In keeping with its mission to preserve, inspire, educate and celebrate aviation and space advancements and achievements, the San Diego Air & Space Museum embarked on an ambitious aviation- and space-themed Facebook Live video series earlier this year highlighting some of the most interesting men and women in the world.

The series got off to an amazing start in April when it hosted the only Apollo 13 50^th Anniversary in the world, exactly 50 years to the day of the mission’s historic splash down in 1970. Viewers from around the world were able to hear and see first-hand accounts, anecdotes and never-before-shared stories from six NASA icons; astronauts Jim Lovell and Fred Haise, and Flight Directors Gerry Griffin, Gene Kranz, Glynn Lunney and Milt Windler. The virtual reunion lasted two hours, but easily could have gone twice as long.

Next up in the series was an inspirational interview with former NASA Space Shuttle astronaut Woody Spring in May, just days away from the much anticipated launch of SpaceX and NASA’s launch of two American astronauts from American soil for the first time in nine years. Spring shared the sensations of a space launch and what it was like to travel in space, including performing EVAs (spacewalks).

In July, NASA’s Dr. Jenny Gruber gave an incredibly informative account of NASA’s Artemis Program, which aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024. Dr. Gruber is the Cross Program Integration Lead for the Human Landing System for the Artemis Program and expertly shared NASA’s plans for landing men and women on the Moon and exploring the Moon’s surface more extensively in the future.

The most recent video in the series featured famous acrobatic and air show pilot Patty Wagstaff, who entered the prestigious International Air & Space Hall of Fame in 2007. During her video chat, Wagstaff shared stories about her incredible career and her passion for sharing the wonders of aviation to audiences of all ages around the world.

All of the video’s in this one-of-a-kind Facebook Live series are a part of the Museum’s promise to our community to continue to provide the best in aviation and space history, STEM programs, collections, events, and so much more. Your support is critical for us to carry out our mission. A long-standing supporter recently provided us with a Challenge Grant, meaning your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar to help the Museum weather the most challenging time in our history. We sincerely thank you for your support.

All of the videos from this special series can be viewed on the Museum’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel. Check back in the future even more wonderful videos in the series!