MEDIA RELEASE #7 – [2017-07-06]
NASA Astronaut Kjell Lindgren Presents Another Hugo, This Time From Earth
Worldcon 75 is pleased to announce that our Special Guest, NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, will present an award at the 64th Hugo award ceremony on Friday 11 August, 2017.
Lindgren, a member of Expedition 44/45 to the International Space Station (ISS), and a NASA Distinguished Service Medal recipient (2016), has had a lifelong interest in science fiction and fantasy. Most recently, he lead NASA’s 22nd Extreme Environment Mission Operation (NEEMO), a 10-day project at Aquarius Reef Base, an underwater habitat 19 meters below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Research on the mission was relevant to long duration space travel, and included assessment of equipment for a lunar medical evacuation.
Toastmistress Dr. Karen Lord is excited to welcome back Dr. Lindgren. In 2015, he announced the winner for Best Novel, Liu Cixin’s “The Three-Body Problem”, via videoconference from the ISS. Lindgren will join presenters from 15 countries at the first World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Finland.
The Hugos are the most prestigious award in the science fiction genre, honoring artistic, literary, and organizational achievements. They were first presented in 1953, and are voted on by members of each year’s Worldcon.
The 75th World Science Fiction Convention, Worldcon 75 will take place in Helsinki, Finland, 9-13 August 2017. For more information about the convention, including current membership rates, visit worldcon.fi. All media releases are available at worldcon.fi/press.
The Guests of Honour for Worldcon 75 are John-Henri Holmberg, Nalo Hopkinson, Johanna Sinisalo, Claire Wendling, and Walter Jon Williams.
Media questions or requests to be removed from the Worldcon 75 press release mailing list should be sent to press@worldcon.fi. Contact info@worldcon.fi with general queries.
ABOUT THE WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION
Founded in 1939, the World Science Fiction Convention is one of the largest international gatherings of authors, artists, editors, publishers, and fans of science fiction and fantasy. The Hugo Awards, a leading award for excellence in the fields of science fiction and fantasy, are voted on by the Worldcon membership and presented during the convention.
