Event Calendar

Closed Christmas Day

Date: Sunday, December 25, 2022 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Cosmosphere

We will be closed Sunday, December 25 for Christmas. We will be open normal business hours on Monday, December 26. 
 

OPEN 9 AM–3 PM CHRISTMAS EVE

Date: Saturday, December 24, 2022 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Cosmosphere

We will be open from 9 am–3 pm on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24. We will be closed on Christmas Day. 

First and Last Steps: Celebrating Time and Space

Date: Friday, December 02, 2022 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: Meadowlark Building, Kansas State Fairgrounds

Celebrate time and space as we observe the Cosmosphere's first steps from a poultry building, to the last steps of humans on the Moon.

Join us Friday, December 2, 2022, as the Cosmosphere celebrates its 60th birthday and honors the 50 year anniversary of Apollo 17 at the Meadowlark Building at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

Cosmosphere members-only ticket sale begins 10 am, CDT, Friday, September 2, 2022.

General public ticket sale begins 10 am CDT, Sunday, October 2, 2022.

View event details here.

HONORED GUESTS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR*:
Jeff Ashby
Jerry Bostick
Charlie Duke
Gerry Griffin
Fred Haise
Steven Hawley
Gene Kranz
Jack Lousma
Harrison Schmitt
Milt Windler

*Guests are subject to change.

CLOSED THANKSGIVING DAY

Date: Thursday, November 24, 2022 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Cosmosphere

We will be closed Thursday, November 24 for Thanksgiving. We will be open normal business hours on Friday.

Coffee at the Cosmo: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Location: Cosmosphere

The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, a special author talk and book-signing with his son, Bruce McCandless III

This informative community gathering over coffee features guest speakers offering insight into STEM and space topics. Coffee at the Cosmo is free and open to the public.

Thursday, October 20 from 9-10 am, meet Bruce McCandless III, appearing in-person at the Cosmosphere to discuss and sign his recent book, WONDERS ALL AROUND: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space. McCandless will share slides, images, and stories to help us get to know “the man behind the visor.” His father, Bruce McCandless II (1937-2017), served as CapCom for Apollo 11 during Neil Armstrong’s giant leap for mankind in 1969, he made the first untethered spacewalk and spaceflight using an MMU jet pack (now retired from use) in 1984, and in 1990 he served as Mission Specialist 1 on STS-31, the NASA shuttle mission to deploy the Hubble telescope.

His son, our presenter Bruce McCandless III, grew up in the shadow of Houston’s Johnson Space Center during the Apollo and Skylab eras. He holds a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. His other books include the science fiction novel Sour Lake (2011), the modern fairy tale Beatrice and the Basilisk (2014), and the Western supernatural thriller In the Land of Dead Horses (2021). He is currently working on a narrative history of the American space program called Starbound, which is intended for non-technical readers.

Coffee at the Cosmo can be enjoyed in-person at the Cosmosphere or live online via Zoom from anywhere!

Learn more about Bruce McCandless III here.

*Coffee topics are subject to change.

Operation: Blackbird FREE Public Event

Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Cosmosphere

Save the date for Operation: Blackbird on Saturday, October 15

Join the Cosmosphere for supersonic stories from pilots and crew of the SR-71. 

More info to come!

Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day 2022

Date: Saturday, September 17, 2022 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Location: Cosmosphere

Join us Saturday, September 17, 2022 for Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day! 

Mark your calendar for America’s annual celebration of boundless curiosity. Museum Day brings together museums, zoos & cultural centers from all 50 states to offer free admission to all ticket holders. 

Cosmosphere guests that show their printed ticket or show their ticket on their phone at the Box Office, receive free admission into the Hall of Space Museum for two guests. Tickets available HERE in August 2022. 

2nd Saturday Free Museum Tours

Date: Saturday, August 13, 2022 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Cosmosphere

FREE with museum admission: guided museum tours will be available at 11am and 1pm, on Saturday, August 13. Experienced and insightful docents will enlighten and entertain you on your journey through the Hall of Space Museum.* (Meet at the Museum Entrance turnstile.)

The activities are free to Reno County residents, who have free access to the Hall of Space, including CosmoKids, with a pass obtained by showing their ID at the Box Office. Out-of-county guests must purchase a ticket at the Box Office.

For more information call 620.662.2305 or visit cosmo.org for ticket and showtimes.

*Hall of Space admission required. Reno County residents are FREE, please pick up admission ticket at Box Office.

2022 Sunflower Summer Program

Date: Saturday, May 28, 2022
Location: Cosmosphere

What's better than an out-of-this-world visit to the Cosmosphere? How about a FREE out-of-this-world visit thanks to the Kansas State Department of Education's Sunflower Summer program! All Kansas students, and up to two accompanying adults, can receive free admission to our Hall of Space Museum May 28 through August 14, 2022.

To be eligible to participate, students must be 4-18 years old and not have graduated high school yet. Up to two adults accompanying the student can also participate. To get started,  parents and guardians need to download the Sunflower Summer app free from either Google Play (Android) or Apple (iOS) app stores.

With over 70 participating venues across Kansas, check out www.sunflowersummer.org to find out how to make your Sunflower Summer spectacular!

Blue Star Museum Program

Date: Saturday, May 21, 2022
Location: Cosmosphere

The Cosmosphere is proud to be participating in Blue Star Museums, which provides free admission to our Hall of Space Museum to our nation’s active-duty military personnel (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps) and up to five family members. The Blue Star Museum program begins Armed Forces Day, May 21, 2022 and ends Labor Day, September 5, 2022.

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military–Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard–including Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. 

For a complete list of participants, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.