COSMOSPHERE
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Cosmosphere will welcome Kansas-born astronaut and former NASA astronaut Steven Hawley, PhD, on Friday, Sept. 18, for a special book signing and VIP event celebrating the release of his memoir, Eyes to the Stars: A Memoir for the Space Shuttle Generation. Hawley will meet with guests during a free book signing from 2PM to 4PM in the Cosmosphere lobby. Guests may purchase a copy of Eyes to the Stars through the Cosmosphere Gift Store or bring their own copy for Hawley to sign. The evening will continue with a special VIP event beginning at 5:30PM in the Cosmosphere’s Fee Learning Center. VIP guests will hear Hawley read from his memoir and participate in a question-and-answer session, with appetizers and drinks included. VIP tickets are $60, with a discounted price of $40 available to Cosmosphere members.
Hawley’s career spans some of the most significant chapters in the Space Shuttle era. He went on to fly five Space Shuttle missions: STS-41D, STS-61C, STS-31, STS-82 and STS-93. His missions included the deployment and servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope and the deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Following his time in space, Hawley continued to serve NASA in leadership and management roles, including work involving the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station and investigations into the Challenger and Columbia accidents. He was also the first non-pilot to serve as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. A native of Kansas, Hawley grew up under the dark skies of rural Kansas and developed an early fascination with astronomy and space exploration. His journey from a young astronomy student to a NASA astronaut is at the heart of Eyes to the Stars, which chronicles his career and experiences during one of the most transformative eras in human spaceflight.
The event offers guests an opportunity to hear directly from one of the Space Shuttle generation’s astronauts and gain insight into the experiences behind a career that helped shape some of NASA’s most important missions.
Event Details:
- Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
- Book Signing: 2PM - 4PM in Cosmosphere lobby
- VIP Event: 5:30PM - 8PM in Fee Learning Center.
The book signing is free to attend with the purchase of Eyes to the Stars from the Cosmosphere Gift Storeor with a guest’s own copy. VIP tickets are $60, or $40 for Cosmosphere members.
Visit cosmo.org/events/steven-hawley-book-signing-and-vip-event/ for tickets and additional information.