Kennedy Space Center hosts Pontes from 13 October

Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island hosts Meet Astronaut Marcos Pontes from 13 to 17 October, with talks and autograph signings.

Kennedy Space Center will host Meet Astronaut Marcos Pontes from 13 to 17 October 2026 at its visitor complex in Merritt Island, Florida. The five-day Astronaut Appearance programme gives visitors several ways to hear from the Brazilian space traveller and attend scheduled autograph signings.

Marcos Pontes appears at Kennedy Space Center from 13 October

The official programme runs from Tuesday 13 October to Saturday 17 October 2026. Pontes is listed as the Astronaut of the Day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where the programme is presented as a public visitor experience included with general admission.

The central format is Astronaut Encounter. During these presentations, Pontes will discuss his experience of living and working in space, with an opportunity for questions after the presentation. The complex also lists autograph signings at The Space Shop and Shuttle Express, with daily times provided on the schedule available at the venue. The event dates and venue are published by the visitor complex.

Pontes links the Merritt Island visit to Expedition 13

Marcos Pontes is identified by the visitor complex as the first Brazilian astronaut and as a flight engineer on Soyuz TMA-8. NASA selected him in 1998, and he launched aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft in 2006 as part of Expedition 13.

His mission included ten days on the International Space Station. That background gives the October programme a direct link to the working history represented at the visitor complex, where spaceflight exhibits and guided experiences sit alongside current public events. A regional visitor overview of Merritt Island describes the wider site as a working spaceflight location with public access to selected areas and tours.

Pontes later continued work in the Brazilian Space Programme and became president of the Astronaut Marcos Pontes Foundation. The official biography also lists him as chief executive of MP Engineering, a space research director and an author. These details place the October appearance between professional spaceflight, education and public discussion rather than presenting it as a launch event.

Visiting Kennedy Space Center: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Meet Astronaut Marcos Pontes takes place from 13 to 17 October 2026 at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island.
• The visitor complex lists Astronaut Encounter presentations and autograph signings as part of the programme. The daily schedule supplies the times after arrival.
• The venue address is Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, Florida 32953. The complex is in the United States and is presented as a visitor site connected with NASA's Kennedy spaceflight facilities.
• The programme offers a presentation about living and working in space, followed by the opportunity for questions. Autograph signings are listed at The Space Shop and Shuttle Express.
• Pontes is associated with Soyuz TMA-8 and Expedition 13. His International Space Station flight took place in 2006.

Searching for Kennedy Space Center on social platforms

These links open searches for Kennedy Space Center on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Kennedy Space Center

When does Meet Astronaut Marcos Pontes take place at Kennedy Space Center?

The programme runs from 13 to 17 October 2026 at the visitor complex in Merritt Island.

What can visitors do during the October 2026 astronaut appearance?

Astronaut Encounter presentations cover Pontes's experience in space, and autograph signings are listed at The Space Shop and Shuttle Express.

Where is Kennedy Space Center and how do you get there?

The visitor complex is on Space Commerce Way in Merritt Island, Florida 32953, in the United States.