A stylish soirée celebrates the Space Center, as a stellar new mission lifts off. More than 200 astronaut advocates and Space Center Houston supporters orbited the River Oaks home of Alice and Keith Mosing, where Space Center board member Pat Cunningham hosted a fundraising fête. At the space-savvy bash, where partygoers were welcomed by costumed characters and make-believe astronauts, Cunningham unveiled the center’s new building initiative. Plans are in place for a 5,300-square-foot, full-scale space shuttle exhibit, which will serve as an interactive educational facility and teach visitors about NASA milestones and human accomplishments in outer space. The center also announced a generous $100,000 gift from Chevron, which will help jumpstart the project. Astronaut Mark Kelly, whose wife, congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot in last year’s tragic Tuscon shooting, mingled with guests during a wine tasting including vino from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and the private collections of several guests. Kelly also signed copies of his book Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, which he co-wrote with his wife. Photos by Daniel Ortiz