The Museum of Science Fiction and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, for the fourth year, has partnered to bring “Escape Velocity” 2019 back to the D.C. region.
The event takes place Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26) at the Marriot Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor.
This futuristic world’s fair — is designed to attract and engage young people by bringing together industry thought-provokers and sci-fi icons — promotes science, technology, engineering, arts and math education through science fiction and popular culture, fostering fun and fascination through a series of panels, exhibitions, demonstrations and screenings.
New this year is the inaugural “Beyond Reality” VR tournament. Open to all conference attendees, Beyond Reality enlists participants in a virtual-reality, galactic battle. Players compete to win the grand prize — a brand new Oculus Quest VR headset — sponsored by Balti Virtual.
Escape Velocity, which features a variety of programming throughout the open hours of the show, has also assembled an avant-garde team of VIPs, personalities and science leaders.
Featured speakers include Dominique Tipper, actress on the critically acclaimed series “The Expanse”; Cornell University’s Director of Space Systems Design Studio Mason Peck; D.C. musician and actor Anwan “Big G” Glover from the HBO hit “The Wire”; “Star Trek’s” award-winning visual effects supervisor Dan Curry and internationally renowned actress and entrepreneur Gigi Edgley, among others.
Additional attractions include a full-scale replica of the USS Enterprise from “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” the Galactic Championship for Cosmic Encounters Tournament and the science fiction prop replica construction competition.
The event will also feature a panel of “Star Wars” experts discussing the controversy of Han Solo shooting first, taking down the bounty hunter Greedo in the original George Lucas film.
Three-day weekend pass tickets priced $30 for youths (ages 11-16), $50 for adults and $100 for the full VIP treatment, are available through the Escape Velocity website or onsite at the Gaylord Convention Center.
Ten-dollar “PAY IT FORWARD” tickets allow patrons to donate a single-day admission for an underserved youth in the D.C. metro area.
For a full schedule of hours and events, go to https://escapevelocity.events/programs. For ticket information, go to https://escapevelocity.events.