Return to Venus

Watch the Live Stream

 America’s first planetary probe, Mariner 2, marked our first visit to Venus in 1962. As it flew by Venus, the probe measured the planet’s atmosphere, giving us insights into its composition and temperature extremes. What are our future plans for “Earth’s Twin,” Venus? Join Sara Seager, professor at MIT, and Bruce Campbell, a planetary scientist in the Museum's Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, as they discuss our future plans to send a private mission to our inner neighbor and what new questions we bring with us on this trip.

Sara Seager is a professor of physics, planetary science, and aeronautics and astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her research spans the foundations of exoplanet atmospheres, theories about life on other worlds, and the development of novel space missions, including leadership roles in NASA’s planet-hunting mission TESS, the ASTERIA CubeSat, and the Morning Star Missions to Venus.

Bruce Campbell is a senior scientist in the National Air and Space Museum's Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. His research focuses on the surface and subsurface geology of the Moon, Mars, Venus, and the icy moons of the outer planets, resulting in more than 100 scientific publications. He is a science team member for the radar sounder instruments on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, and Europa Clipper, co-lead for the imaging radar on the VERITAS mission to Venus, and a team member for the DaVinci mission to Venus.

Event Schedule

7 pm: After-hours access to some of the Museum's exhibitions
8 pm: Panel discussion in the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater
9 pm: Pop-up stargazing outside the Independence Avenue exit (weather permitting)

This program will be presented in-person at the National Air and Space Museum in DC and will be streamed live on the Museum's YouTube channel. 

ASL interpretation will be provided for the in-person event. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided on YouTube. If you require another access service to fully participate or have any questions about accessibility, please contact NASMPublicLectures@si.edu. To ensure the best experience, please try to contact us at your soonest convenience.

About the 2026 Exploring Space Lecture Series: "Milestones of Exploration"

As the National Air and Space Museum celebrates the 50th anniversary of our location on the National Mall and the Milestones of Flight exhibition that welcomes visitors into the building, this year’s Exploring Space Lecture Series will explore four stories about the iconic artifacts on display. In the “Milestones of Exploration” series, guest speakers will examine the legacies of historic human and robotic missions – including missions to the Moon, Mars, Venus, and beyond — while looking forward to what comes next.