Buy Tickets Now for the 2017 Fall Banquet!

Join the Missile, Space and Range Pioneers on Friday October 27th for an evening gala at the Space Coast’s Courtyard by Marriott located in Cocoa Beach.

Space industry professionals, veterans, and enthusiasts are invited to a keynote discussion with Shuttle Astronaut Nicole Stott that will be followed by an audience Q&A. Celebrated launch photographers Michael Seeley and Mike Killian, as well as artist & mission patch designer Tim Gagnon, will also participate in a panel discussion that highlights their contributions to the incredible story of the space coast.

Social and networking hour begins at 5:30 PM and dinner (Your choice of Chicken Piccatta, Grilled Mahi-Mahi, or Pasta Primavera) will be served at 7:00 PM. A cash bar will also be open.

Cocktail attire is recommended and we’ll be providing a professional event portrait photographer to create a personalized memory of your evening.

Students/Active Military: $35
Pioneer Members: $45
Regular ticket: $60

Our Speakers

Nicole Stott

Astronaut | Artist | Planetary Advocate

First Astronaut to Paint in Space

Nicole has explored from the heights of outer space to the depths of our oceans.  She marveled at the awesomeness of our planet experienced through these vantage points, and she believes that sharing this perspective has the power to increase everyone’s appreciation of and obligation to care for our home planet and all who inhabit it.

Nicole is a veteran NASA Astronaut with two spaceflights, one spacewalk, and 104 days living and working in space as a crewmember on both the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS).  She is also a NASA Aquanaut and was a crewmember on the longest duration saturated dive mission on the Aquarius undersea laboratory.

Always an Artist, Nicole was the First Astronaut to Paint in Space.

Nicole combines her spaceflight experience and artwork to inspire creative thinking about solutions to our planetary and personal challenges, and to increase awareness of the outstanding work being done every day in space to improve life here on Earth.  She uniquely shares the impression of our planet from the orbital and undersea perspectives, while stressing the significance of our planetary community and environment, a renaissance approach to education and wellness, and the surprising interplay between science and art.

Tim Gagnon

Tim Gagnon was born and raised in East Hartford, Connecticut. A fascination with space exploration came early as did an interest in art. Like many others of his generation Tim remembers watching the missions of his childhood heroes on a small black and white television with “rabbit ears” that could receive few broadcast stations. For his 16th birthday gift in 1972 his parents arranged for Tim and his father to attend the launch of Apollo 17 as invited guests of NASA.

In 2004 his dream finally came true when astronaut John Phillips selected Tim to design the emblem for the Expedition 11 mission to the International Space Station. In 2006 he was invited by mission Commander Pam Melroy to submit draft designs for the STS-120 patch. The competition was strong and Tim placed second. In 2007 Tim was selected by astronaut Eric Boe to design the STS-126 mission emblem. Knowing how much it meant to participate, Tim invited his pen pal Dr. Jorge Cartes of Madrid Spain to join him on this project. The STS-126 crew was so happy with the result that they recommended Tim and Jorge to the STS-127 crew. As each patch was completed, Tim and Jorge were recommended to more flight crews. Since 2008 they teamed to work with the astronauts of the follwoing crews: STS-129, STS-132, STS-133 and STS-135* Though for the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program it was only a collaboration as the idea to include the NASA vector was adopted by the crew. The end of the Space Shuttle Program did not slow down demand. Tim and Jorge were proud to work with the follwoing crews serving aboard the International Space Station: Expeditions 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 34, One Year, 47 and 48.

Michael Seeley

Mike is the President of the Health First Foundation, in Melbourne, Florida and is a co-founder of We Report Space. His photos are seen widely, including in National Geographic Magazine, USA Today, Florida Today, The Guardian, Smithsonian Magazine, The Weather Channel, SpaceFlight Insider, Universe Today and, of course, in We Report Space.

Since moving to the Space Coast in 2012, Mike has taken full advantage of his proximity to Kennedy Space Center, viewing launches first as a member of the NASA Social program and then beginning in July 2015, as accredited media.  Mike is a passionate photographer (with experience that dates back to actual film) and enjoys being capture images of the exciting equipment being built and launched from KSC and CCAFS.

Mike Killian