Event

Title: LIFTOFF!: An Inside Look at the Space Shuttle Program by Stan Honda

Event Info:

We are incredibly privileged to host a special presentation that offers a unique, ground-level view of a legendary era in space exploration. Please join us for an evening with friend of the club: Stan Honda, a New York-based photographer and veteran photojournalist. 

Stan Honda worked as a professional photojournalist for 34 years, most recently for the global news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), where he covered a wide range of major stories. His distinguished career is marked by significant personal projects, including documenting the Japanese American incarceration in the U.S. during World War II and creating stunning night sky landscapes in wilderness areas and even in New York City. His dedication to capturing the natural world has led him to serve as an artist-in-residence at seven national parks. His astronomical photography is renowned, with his images being selected 12 times as NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day.

For five years, Stan served as the photographer coordinating space shuttle mission coverage for Agence France-Presse (AFP) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. His photographs were distributed worldwide via AFP's network. In this exclusive presentation, he will share a remarkable portfolio from his time covering the program.

You will see behind-the-scenes images not normally seen by the public, offering an intimate look at the people, preparations, and power of the shuttle missions. With firsthand experience covering 11 shuttle launches and a total of 15 missions, Stan will provide a personal and photographic history of this pivotal chapter in spaceflight.

This is a rare opportunity to witness the shuttle program through the expert lens of a photojournalist who was there. We look forward to seeing you for what promises to be a memorable and visually spectacular evening.

Clear skies

Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Time: 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Eastern

Location: Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
180 Little Neck Road
Centerport, NY 11721

Information for Visitors

Location Details

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