Jacques van Oene
November 17th 05, 12:00 AM
Nov. 16, 2005
Dean Acosta/Tia Over
Headquarters, Washington
(202) 358-1400/1257
Ruth Varonfakis
San Diego Aerospace Museum
(858) 273-0928
RELEASE: 05-407
NASA HONORS VETERAN ASTRONAUT WALTER SCHIRRA
NASA honored veteran astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., as an
Ambassador of Exploration today during a ceremony at the San Diego
Aerospace Museum.
NASA is presenting these prestigious awards to the astronauts who took
part in the nation's Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs from
1961 to 1972. Schirra, a San Diego resident, is the only man to fly
in all three space programs. Ambassadors of Exploration help NASA
communicate the benefits and excitement of space exploration.
In addition to receiving the Exploration Award plaque, Schirra was
presented with a moon rock to recognize the sacrifices and dedication
of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts. The moon rocks are part
of the 842 pounds of samples returned during the six lunar
expeditions from 1969 to 1972. The moon rock will remain on display
in the museum.
Initiated in 1958, Project Mercury was America's first human space
program. The objectives of the program's six human flights from 1961
to 1963 were to orbit and safely recover a manned spacecraft and
investigate man's ability to function in space.
Schirra was one of the seven original astronaut pioneers of the
Mercury Project. He flew the spacecraft Sigma 7 on the fifth manned
flight on October 3, 1962 for 9 hours, 13 minutes, 11 seconds. The
mission proved astronauts could perform maneuvers in space.
Schirra flew as Command Pilot aboard the 1965 Gemini 6 mission with
co-pilot Thomas Stafford. The highlight of the mission was the
successful rendezvous with the already orbiting Gemini 7 spacecraft.
The crews accomplished the first rendezvous of two manned
maneuverable spacecraft.
Schirra was Command Pilot aboard Apollo 7 in 1968 with Command Module
Pilot Donn Eisele and Lunar Module Pilot Walter Cunningham. The
mission measured the accuracy and performance of spacecraft systems
and provided the first effective television transmission of onboard
crew activities.
Schirra is an author, Emmy Award winner and member of four aviation
halls of fame. Generations of Americans remember him from his
television coverage of the U.S. space program from 1969 to 1975;
including co-anchoring with Walter Cronkite when Apollo 11 landed on
the moon.
For Schirra's astronaut biography on the Web, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/schirra-wm.html
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home
For San Diego museum information on the Web, visit:
www.aerospacemuseum.org
-end-
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Dean Acosta/Tia Over
Headquarters, Washington
(202) 358-1400/1257
Ruth Varonfakis
San Diego Aerospace Museum
(858) 273-0928
RELEASE: 05-407
NASA HONORS VETERAN ASTRONAUT WALTER SCHIRRA
NASA honored veteran astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., as an
Ambassador of Exploration today during a ceremony at the San Diego
Aerospace Museum.
NASA is presenting these prestigious awards to the astronauts who took
part in the nation's Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs from
1961 to 1972. Schirra, a San Diego resident, is the only man to fly
in all three space programs. Ambassadors of Exploration help NASA
communicate the benefits and excitement of space exploration.
In addition to receiving the Exploration Award plaque, Schirra was
presented with a moon rock to recognize the sacrifices and dedication
of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts. The moon rocks are part
of the 842 pounds of samples returned during the six lunar
expeditions from 1969 to 1972. The moon rock will remain on display
in the museum.
Initiated in 1958, Project Mercury was America's first human space
program. The objectives of the program's six human flights from 1961
to 1963 were to orbit and safely recover a manned spacecraft and
investigate man's ability to function in space.
Schirra was one of the seven original astronaut pioneers of the
Mercury Project. He flew the spacecraft Sigma 7 on the fifth manned
flight on October 3, 1962 for 9 hours, 13 minutes, 11 seconds. The
mission proved astronauts could perform maneuvers in space.
Schirra flew as Command Pilot aboard the 1965 Gemini 6 mission with
co-pilot Thomas Stafford. The highlight of the mission was the
successful rendezvous with the already orbiting Gemini 7 spacecraft.
The crews accomplished the first rendezvous of two manned
maneuverable spacecraft.
Schirra was Command Pilot aboard Apollo 7 in 1968 with Command Module
Pilot Donn Eisele and Lunar Module Pilot Walter Cunningham. The
mission measured the accuracy and performance of spacecraft systems
and provided the first effective television transmission of onboard
crew activities.
Schirra is an author, Emmy Award winner and member of four aviation
halls of fame. Generations of Americans remember him from his
television coverage of the U.S. space program from 1969 to 1975;
including co-anchoring with Walter Cronkite when Apollo 11 landed on
the moon.
For Schirra's astronaut biography on the Web, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/schirra-wm.html
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home
For San Diego museum information on the Web, visit:
www.aerospacemuseum.org
-end-
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info