PHOTOS BY KRISTY GRAVER

Houston native Dale Thomas Vaughn spent his childhood visiting NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where his grandfather worked as an engineer.

Last week he launched Space Bar in Market Square. The interplanetary pub isn’t a pop-up or a recreation of the Mos Eisley cantina from “Star Wars,” it’s an immersive experience that combines astronomy with molecular mixology and an all-vegetarian menu. 

In other words, it’s something E.T. would phone home about. 

“Even as a young person, I liked the idea of space as a unifier,” says Vaughn, who works in communications for Microsoft and moonlights as a science fiction writer. “There are world wars going on, but there are Russians and Americans working together in space. There’s a sense of hope and optimism that comes from a futuristic spaceship.”

Vaughn and his longtime partner, Elizabeth Menzel, moved from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh six years ago after experiencing the magic of a Steel City Light Up Night. Together with an astronomy-loving crew of friends and family, they’ve put Disney-level attention to detail into 22 Market Square (the former Sienna on the Square location). It’s like Space Mountain with booze! 

If, like me, you’re still bummed that your parents didn’t send you to Space Camp, you can drown your childhood sorrows in out-of-this-world cocktails such as Solar Storm, Milky Way Punch and Rocket Fuel concocted by head mixologist Arum Krause. 

Since I’m a big fan of Old Fashioneds, I ordered Space Bar’s spin on the classic, the Old Earth Fashioned. It’s a potent mix of miso-infused Elijah Craig Bourbon, Giffard Creme de Banana, house-made Chinese 5 spice and honey bitters. Sweet with a bite like a Xenomorph queen.  Space Bar serves mocktails and has five rotating taps featuring local beers and ciders. 

The large kitchen is more like a laboratory complete with a centrifuge for clarifying liquids. Chef Devon Keeliher dishes out creative meals that are a fusion of flavors and seasonal veggies. There are gluten-free and vegan options, too. 

The Olympus Mons Gyro is Mediterranean-spiced oyster mushrooms, beet hummus, red onion, tomato and greens wrapped in socca, a crepe-like bread made from chickpeas. My favorite offering was the Soba Fett; soba noodles, cucumber, pickled veggies and feta in a honey ginger dressing. Plus, I love puns about food and sci-fi. That’s why I find the diner scene in “Spaceballs” so hilarious. 

Space Bar is oozing with geek chic and nerdy nods to movies filmed a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. 

Images of nebulas grace the tabletops. The light fixtures are full moons. There are digital screens that look like windows overlooking an ever-changing universe. Vaughn plans to host watch parties for shuttle launches and celestial events, start a scientific speaker series and offer molecular mixology workshops.  

The business debuted on Nov. 18 (Light Up Night!) and Martians have already invaded Space Bar.

Vaughn says some residents of Mars, Pa., located about 25 miles north of Pittsburgh, have dropped in for a drink and some scientific talk. 

The Butler County borough has a strong gravitational pull to NASA and throws its own New Year’s Eve bash based on the Red Planet’s annual trip around the sun. Even the local brewery pitches in to celebrate the town’s kitsch factor by canning Water From Mars. 

I grew up in the Mars area code watching sci-fi films, “Star Trek” reruns and a hit sitcom about an alien life form. I’m 45 now (only 23 in Mars years!) and still cuddle my “ALF” doll. Thanks to Space Bar, I can sip a fancy beverage and bond with like-minded Earthlings over everyone’s favorite Melmacian.  

During our interview (which morphed into a discussion about William Shatner), Vaughn mentioned the possibility of Space Bar hosting a space camp for adults.

I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna start begging my folks for tickets now.