The TWA Hotel Is Ready to Take You Back to the Space Age
A three-day event in New York City will celebrate Apollo missions, 1960s culture, and the future of space travel.
A special event called Mission: 60s is coming to New York City from October 23 to 25. It will be held at the TWA Hotel near John F. Kennedy International Airport. The event celebrates the Apollo moon missions, space exploration, and 1960s culture. Visitors can meet real astronauts, watch live music, and explore exhibits from the early days of the Space Age. Organizers want to connect the history of space travel to today's new efforts to return to the moon.
Mission: 60s is organized by two groups. The first is Luna Replicas, a company that specializes in vintage space equipment. The second is Space for Humanity, a nonprofit that helps people experience spaceflight. Together, they designed the weekend to feel like a bridge between the 1960s moon race and today's modern second space race. Their goal is to remind people how exciting and important space exploration has been and still is.
The adventure starts the moment guests check into the TWA Hotel. The hotel is built inside the old TWA Flight Center, which was once a real airport terminal for Trans World Airlines. The building was designed by a famous architect named Eero Saarinen, and its curved, wing-like shape makes it look like it belongs in the Space Age. The hotel has 512 guest rooms with views of the airport's runways. Restaurants, bars, and shops are all inside the historic building.
On Friday, October 23, guests will take a guided tour of the 1964 World's Fair site in Flushing Meadows, Queens. That site is now home to the New York Hall of Science. Outside, the Rocket Park displays real rockets, including a Gemini-Titan II, a Mercury-Atlas D, and a Saturn V F-1 engine. Visitors can also see the Unisphere, a giant stainless steel globe that represents planet Earth. Friday evening ends with a pool party on the hotel rooftop and a separately ticketed Celestial Soiree.
Saturday and Sunday are packed with panel discussions featuring real experts in space history. Speakers include Apollo flight director Gerry Griffin, former NASA astronauts Nicole Stott and Ron Garan, and Star Trek actor Bob Picardo. Topics will cover everything from Apollo Mission Control and women in aerospace to science fiction and the art that inspired people to love space. Representatives from Hollywood's famous visual effects studio Industrial Light and Magic will also appear. The discussions are meant to be fun and engaging for space fans of all ages.
On Saturday evening, guests are invited to a gala called The Spacefarer Soiree. Attendees are encouraged to dress in 1960s clothing and enjoy live music performed by Bonnie Gordon. A special meet-and-greet will take place aboard a vintage Lockheed Constellation airliner. The event is set in the year 1969, the same year humans first walked on the moon. It promises to be one of the most memorable parts of the whole weekend.
On Sunday afternoon, up to 50 people can share a virtual reality experience called the Overview hosted by Uplift Aerospace. Both Saturday and Sunday will also feature a vendor hall where guests can buy Apollo-themed souvenirs, get autographs, and browse space art. NASA's official patch provider, A-B Emblem, will be among the sellers. A weekend pass costs $150, while a single-day ticket is $85, with extra costs for VIP access and special evening events. The event is a rare chance to feel the excitement of the Space Age up close.
You will be fully immersed in the sights, sounds and spirit of the 1960s Space Age.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. Where is the Mission: 60s event being held?
2. How much does a weekend pass to Mission: 60s cost?
3. Which rocket engine is on display at Rocket Park in Flushing Meadows?