Cerro Coso Brings World Famous Astronaut to Ridgecrest

If you have ever wondered what it’s like to experience space, Michael is just the person to tell you. In fact, it’s safe to say that López-Alegría probably knows as much about spending time in space as anyone who has ever lived.

Michael López-Alegría is Chief Astronaut at Axiom Space. He is a decorated astronaut who returned to low-Earth orbit for the sixth time in 2024 as Commander of Axiom Mission 3, leading history’s first private mission made up of all government-sponsored crew to the International Space Station. He has more than 40 years of aviation and space experience with the U.S. Navy and NASA in a variety of roles including Naval Aviator, engineering test pilot and program manager, NASA astronaut, and International Space Station commander. He also holds NASA records for most extravehicular activities (EVAs) or “spacewalks” (10) and cumulative EVA time (67 hours, 40 minutes). He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2021.

“We are incredibly grateful to offer this once-in-a-lifetime experience to students and community members. This event is a testament to the opportunities we strive to bring to our area, and we want to extend a special thank you to the Career Technical Education department for making this possible” stated Cerro Coso President, Dr. Sean Hancock.

Nicole Griffin, Dean of Career Technical Education, explains “Bringing an astronaut into our Jump Start Career Exploration Program is more than just an opportunity for students—it's a transformative experience for the entire community. By exposing our future leaders to the boundless possibilities of space exploration, we inspire curiosity, ambition, and a sense of limitless potential. This program not only bridges the gap between dreams and reality but also cultivates a culture of innovation and aspiration that will benefit our community for generations to come.”

There will be two sessions: a morning session reserved for local students and an afternoon session open to the community from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from one of the most accomplished astronauts in history! There is no fee to attend, however attendees must reserve tickets in advance.

Reserve your Tickets for this event

For questions about the event or CTE programs, contact CTE@cerrocoso.edu.

For more information about Commander Michael López-Alegría please visit www.MLASpace.com and follow @CommanderMLA.

Caption: World-famous astronaut Michael López-Alegría.
Photo Credit: SpaceX Axiom Space