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Summer Space Social

Saturday 11th July 2026

Mitchell Hall, Cranfield

Bedfordshire, UK

Summer Space Social 2026 with NASA Astronaut Daniel Tani

There are very few opportunities in the UK to spend meaningful time with a real NASA astronaut in an intimate, community environment.

Our Summer Space Social is designed not as a theatre show, but as a genuine community experience where space enthusiasts, families, students and professionals can come together to hear first-hand experiences, live and in-person, from an astronaut.

Experience an Inspiring Journey to Space...

Step inside the world of human spaceflight with Daniel Tani, a veteran NASA Astronaut who has spent over 130 days living and working aboard three Space Shuttles and the International Space Station.

This is a rare chance to hear first-hand what it’s truly like to leave Earth and live and work in space. From spacewalks high above the planet to the reality of daily life in orbit, Dan will share the moments you don’t see in the documentaries, taking you behind the training, behind the missions, and the real human impact of seeing the Earth from space.

You’ll also have the opportunity to ask your own questions and engage directly, making this a genuinely interactive and memorable experience.

Our Space Social events bring together people who share a fascination with space; from curious beginners to industry professionals. Whether you come on your own or with friends or family, you’ll be part of a welcoming and passionate community. 


We offer a range of ticket options depending on the level of access and interaction you would like.


If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what it’s like to be out there, this is your chance to find out. 

Ticket Options

General Admission

General Admission

General Admission

Daytime: 12pm-4pm

With exhibitors, canteen and amenities.

Perfect for families, space enthusiasts and anyone who has ever wondered what it is really like to live and work in space.


12:00pm

  •  Access to our exhibitor area featuring space memorabilia, meteorites, space art, STEM organisations and more.

1:00pm

  • Opportunity to purchase an optional professional Meet & Greet Photo with Daniel, including mounted print (signed) and digital download. 

2:00pm

  • Live Astronaut Presentation with Daniel Tani.
  • Interactive Audience Q&A where you can ask your own questions.
  • In-Person Meet & Greet Autograph. Every guest receives one autograph and the opportunity for a brief one-to-one interaction with Daniel as their item is signed.

4:00pm

  • Event Closes


Everyone gets one free autograph!

Suitable for all ages.

Evening Dinner

General Admission

General Admission

Evening: 6pm-10pm

With exhibitors, canteen, bar and amenities.

An exclusive evening dining experience in a relaxed and informal setting. With a much smaller group than the daytime event, guests have the opportunity to enjoy extended access to Daniel, hear additional stories from his NASA career and ask questions. Whether you are a lifelong space enthusiast, aspiring engineer, STEM professional or simply fascinated by human spaceflight, this unique experience offers the chance to spend quality time with one of NASA's most accomplished astronauts.


6:00pm

  • Reserved seating at the Evening Dinner with Daniel Tani
  • Extended access to Daniel in a smaller-group environment
  • Three-course dinner followed by tea/coffee
  • After-dinner informal conversation and additional audience Q&A.
  • Fundraising auction featuring unique astronaut-related items.
  • In-Person Meet & Greet Autograph. Every guest receives one autograph and the opportunity for a brief one-to-one interaction with Daniel as their item is signed.

10:00pm

  • Doors close (Retire to the Bar)


While the daytime event focuses on Daniel's formal presentation and audience Q&A, the Evening Dinner offers a more personal and conversational experience.

VIP Package

General Admission

VIP Package

All Day Access: 12pm-10pm

With exhibitors, canteen, bar and amenities.

The complete Daniel Tani experience!

Enjoy every part of the event from start to finish with our most comprehensive ticket package, combining the daytime event and exclusive evening dinner. VIP guests receive priority seating in the front section during Daniel's live presentation, ensuring the best views and closest access throughout the main event.


Your VIP Package includes:

  • General Admission Daytime Experience
  • Priority Seating in the Front Section
  • Live Astronaut Presentation & Audience Q&A
  • In-Person Meet & Greet Autographs
  • Evening Dinner Experience with Daniel Tani
  • Extended Access to Daniel in a Smaller Group Setting
  • Fundraising Auction Access
  • VIP Award Programme Membership


From the moment doors open until the evening concludes, VIP guests enjoy the full event experience and the best overall value available.


