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Space Travelers from Around the World to Meet in Houston

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Tony Maples Photography

 

In 2019, the largest meeting of astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world will gather in Houston for the Planetary Congress. Founded in 1985, the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) holds the Planetary Congress as a weeklong conference for the more than 100 space travelers who have orbited Earth or ventured even further.

In true space traveler fashion, they’re planning ahead to make 2019’s meeting in Houston, as it will mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. This occasion will be the 32nd Planetary Congress but only the fourth time the meeting has been held in the United States.

Collect Space reports that Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said, “The world’s ‘Space City,’ [Houston is] the perfect selection for this prestigious Congress. The first word uttered from the surface of the moon was ‘Houston.'”

Space Center Houston along with Rice University and the University of Houston (central and Clear Lake campuses) will hold events pertaining to the conference. Amazingly, the public is encouraged to attend for free.

Former astronaut and current ASE organizer Bonnie Dunbar said, “We open our technical meetings to the public, universities and students. We will be sending fliers across the state, and even to a couple of locations outside the state, to very large meetings, to very large groups and community groups, as well as to schools. We will be visiting primary schools and middle schools and high schools.”

Whenever you get a 2019 calendar, be sure to jot down a note to look out for the Planetary Congress events!