Meet a Real NASA Astronaut and Hear the Story of the Final Space Shuttle Mission

Bring your family to an unforgettable presentation with Astronaut Rex Walheim and discover what it was like to fly on the last Space Shuttle flight in history.

Rex Walheim is a NASA astronaut, U.S. Air Force officer, and San Carlos hometown hero. A graduate of UC Berkeley and the University of Houston, Walheim began his career as an Air Force flight test engineer before being selected as a NASA astronaut in 1996. Over the next two decades, he became one of the program’s most experienced mission specialists and spacewalkers.

Walheim flew on three Space Shuttle missions, including STS-135 in 2011 — the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program. He spent 36 days in space and completed five spacewalks totaling more than 36 hours, helping build and outfit the International Space Station. At NASA, he also served as CAPCOM, led the Spacewalking Branch, helped develop early ISS operations procedures, and later guided safety and mission assurance for human spaceflight programs.

After retiring from NASA, Walheim continued shaping the future of space exploration, serving in senior leadership roles at Axiom Space and later Blue Origin, where he now works on astronaut crew integration. His career reflects a lifetime devoted to science, aviation, and inspiring the next generation.

Don’t miss this must-attend event!

Meet a real NASA Space Shuttle Astronaut — Rex Walheim, who grew up right here in San Carlos — and give your family the chance to hear his incredible firsthand stories from the final Space Shuttle mission. This is the perfect family outing during the school break, especially if you have relatives in town and young minds ready to be inspired. Come spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of exploration at the Hiller Aviation Museum.