 Limited VIP tickets available. 

Confirmed Exhibitors

Location, Date & Times:

Mitchell Hall,

Cranfield University,

College Road, Cranfield, Bedford,

MK43 0AL.


  • Free parking
  • Onsite hotel and canteen
  • 4 miles (10min) from M1 Junction 14
  • 4 miles (10min) from Milton Keynes Coach Station
  • 8 miles (15min) from Milton Keynes Train Station
  • 10 miles (20min) from Bedford Train Station
  • Nearest private airport is onsite at Cranfield Airport just across the road
  • 22 miles (30min) from London Luton International Airport

Mitchell Hall, Wharley End, Bedford, UK

Saturday 11th July 2026

  • General Admission: 12pm to 4pm.
  • Evening Dinner: 6pm to 10pm.
  • VIP Package: 12pm to 4pm and 6pm to 10pm.

Read the Reviews from our Previous Mission

Veteran VIP Award

Awarded on your 3rd VIP event, our exclusive The Armchair Astronaut pin features our distinctive logo cast in 3D silver and contains metal that was FLOWN IN SPACE aboard a NASA Space Shuttle.

Your VIP Award pin will be presented to you by our Astronaut guest in recognition of your continued support and dedication to our mission.


Not for sale. Invitation only. One per person. Terms & conditions apply.

Reaching For The Stars...

Reaching For The Stars...

Each year, we give over 50 primary school children from disadvantaged communities/backgrounds the chance to experience space. Through fully funded trips to the National Space Centre, we cover all costs, from coach travel to entry fees, so every child can experience the wonder of discovery. 

Reaching For The Stars...

Alongside them, we deliver a tour of the exhibits and engaging talks that ignite their imagination, make space feel relatable, and show them that a future in the UK space industry is not just a dream, but an achievable ambition. 


Our Space Socials raise vital funds to ensure we can continue making space accessible for everyone, inspiring young minds, and launching the next generation of British space pioneers.

Our Previous Missions...

Mike Foale

Susan Kilrain

Charlie Duke

Astronaut Mike Foale

Milton Keynes, UK          June 2017

Charlie Duke

Susan Kilrain

Charlie Duke

Astronaut Charlie Duke

Milton Keynes, UK          September 2017

Click here to read some of the reviews and feedback received from guests at this event.

Susan Kilrain

Susan Kilrain

Astronaut Susan Kilrain

Cranfield, UK          May 2025

Click here to read some of the reviews and feedback received from guests at this event.

Chris Sembroski

Cranfield, UK          March 2026

Click here to read some of the reviews and feedback received from guests at this event.

Our Next Mission...

Our Next Mission...

Cranfield, UK          July 2026

Click here here for full details

Frequently Asked Questions

Please Contact Us if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Our events are fully inclusive and accessible for all.  Both the event and the venue are accessible.

If you would like further information, or require any special assistance on the day, please contact us providing details of your requirements and we will be happy to review and respond.


To keep prices low and reduce wastage, we no-longer send tickets.

You will receive an email confirmation of your ticket purchase immediately after payment.

Please bring this with you to the event.

We will keep you updated via email with event information.

On arrival at the event, report to registration where you will be issued with a souvenir ticket to access the lecture and claim your autograph.


Our events are suitable for all ages and we encourage all children to dress as Astronauts!

All guests of all ages will need a valid ticket.


The General Admission ticket will entitle you to one autograph.

Our Astronaut guest will sign after the lecture, strictly one autograph per ticket.

No personalisation or inscriptions. You can bring your own photo to get signed or purchase from a selection of 8x10" photos available at the event.


The Evening Dinner ticket will entitle you to one autograph.

Our Astronaut guest will sign after the dinner, strictly one autograph per ticket.

No personalisation or inscriptions. You can bring your own photo to get signed or purchase from a selection of 8x10" photos available at the event.


The VIP Package ticket will entitle you to two autographs in total; one signed after the lecture and the second signed after the dinner.

No personalisation or inscriptions. You can bring your own photo to get signed or purchase from a selection of 8x10" photos available at the event.


