The University of Kansas Libraries invite our community to celebrate the opening of a KU Reads connected exhibit in the Haricombe Gallery, “Ad Astra: A Kansas Story Written in the Stars.” Trace Kansas' remarkable throughline in human spaceflight with artifacts on loan from the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, along...
The University of Kansas Libraries invite our community to celebrate the opening of a KU Reads connected exhibit in the Haricombe Gallery, “Ad Astra: A Kansas Story Written in the Stars.” Trace Kansas' remarkable throughline in human spaceflight with artifacts on loan from the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, alongside documents and photographs from the Dole Institute of Politics and Kenneth Spencer Research Library. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 Watson Library, Third Floor West 1425 Jayhawk Boulevard | Lawrence, Kansas 5:30-6 p.m. | Reception 6-6:45 p.m. | Keynote, Steve Hawley, Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy & Retired NASA Astronaut 6:45 p.m. | Book Signing About the speaker: Hawley, a Kansas native, made history deploying and servicing the Hubble Space Telescope and helping deploy the Chandra X-Ray Observatory during five shuttle missions and a combined 32 days in space before becoming an administrator with NASA. Hawley will sign copies of his new book “Eyes to the Stars: A Memoir for the Space Shuttle Generation,” the story of a civilian scientist-turned-spaceman, a tale of ground-breaking discovery and death-defying bravery standing next to some of the greatest explorers in the history of the American space program. Copies will be available for purchase at the event. Exhibit Overview: Ad Astra per Aspera — to the stars through hardship — has been Kansas' motto since 1861. This exhibit explores how that aspiration became reality through the lives, careers, and imaginations of Kansans who helped shape the human story of spaceflight. The exhibit is an extension of KU Reads: A Common Book Experience. This year’s selection, “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey follows six astronauts aboard the International Space Station as they circle the planet, reflecting on humanity, connection, and the fragile beauty of our shared home. Orbit 1 | The People of Kansas; Orbit 2 | Human Spaceflight; Orbit 3 | Life in Low-Earth Orbit; Orbit 4 | Far Above the Golden Valley.
