added to this ASM conference celebrating the 30-year history of the Space Shuttle Era.
Reserve your spot at ShtutleFest IV here: https://spacewalkoffame.org/event/shuttlefest-4-info-tickets
Hotel bookings at a ShuttleFest IV rate are here:
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/florida/hyatt-place-titusville-kennedy-space-center/mcozt?corp_id=G-SFT4
ShuttleFest IV will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope with a “Hubble Huggers Saturday” of four panel discussions about the amazing launch, servicing and photography as told by those spaceworkers–and service mission #2 spacewalker Joe Tanner!
Sunday will feature panels spearheaded by four-time Shuttle astronaut Don Thomas with NASA legends Bob Sieck and Jay Honeycutt, while another panel will sandwich book author Jonathan Ward between his two co-writers, the world’s first female space commander, Eileen Collins, and launch director Mike Leinbach, who’s “Bringing Columbia Home” is the definitive story about the tragedy.
“This is an event that will be talked about for years,” said ShuttleFest chariman and museum director Mark Marquette. “We may have to find a bigger venue, so this one will be extra intimate for Shuttle fans and space workers.”
Marquette added that the VIP guest list is still fluid, and many of the dozen or so local astronauts are encouraged to just stop by for some interaction with their “heroes,” the Amercan space worker.
There will be an “event tent” outside on the hotel property to accomodate a breakfast buffet and a 6-10 pm social gathering that will possibly include astronaut appearances and movies.
Also committed to the success of ShuttleFest IV is world-renowned space artist Chris Calle, who will be one of a few hand-picked vendors that will include Ken Havekotte Space Memorabilia, an event sponsor.
Sponsors door prizes and donations are being sought, and queries of any kind can be directed to [email protected], or phone Mark Marquette at (423) 946-4132.
The ShuttleFest IV “tentative” schedule, including evening tours of the museum, is available here:
SHUTTLEFEST IV
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
April 11-13, 2025 at Hyatt Place Titusville
“MAKING FRIENDS” at American Space Museum FRIDAY APRIL 11
6-9 pm Meet & Greet with Speakers, Sponsors and Vendors. Astronaut appearance(s) and book signing(s) possible.
ASM event Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, 6-10 pm Museum docent tours and telescope stargazing by Brevard Astronomical Society
“HUBBLE HUGGER” SATURDAY, APRIL 12
8-9 am Breakfast, possibly with VIPs @ Event tent on Hyatt Place property
9 am Official Greeting and opening remarks
9:30 am-10:30 am PANEL 1 (Mikey Haddad)
10:45am-12 pm PANEL 2 (Goddard Group Hubble?)
LUNCH 12-1:30 PM at Event Tent or on your own. Vendor Time & Book Signings
1:30 -2:30 pm PANEL 3 (“Photographing Hubble”led by Tom Usciak)
2:45 pm-4 pm PANEL 4 (EVA astronauts with Joe Tanner)
4:15-5 pm PANEL 5 (“Science of Hubble” Dr. Eric Perlman)
5:30-7 pm Happy Hour Roundtable with VIPs
@ Event Tent
6 pm-7 pm VIP Thank You for Sponsors & Speakers
@ Hyatt Launch Viewing Room. Invite only.
7:30 pm MOVIE Night TBD
@ ASM: from 6 pm to 10 pm Docent Tours & Stargazing
“SPACE IS THE PLACE SUNDAY” APRIL 13
8-9 am Breakfast with possible VIPs @ event tent
9 am Welcome and announcements
9:30-10:30 am PANEL 6 Astronaut Don Thomas & NASA Legends “ “A Woodpecker & Hubble Tall Tales”
(Bob Sieck, Jay Honeycutt & others)
10:45-12 pm PANEL 7 The Artwork of Hubble (Chris Calle)
LUNCH 12-1:30 pm at Event Tent or own your own Vendor Time & Book Signings
1:30-2:45 pm PANEL 8 The Astronaut, The Launch Director & The Writer
Eileen Collins, Mike Linebach & Jonathan Ward
3-4 pm PANEL 9 Rocket Renaissance Crystal Ball
Highlighting Space Companies and their plans
4-4:30 pm DOOR PRIZES & SILENT AUCTION WINNERS
5-6 PM Happy Hour Roundtable with VIPs
@ Event Tent
7 PM MOVIE TBD
@ ASM: from 6 pm to 10 pm Docent Tours & Stargazing
BONUS: KSCVC EXPERT DOCENT TOUR with Marty Winkel (Gruman electrical engineer of Lunar Module) & Terry White (Mgr Orbital Processing Facility of Shuttle).
FRIDAY Leave Hyatt Hotel @ 9 am
MONDAY Leave Hyatt Hotel @ 9 am
Must buy own KSCVC ticket (or annual pass). First stop will be bus to Saturn V Center for Marty’s talk on LM #9; and then return for Terry’s talk at the Atlantis orbiter.
SEE YOU AT SHUTTLEFEST V April 10-12, 2026!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Hyatt Place Titusville / Kennedy Space Center, 6456 Horizon Dr, Titusville, FL 32780, United States,Titusville, Florida
