Past Space Day Events

Mason Space Day 2025

Mason Space Day 2025 offered an engaging, family-friendly experience exploring the science and technology behind leading aerospace projects, featuring space expert talks, hands-on activities, telescope viewings, exhibitors, and a lecture from and autograph session with retired NASA astronaut Captain Robert L. “Hoot” Gibson.

Keynote Speakers:

Robert L. “Hoot” Gibson, USN, Retired Astronaut
Eliad Peretz, Deputy Lead Scientist, NASA’s Heliophysics Strategic Technology Office and Mission-instrument Scientist, Heliophysics Division at Goddard Space Flight Center

George Mason Space Day Speakers:

Caelus Rocketry (formerly known as Project Caelus)
Anamaria Berea, Associate Professor, Computational and Data Sciences
Steve Dam, President and Founder of the Systems and Proposal Engineering Company (SPEC Innovations)
Hina Kazmi, Adjunct Faculty, Schar School of Policy and Government
Eileen Kragie, Dark Sky Friends
Ferah Munshi, Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy
Rob Parks, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University
Peter Plavchan, Landolt Mission PI, Professor, Physics and Astronomy
Tom Reinert, Board Member and Former President, DarkSky International
Bob Weigel, Professor, Physics and Astronomy

Photo from Mason Space Day 2025

Captain Hoot Gibson speaking at Space Day 2025 — Captain Hoot Gibson spoke to a large crowd about his career which including him participating in five NASA Space Shuttle missions, commanding four, including the historic 1995 mission that achieved the first shuttle docking with Russia’s Mir space station.

George Mason Space Day wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our volunteers, many of whom are current Physics and Astronomy students. Photo by Zander Leon.

Crowd gathers to hear from Captain Hoot Gibson.

Captain Hoot Gibson signing child's space suit. — Captain Hoot Gibson gave autographs to several attendees, including this future astronaut. Photo by Zander Leon.

Dean Cody Edwards shaking hands with Captain Hoot Gibson. — College of Science Dean Cody W. Edwards introduced keynote speaker Captain Hoot Gibson at George Mason Space Day 2025.

Young girl visiting the Dark Sky Friends booth. — One of the many young George Mason Space Day attendees visited the Dark Sky Friends table to learn more about their work to a promote responsible outdoor lighting to combat light pollution and protect the natural night sky.

Ferah Munshi, Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science speaking at Space Day — Ferah Munshi, Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science spoke at George Mason Space Day on illuminating the Dark (Matter) with computer simulations. Photo by Zander Leon.

Caelus Rocketry attend and spoke at Space Day 2025 — Caelus Rocketry tabled and spoke at George Mason Space Day 2025. Caelus Rocketry (formerly known as Project Caelus) is an aerospace nonprofit consisting entirely of high school students. Their goal is to design, build, test, and launch the first high schooler-built bipropellant liquid-fueled rocket to the edge of space while creating opportunities that introduce the community to the ever-growing aerospace industry and the importance of STEM education in an increasingly technological world. Photo by Zander Leon.

Eliad Peretz, Landolt Mission Deputy Principal Investigator; Heliophysics Division at Goddard Space Flight presented as one of new keynote speakers on the topic "A Journey Through the Stars - A Message from the Universe." Photo by Zander Leon.

Eileen Kragie of Dark Sky Friends with Retired Astronaut Hoot Gibson. — Eileen Kragie of Dark Sky Friends with Retired Astronaut Captain Hoot Gibson. Photo by Tracy Mason.

Several vendors attended, offering participants to learn and enjoy science. — Several organizations tabled at George Mason Space Day including Smithsonian Associates, NASA, and Fairfax County Park Authority. Photo by Zander Leon.

Several organizations tabled at George Mason Space Day including Because Science, Smithsonian Associates, NASA, and Fairfax County Park Authority. Photo by Zander Leon. — Several organizations tabled at George Mason Space Day including Smithsonian Associates, NASA, and Fairfax County Park Authority. Photo by Zander Leon.

Captain Hoot Gibson and Eliad Peretz with George Mason Dean Edwards and Space Day event coordinators. — Space Day 2025 keynote speakers Retired NASA astronaut Captain Robert “Hoot” Gibson, USN (third from left) and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Eliad Peretz (second from right), with Physics and Astronomy Chair Ernie Barreto (far left), College of Science Dean Cody W. Edwards (second from left), Physics and Astronomy Associate Professor and Event Chair Gabriele Belle (third from right) and George Mason Observatory Director Rob Parks (far right). Photo by Zander Leon.

