Clear Lake Weekend Spotlight: Meet Veteran Astronaut Hans Schlegel at Space Center Houston

CLEAR LAKE, Texas — Living in the Clear Lake area comes with a perk that few communities in the country can match: the opportunity to hear firsthand stories from people who have actually traveled into space.

This Saturday, October 3, Space Center Houston will host veteran European Space Agency astronaut Hans Schlegel for two different astronaut experiences, giving local families and space enthusiasts an opportunity to hear directly from a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions.

Breakfast With an Astronaut

Schlegel is scheduled to appear at Space Center Houston’s Breakfast with an Astronaut experience Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

The program includes breakfast, a presentation from the featured astronaut, a question-and-answer session and a personalized photograph for attendees.

Tickets are currently listed at $99.95 for adults and $79.95 for children ages 4 through 11. Capacity is limited, making advance availability worth checking before heading to the center.

A Lower-Cost Option Is Included With General Admission

Residents who want to hear Schlegel speak without purchasing the special breakfast experience have another option later in the day.

Space Center Houston’s Astronaut Mission Memories program is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and again at 1:20 p.m. Saturday. The approximately 45-minute presentations are included with regular admission to Space Center Houston.

The program gives astronauts an opportunity to talk about training, missions and what it was actually like to work in space, often providing details that visitors would never get simply by walking through an exhibit.

Who Is Hans Schlegel?

Schlegel is a German physicist and former European Space Agency astronaut who flew aboard two NASA Space Shuttle missions.

His first spaceflight came aboard Columbia during STS-55 in 1993, a nearly 10-day mission centered around the German Spacelab D-2 research program.

He returned to space in 2008 aboard Atlantis during STS-122, a mission that delivered the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station. Schlegel also conducted a spacewalk during the mission.

For Clear Lake residents, experiences like this are an unusual reminder of just how closely the community remains connected to the history and future of human spaceflight.

Planning a Saturday Visit

Space Center Houston is located at 1601 E. NASA Parkway. Visitors interested specifically in the astronaut programs should confirm ticket availability and the day’s schedule before arriving, as programs and capacity can change.

Saturday’s appearance is also a good opportunity for families to combine the astronaut presentation with the center’s other experiences, including NASA tram tours, spacecraft exhibits and programs focused on current and future exploration.

While people travel from around the world to experience Space Center Houston, Clear Lake residents have one of the world’s premier space museums sitting in their own backyard — and this weekend offers another reason to take advantage of it.