You already know that we use estar for the physical location of people, places, and things (like el astronauta está en la base). However, there is one major exception to this rule.
When talking about an event—such as a meeting, a drill, or a launch—use ser to say both where and when it happens. In these cases, ser effectively means "to take place" or "to be held".
The time of an event
Whenever you state the time or day an event is taking place, use ser.
| Is the drill today after the informative session? | ¿El simulacro es hoy después de la sesión informativa? |
| The female astronaut says that the countdown is at twelve. | La astronauta dice que la cuenta atrás es a las doce. |
The location of an event
Even though you are talking about a location, you must use ser instead of estar because the subject is an event rather than a physical object.
| The informative session is in the main room. | La sesión informativa es en la sala principal. |
| The module's landing is in the ocean. | El aterrizaje del módulo es en el océano. |
| The meeting with the male astronaut is in the module. | La reunión con el astronauta es en el módulo. |
Time and location
Whether you are stating the time of an event, the location, or both at once, ser is your go-to verb.
| The launch is in Spain and the countdown is tomorrow. | El despegue es en España y la cuenta atrás es mañana. |
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