If you participate in the optional meet & greet photo with our professional photographer (£30 payable to the photographer on the day), your mounted photo will be ready for collection at the end of the lecture. This photo will also be signed for you (if you want) in-person by Dan Tani after the lecture. No substitutions.


Our Astronaut guest reserves the right to refuse signing some items at their discretion.


Tickets and vouchers are not refundable.

The Armchair Astronaut will only guarantee a refund if the event is cancelled by us. Our liability in this case will be limited to the face value of your tickets and autograph/book vouchers.


If you purchase tickets but are later unable to attend the event, please let us know by email as soon as possible. We will honour the autograph and send you a signed 8x10" after the event at no additional charge, along with your souvenir ticket stub which remained uncollected at the registration desk, and any other branded merchandise included in your ticket price.


This is your opportunity to meet and greet with our Astronaut guest, one-to-one. A professional photographer will be there to capture the moment, using green-screen technology to preserve the memory.

In order to keep ticket prices low, this is an optional extra and chargeable on the day at £30 per photo. The fee is per photo, NOT per person, so your whole party can be in one photo. Pay the photographer directly on the day.

Your photo will be printed and mounted ready for collection as you leave the lecture hall. A digital download will be available shortly afterwards.


Your meet & greet photo will also be signed for you (if you want), in-person after the lecture.


Some other events charge a premium price, often in excess of £50 extra per person, for tickets with meet and greet access, and then have a chaperone take the picture on your phone. We have a professional photographer, green-screen technology, mounted photo ready for same-day collection with digital download, all for just £30 per photo, preserving low ticket prices for all!


Due to the limited capacity of this event we can not guarantee entrance to anyone who has not pre-booked their ticket online.


This will be a set menu which will be confirmed about one month before the event date.

We will email you to collect the names of everyone in your booking and dietary requirements.

Dinner does NOT include drinks but is followed by Tea/Coffee.

Private bar will open from about 5pm.


General Admission (12:00-4:00pm)

There is no dress code and we welcome guests to wear their spacesuit costumes or space clothes as they want. Actually, we encourage all children to dress as Astronauts!

VIP Package Dinner (6:00-10:00pm)

Due to the same-day schedule of the dinner we understand guests will be with us all day and therefore not all will be able to change into formal dinner wear. The choice is yours. Some guests will change to formal dinner wear where some will remain as they were for the Lecture event. There is an onsite hotel if you're staying overnight and restrooms for changing if you require but it is not expected on this occasion.


Unfortunately no as our VIP Package is strictly limited to 50 tickets to protect the intimate atmosphere of the VIP experience and we will need to confirm final numbers for dinner several weeks before the event at which point VIP Package ticket sales will end.


Have you been a VIP ticket holder at any TWO of our previous public events listed below?

  • Mike Foale. Milton Keynes, 2017.
  • Charlie Duke. Milton Keynes, 2017.
  • Susan Kilrain. Cranfield, 2025.
  • Chris Sembroski. Cranfield, 2026.

Once you attend your 3rd event with us as a VIP ticket holder we have a very special, unique, not for sale anywhere, award for you as a thank you for your dedication and support.

Additional VIP awards and rewards for subsequent VIP events will be announced in the future.


Yes! You can book a single or double occupancy room with or without breakfast at the event venue if required. Details on how to book will be emailed to you when we confirm your tickets. Overnight accommodation is an optional extra and not included.


Exhibitors play a vital role in enhancing The Armchair Astronaut events by diversifying the experiences, expertise, and opportunities available to our members and attendees.  Through their participation, exhibitors help create a richer, more  engaging environment that supports learning, discovery, and meaningful interaction within the space and science community. 


By providing exhibitors with a platform to showcase their work, products, and services, our events enable them to engage directly with their existing audience while also reaching new and diverse attendees.  This exchange benefits both parties: members gain access to a broader range of perspectives, innovations, and specialist knowledge, while  exhibitors are given the opportunity to build relationships, raise  awareness, and grow their presence within the community.


This Agreement sets out the terms under which exhibitors may participate, ensuring a professional, collaborative, and mutually beneficial experience that aligns with the values, objectives, and operational requirements of The Armchair Astronaut.


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All Astronaut portrait images are credited to NASA and/or ESA.

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