The world’s most famous astronauts, flight directors and NASA executives gathered in San Diego to honor one of history’s most memorable and challenging space missions.

San Diego, CA March 21, 2015 – More than 500 people celebrated the 45th Anniversary of the historic Apollo 13 Mission at the San Diego Air & Space Museum on Saturday, March 21 during a spectacular evening that honored the brave men of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs. Guests from around the world joined the astronauts, flight directors and NASA executives for an unforgettable evening of fun and extraordinary recognition, with George and Hélène Gould and Northrop Grumman serving as Presenting Sponsors.

The historic gathering of men represented a who’s-who of American space programs, including: Jim Lovell and Fred Haise (the surviving Apollo 13 Crew--Jack Swigert has since passed away); Bill Anders (Gemini 11 backup, Apollo 8 crew, Apollo 11 backup); Gene Cernan (Gemini 9-A crew, Gemini 12 backup, Apollo 7 backup, Apollo 10 crew, Apollo 14 backup, Apollo 17); Glynn Lunney (Flight Director); Al Worden (Apollo 9 support crew, Apollo 12 backup, Apollo 15 crew, Apollo 17 backup); Walt Cunningham (Apollo 7 crew); Gerry Griffin (Flight Director); Joe Engle (Apollo 10 backup, Apollo 14 backup, Apollo 17 backup, STS-1 backup, STS-2 crew, STS-51I crew); Rusty Schweickart (Apollo 9 crew, Skylab 2 backup); Gene Kranz (Flight Director); Milt Windler (Flight Director); Charlie Duke (Apollo 16); Sy Liebergot (Flight Controller); Jack Lousma (Skylab); and Chuck Friedlander (Chief of Astronaut Support, Gemini and Apollo programs).

The guests were treated to four panel discussions related to various stages of each program, with the discussions being moderated by local media personality and San Diego Air & Space Museum Board Member Mark Larson. The astronauts and flight directors each had unique and spellbinding stories to tell, and when they talk to an audience as a group, they often share tales they never tell alone. Guests gained first-hand, intimate insight into how the best-of-the-best worked together under the most arduous conditions…taking risk to a new level.

The first panel discussed the topics of the Mercury, Gemini and early Apollo programs before Apollo 13. Included in the panel were: Milt Windler, Flight Director; Jim Lovell; Gemini 7-12, Apollo 8; Gene Cernan, Gemini 9, Apollo 10; Walt Cunningham, Apollo 7; Bill Anders, Apollo 8; Rusty Schweickart, Apollo 9; and Charlie Duke, CAPCOM Apollo 11.

Panel two discussed the Apollo 13 mission. During five tension-filled days in the spring of 1970, the Apollo 13 crew, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert, struggled to survive in a crippled, nearly uninhabitable ‘Odyssey’ Command Module. They were on their way to the moon -- it was to be America’s third lunar landing -- when a disastrous oxygen tank explosion not only canceled their plans, but survival became uncertain. Short on power, heat, water, and breathable air, their odds to survive were slim to none. However, with a determined team on the ground who performed ingenious engineering miracles to keep them alive, and through their own skilled actions, they returned to earth safely.The Apollo 13 panel included: Gene Kranz, Apollo 13 Lead Flight Director; Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 Commander; Fred Haise, Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot; Glynn Lunney, Apollo 13 Flight Director; Sy Liebergot, EECOM (Electrical, Environmental and Consumables Manager); and Jack Lousma, CAPCOM.

Following the discussion, Lovell expertly narrated a live showing of a highlight reel filmed by NASA of the original Apollo 13 mission.The third panel focused on the Apollo program after the Apollo 13 mission and included: Al Worden, Apollo 15; Charlie Duke, Apollo 16; Joe Engle, X15 Rocket Plane Pilot and Space Shuttle Commander who did the testing of the shuttle from 747s; Gene Cernan, Apollo 17 and the last man to walk on the moon; Gerry Griffin, Flight Director; Walt Cunningham who worked on SkyLab; and Rusty Schweickart, also from SkyLab.

The final panel featured a lively discussion of the future of space programs and consisted of Glynn Lunney, Fred Haise, Bill Anders, Al Worden, Gene Kranz, Jim Lovell and Gene Cernan.

The evening included a special tribute to all of the spouses of the astronauts and flight controllers, with each of the wives being presented with flowers and being recognized by the guests, including most notably by their grateful husbands.

Clint Howard, the actor who played Sy Liebergot in the 1995 Motion Picture “Apollo 13,” paid a special tribute to the astronauts and flight directors and introduced two videos that were shown to the audience, including one from actor Gary Sinise, who portrayed Fred Haise in the film, and a second video from Ron Howard, Clint’s brother and the director of “Apollo 13.”

Other special guests at the event included: Scott Willoughby from Northrop Grumman; San Diego City Council Woman  Lorie Zapf; Joe Terzi from the San Diego Tourism Authority; San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman; Jessie Knight and Joye Blount; Brian Binnie of SpaceShip One fame; Don Wildman of the Discovery Channel’s “Mysteries at the Museum;” and Jim Lovell’s Naval Academy Class of 1952.The evening concluded with a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity for the assembled crowd when all of the astronauts, flight directors and NASA Executives gathered on stage for a group photo.