Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Book Fair and Books & Books presents U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly as he discusses his memoir, Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery, on Monday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., in the MDC Wolfson Campus Chapman Conference Center (Building 3, Second Floor, Room 3210), 300 NE Second Ave.
This is a ticketed event; purchase the book at Books & Books to obtain a voucher for two tickets.
It is a stunning memoir from the astronaut who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station — a candid account of his remarkable voyage, of the journeys off the planet that preceded it, and of his colorful formative years.
The veteran of four space flights and the American record holder for consecutive days spent in space, Kelly has experienced things very few have. Now, he takes us inside a sphere utterly inimical to human life. He describes navigating the extreme challenge of long-term spaceflight, both existential and banal: the devastating effects on the body; the isolation from everyone he loves and the comforts of Earth; the pressures of constant close cohabitation, and the catastrophic risks of depressurization or colliding with space junk.
He also relates the still more haunting threat of being unable to help should tragedy strike at home — an agonizing situation Kelly faced when, on another mission, his twin brother’s wife, Gabrielle Giffords, was shot while he still had two months in space.
Kelly’s humanity, compassion, humor, and passion resonate throughout, as he recalls his rough-and-tumble New Jersey childhood and the youthful inspiration that sparked his astounding career, and as he makes clear his belief that Mars will be the next, ultimately challenging step in American spaceflight. A natural storyteller and modern-day hero, Kelly has a message of hope for the future that will inspire for generations to come. Here, in his personal story, we see the triumph of the human imagination, the strength of the human will, and the boundless wonder of the galaxy.
Scott Kelly is a former military fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a retired astronaut, and a retired U.S. Navy captain. A veteran of four space flights, Kelly commanded the International Space Station (ISS) on three expeditions and was a member of the yearlong mission to the ISS. In October 2015, he set the record for the total accumulated number of days spent in space, the single longest space mission by an American astronaut.
Founded in 1984 by Miami Dade College and partners, Miami Book Fair engages the community through inclusive, accessible programs that promote reading and support writers year round. The annual eight-day festival has grown into the largest and most comprehensive community-rooted literary gathering in the United States.
The fair features readings and discussions with the world’s most renowned authors, generating discourse on contemporary literature and current issues of international importance. The fair also include culinary presentations; live music and interdisciplinary performances; interactive, educational activities for children; and more than 200 booksellers and publishers during the Street Fair. Events take place in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and French.
For more information, call 305-237-3940 or visit www.miamibookfair.com.
