John Glenn, Scott Carpenter Will Attend Celebration Of Mercury 45th Anniversary

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation are hosting the "Back to the 60’s Barbeque" on Friday, November 2, 2007. It's a tribute to the 45th Anniversary of the Mercury program, and celebrates the opening of World Space Expo.

Set among the Redstone and Atlas rockets of the Mercury program in the Visitor Complex’s iconic Rocket Garden, the evening begins with a flyover by twin F-18 Super Hornets, a rare night jump by the US Army Parachute Team Golden Knights and a special guest appearance by Mercury astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter. 

During cocktails and an outdoor barbeque, guests can enjoy top 60's beach music and visit World Space Expo pavilions to see a 1961 Russian Vostock capsule, a full-scale model of SpaceShipOne, NASA’s 50th Anniversary Exhibit and other space-related exhibits. Also scheduled to appear are Christopher Scolese, NASA Associate Administrator; Bill Parsons, Kennedy Space Center Director; and Brig. Gen. Susan J. Helms, 45th Space Wing Commander and Eastern Range Director, Patrick Air Force Base.

"What better way to open the World Space Expo than with a tribute to the seven brave men who pioneered America’s manned space program," said Daniel LeBlanc, Chief Operating Officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, host of the World Space Expo. "These are becoming rare opportunities to see legendary astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter in celebration of the beginning of America’s manned space program."

Project Mercury was the United States’ first manned space program. The program successfully launched six of the original "Mercury 7" into space including Alan Shepard, the first American in space, John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth on February 20, 1962 and Scott Carpenter, the second American to orbit Earth on May 24, 1962.

Originally named the Mercury Seven Foundation, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was established in 1984 by the six surviving members of America's original Mercury astronauts, including John Glenn and Scott Carpenter, to preserve the United States' leadership role in science and technology by providing scholarships to outstanding college science and engineering students. Their dream was realized with the opening of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1990.

Tickets are available for the "Back to the 60's Barbeque" on Friday, November 2 at 6:00 pm. Tickets are $50 plus tax for adults and $40 plus tax for children 3-11. Tickets for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Commander’s Club Annual Passholders are $40 for adults and children plus tax.

The celebration of the 45th anniversary program continues at World Space Expo on November 3 and November 4 with an Aerial Salute to 50 Years in Space, featuring the US Air Force Thunderbirds. Demonstrations by the US Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, the 920th Rescue Wing, based at Patrick Air Force Base, and a heritage flight featuring P-51 Mustangs, the original aircraft flown by many of the Mercury astronauts, will pay tribute to the men and women who made America’s first manned space program possible.

FMI: www.kennedyspacecenter.com/worldspaceexpo