KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – More than 25 celebrated astronauts and space icons will be available to greet guests, sign memorabilia and pose for photos at the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s (ASF) Astronaut Autograph and Memorabilia Show at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC), Nov. 7-8, 2009. Now in its second year, the show is the largest of its kind and features activities for the whole family.
Guests will be immersed in the ultimate cosmic experience this weekend, as ticket packages include truly unique opportunities such as a VIP Astronaut Training Experience; lunch with Apollo 13 crew members Jim Lovell and Fred Haise; tours of authentic space exhibits; the chance to obtain rare space artifacts through ASF's 7th Annual Auction; special memorabilia booths and more! In addition, guests will receive KSCVC tickets providing access to all the Space Center has to offer from IMAX theaters, to the Shuttle Launch Experience ride, to the largest Space Shop in the world! Guests may also opt to spend an evening with all the astronauts in attendance at the Blue Planet, Bright Night Astronaut Reception and Dinner on Nov. 7 to benefit the ASF.
"The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s Astronaut Autograph and Memorabilia Show is for anyone who has ever gazed up at the sky with wonder," says Linn LeBlanc, Executive Director of ASF who is producing the show. "This is an opportunity for people to meet, become friends, obtain autographs and hear incredible stories from some of the legendary men and women who clinched the Space Race for America and continues to keep America at the forefront of technology today! There's not a classroom history lesson anywhere that will compare with this experience. It's truly one for the entire family."
Featured show astronauts include:
- A member of America’s first Mercury astronaut group (one of only two still living): Scott Carpenter
- Moonwalkers (six of the nine living): Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Gene Cernan, Charlie Duke, Edgar Mitchell, and Dave Scott
- Apollo Astronauts: Vance Brand, Walt Cunningham, Fred Haise, Jim Lovell (also flew Gemini), Rusty Schweickart, and Al Worden
- Space Shuttle Astronauts: Charlie Bolden, Dan Brandenstein, Robert “Hoot” Gibson, Fred Gregory, Hank Hartsfield, Tom Jones, Mike McCulley, Mike Mullane, Rick Searfoss, Rhea Seddon, Winston Scott, and Bob Springer
- Space Icons: NASA Mercury Astronaut nurse Dee O’Hara and Apollo Pad Leader Guenter Wendt
Guests may bring their own items to be signed or purchase items at the show. Ticket packages are available at www.AstronautScholarship.org and by calling (321) 455-7014. Astronaut autographs are at an additional fee.
Ticket proceeds benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides scholarships to college students who exhibit motivation, imagination, and exceptional performance in the science or engineering field of their major. The Foundation funds nineteen $10,000 scholarships annually and has awarded $2.6 million nationwide.