Space Day attendees getting their photo with Retired NASA astronaut Captain Robert “Hoot” Gibson, USN — After the keynote, Retired NASA astronaut Captain Robert “Hoot” Gibson, USN took photos with George Mason Space Day guests at a Meet and Greet. Photo by Zander Leon.

Participants looking through the college's solar telescopes. — At George Mason's Space Day, participants had the unique opportunity stare (safely) at the sun through solar telescopes. Photo by Zander Leon.

Kids and their parents watch a demonstration by one of the many Space Day vendors. — George Mason's Department of Physics and Astronomy held demonstrations for parents and their children at the 2025 Space Day. Photo by Zander Leon.

Mason Space Day 2024

Mason Space Day 2024 was an interactive event showcasing the science and technology behind today’s leading aerospace initiatives. Designed to educate and inspire, it featured engaging talks—including from NASA astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren—along with hands-on activities, exhibits, and contributions from organizations across the field.

Keynote Speaker:

Kjell N. Lindgren, NASA Astronaut

George Mason Space Day Speakers:

Caelus rocketry

Oleg Goushcha, Aerospace Research Engineer, NASA Langley Research Center

Eileen Kragie,Founder, Dark Sky Friends

Piotr Pachowicz, Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Mason University

Peter Plavchan, Landolt Mission Principal Investigator, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University

Tom Reinert, President, DarkSky International

Shobita Satyapal, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University

Erdal Yiğit, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University

Jie Zhang, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University

Images from Mason Space Day 2024

Dean Edwards, Astronaut Kjell Lindgren, and President Washington — Astronaut Kjell Lindgren and President Gregory Washington

Panel of speakers at Space Day 2024 — Expert panel

Caelus Rocketry at Space Day 2024 — Students from Caelus Rocketry

Volunteers at Space Day 2024 — Volunteers at Mason Space Day

Student looking through telescope at Space Day 2024 — Mason student looking through telescope

Erdal Yigit at Space Day 2024 — Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Erdal Yigit

Astronaut Kjell Lindgren signing autographs at Space Day 2024 — NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren signing autographs for Mason students

George Mason faculty speaking at George Mason's Space Day 2024

Dean Edwards presenting at Space Day — College of Science Dean Cody W. Edwards

Gabrielle Bell presenting at Space Day 2024 — Physics and Astronomy Professor and Mason Space Day lead coordinator, Gabrielle Bell

Astronaut Kjell Lindgren at Space Day 2024 — NASA Astronaut Kjell Lindgren

Mason Space Day 2023

Mason Space Day 2023 was an engaging, collaborative event highlighting the science and technology behind leading aerospace projects. It featured talks—including from The Honorable Charles F. Bolden Jr., Major General, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), 12th NASA Administrator—along with hands-on activities, exhibits, and contributions from organizations across the field.

Keynote Speaker:

The Honorable Charles F. Bolden Jr., Major General, United States Marine Corps (Ret.), 12th NASA Administrator, Founder & CEO Emeritus, The Charles F. Bolden Group

George Mason Space Day Speakers:

Michelle Thaller, Assistant Director of NASA Science, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Robert Weigel, Professor, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University
Anamaria Berea, Associate Professor, Computational and Data Sciences
Hakeem Oluseyi, Research Professor, Physics and Astronomy
Piotr Pachowicz, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Donglian Sun, Professor, Geographic and Geoinformation Science
Erdal Yiğit, Associate Professor, Physics and Astronomy

Images from Mason Space Day 2023

Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm at Mason Space Day — Dean Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm

Michelle Thaller at Mason Space Day — Michelle Thaller, Assistant Director of NASA Science, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Peter Plavchan, Charles Bolden, Gabriele Belle

Mason Space Day 2022

George Mason University, Project Caelus, and The Pearl Project Institute hosted the first Mason Space Day, an engaging, family-friendly event highlighting aerospace science and technology, featuring keynote speaker Col. Michael Hopkins, Space Force and NASA astronaut and Crew-1 Dragon mission commander.