WEDNESDAY – JUNE 7, 2017

San Diego Air & Space Museum

RECEPTION: 5:30 pm

DINNER, PROGRAM & AUCTION: 6:30 pm

COST: $250

COCKTAIL ATTIRE

LIMITED SEATING – PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Click here to learn more: http://sandiegoairandspace.org/calendar/event/america-celebrates-the-45th-anniversary-of-apollo-16 or call 619-234-8291 x 102

A star-studded forum of astronauts and mission control directors from NASA’s legendary space programs -- Mercury, Gemini and Apollo -- will share in-depth personal experiences with guests during a rare special event at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park on Wednesday, June 7. You watched them make history on television…now meet them live…and get a personal look at how they view the future of space…Space Cowboys all, they epitomized American innovation and perseverance.

Tickets are on sale now for this historic evening. Limited seats are available.

Twenty-four Americans journeyed to the moon in just four years – from 1968 to 1972. Lunar exploration hit new heights during the last two of those four years, with extended stays on the moon, ambitious exploration on the surface and from orbit, and long journeys in electric powered lunar rovers.

Apollo 16 is considered by many one of the high points of space exploration and one of the most ambitious scientific expeditions ever.

The astronauts’ accomplishments were made possible through the hard work of a team of hundreds of dedicated men and women who spent more than ten years focusing on successfully landing on the moon.

“America Celebrates the 45^th Anniversary of Apollo 16” is a rare opportunity to experience yesterday’s real “Space Cowboys” and meet today’s trailblazers as they share their vision of the Final Frontier. This exciting evening will highlight the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs and offer a glimpse into the future of space exploration.

“This is an incredible opportunity to meet and see American heroes who literally made history,” said Jim Kidrick, President and CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “A gathering of so many of the remaining members of NASA’s legacy space programs – Mercury, Gemini and Apollo – is a rare and important event in today’s world. ‘America Celebrates the 45^th Anniversary of Apollo 16’ will be the place to be this summer, not just for aviation and space enthusiasts, but for anyone who wants to learn the true meaning of courage and perseverance!”

Confirmed attendees as of this newsletter:

Charlie Duke– Apollo 16. The youngest astronaut to walk on the moon and CAPCOM for Apollo 11 – the historic first moon landing.

Bill Anders – Apollo 8. Along with Jim Lovell and Frank Borman, Apollo 8 was the very first mission ever to leave earth orbit and reach the moon. Anders’ photo – ‘earthrise’ – above the lunar horizon revolutionized how we see our home planet.

Walt Cunningham– Apollo 7. The first manned Apollo flight, following the disastrous Apollo 1 fire. Cunningham, Wally Schirra and Donn Eisele restored American confidence in space flight, leading to a moon landing less than a year later.

Al Worden – As Command Module Pilot for Apollo 15, the first extended scientific exploration of our moon, Worden spent six days orbiting our neighbor in space, including three days completely alone, the most isolated human in existence.

Gerry Griffin – Lead Flight Director for three moon landings – Apollo 12, 15 and 17 – and a key figure in resolving the Apollo 13 crisis. Griffin’s NASA vision was always forward looking, and he routinely consults on matters related to future deep space exploration.

Glynn Lunney – Apollo 13 Flight Director. During the Apollo 13 crisis, Lunney and his team faced the challenge of having to power up the lunar module, while transferring guidance and navigation data to it from the dying command module. An employee of NASA from its creation in 1958, and a key figure from the Mercury missions through to the Space Shuttle era, including overseeing the first international space mission.

Other invited VIPs (awaiting response):

Gene Kranz ­ Apollo 13, Lead Flight Director (key character in the Apollo 13 movie).

Joe Engle – Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, the last living X-15 rocket plane pilot.

Tom Stafford– Apollo 10, Apollo-Soyuz, Gemini 6, Gemini 9.

David Scott– Apollo 9, Apollo 15 moonwalker, Gemini 8.

Fred Haise– Apollo 13, Space Shuttle Enterprise.

Dick Gordon– Apollo 12, Gemini 11.

Michael Collins– Apollo 11, the historic first moon landing, Gemini 10.

Proceeds from the evening benefit the Museum’s youth education programs.

For more information and to purchase tickets for “America Celebrates the 45^th Anniversary of Apollo 16” visit http://sandiegoairandspace.org/calendar/event/america-celebrates-the-45th-anniversary-of-apollo-16