NASA Astronaut Barratt Appears at Portland's OMSI in October

Published 09/18/2026 at 3:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Portland, Oregon) – Not only an actual American hero but a man who's been where almost none of us have gone before: into space. He's also a child of the Pacific Northwest, having grown up just a stone's throw from the Oregon border.

Portland, Oregon will be the landing site for NASA astronaut Dr. Michael Barratt, as he makes an appearance at Portland's OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) for a public presentation and meet-and-greet on October 3 and 4, with events scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. each day.

OMSI said the visit offers a rare chance to hear directly from Barratt about his decades-long commitment to human spaceflight. A physician, scientist, and veteran astronaut, Barratt has spent much of his career examining how the human body responds to extreme environments. His research has helped shape medical practices for astronauts and prepare crews for longer missions beyond Earth.

Barratt joined NASA in 1991 as a flight surgeon, contributing to early medical operations for the developing International Space Station program. His work frequently took him to Russia, where he collaborated with teams at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and the Institute of Biomedical Problems. Those partnerships helped establish the foundation for long-term international cooperation in human spaceflight. He later served as lead crew surgeon for the station's first expedition before being selected as an astronaut in 2000.

Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection: ISS over Portland.

Since then, Barratt has flown to space three times. During Expeditions 19 and 20 in 2009, he helped guide the station's transition from a three-person crew to a six-person permanent presence and completed two spacewalks. In 2011, he flew on the final mission of Space Shuttle Discovery. Most recently, he served as pilot of NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 mission, launching in March 2024 and spending nearly eight months aboard the station conducting research and supporting operations.

OMSI at night: Oregon Coast Beach Connection

“This is a great homecoming for Dr. Barratt. He's spent nearly 212 days in space and has some incredible stories to share,” said Jim Todd, OMSI's Director of Space Science Education. “I'm really looking forward to having him back at OMSI and excited for our guests to meet him.”

Barratt was born in Vancouver and raised in Camas, Washington. As a child, he frequently visited OMSI, where his mother volunteered and he attended classes. He built his first telescope at the museum with help from the Planetarium director.

Even after traveling millions of miles in orbit, Barratt kept his connection to OMSI close. While aboard the International Space Station, he wore an “I am OMSI” T-shirt and displayed an OMSI poster - both now kept in Todd's office.

OMSI says Barratt's return offers young visitors a chance to meet someone who once stood where they stand. His path from building a telescope at the museum to conducting research hundreds of miles above Earth underscores how curiosity can spark a lifelong journey.

“From OMSI to Orbit: Meet NASA Astronaut Dr. Michael Barratt” will be held October 3 and 4 in OMSI's Auditorium. Doors open at 1:45 p.m. Admission is free with advance RSVP. More information is available at https://omsi.edu/events/meet-nasa-astronaut-dr-michael-barratt/.

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