Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Monday 23 July 2018
Gala opens countdown to 50
th

anniversary of 1st moon landing

By ALEX SANZ and MIKE know that we’ve passed
SCHNEIDER the torch that will let this
Associated Press next generation take us to
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. this next step.”
(AP) — Former NASA as- That next step, Griffin said,
tronaut Buzz Aldrin was is a return of Americans
noticeably absent from a to the Moon and, even-
gala kicking off a yearlong tually, Mars — something
celebration of the 50th an- former Apollo astronauts
niversary of the first moon Walt Cunningham, Harrison
landing, even though his Schmitt, Rusty Schweickart
nonprofit space educa- and Tom Stafford discussed
tion foundation is a sponsor during a conversation with
and he typically is the star Cox. In this July 15, 2017, file photo, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin
attraction. “We’re sort of going speaks at the commemoration for the upcoming anniversary of
No explanation was given through a second door the 1969 mission to the moon and a gala for his non-profit space
for Aldrin’s absence from here. The door isn’t all the education foundation, ShareSpace Foundation, at the Kennedy
the Apollo Celebration way open — we haven’t Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Associated Press
Gala on Saturday evening. gone all the way through
But the former astronaut it — but it’s cracked open,” father was suffering from Christina Korp, are on the
is locked in a legal battle Schweickart, who flew as memory loss, delusions, foundation’s board and at-
with family members who the lunar module pilot on paranoia and confusion. tended the gala. Aldrin’s
say he is suffering from Apollo 9, told The Associ- Andrew and Jan Aldrin, as oldest son, James, isn’t in-
mental decline. The black- ated Press. “Space is go- well as business manager volved in the legal fight.q
tie event, held under a ing to be much less expen-
Saturn V rocket at the Ken- sive to go to, and that’s
nedy Space Center, fea- going to open up not just
tured a panel discussion by opportunities for people
astronauts, an awards cer- to fly, but because of the
emony, and an auction of decreased cost, real op-
space memorabilia. portunities for innovators to
Hundreds of people at- generate new ideas and to
tended the sold-out event, do things that have never
including British physicist been done before.”
Brian Cox, who presented Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foun-
Virgin Galactic founder dation is one of the sponsors
Richard Branson with the of the annual gala, which
ShareSpace Foundation’s raises money for Science,
Innovation award. Technology, Engineering,
Branson, whose compa- the Arts and Mathematics
ny is developing a new — or STEAM education —
generation of commer- and Astronaut Scholarship
cial spacecraft, said in a Foundation scholarships.
recorded video that the Renowned Brazilian pop
Apollo missions influenced artist Romero Britto donat-
his generation. ed artwork from his “Buzz
“Space is still hard, really Aldrin Space Series” for the
hard. It still really matters,” auction, which also includ-
Branson said. “There would ed a behind-the-scenes
be no Virgin Galactic, no tour of Virgin Galactic
Virgin Orbit and no space- in California and auto-
ship company had it not graphed space memora-
been for Apollo astronauts bilia. Tickets for the event
and the thousands of tal- ranged from $750 to $2,500
ented people who made per person.
their mission possible.” The former astronaut’s ex-
Dr. Carolyn Williams of the pected absence comes
nonprofit From One Hand just a month after he sued
To AnOTHER received the two of his adult children
foundation’s Education and a former business
award, and former Johnson manager, accusing them
Space Center director Ger- of misusing his credit cards,
ry Griffin, a flight director for transferring money from an
all of the crewed Apollo account and slandering
missions, was honored with him by saying he has de-
the Pioneer award. mentia. Only weeks before
“It’s very humbling, it kind the lawsuit, Andrew and
of came out of the blue,” Jan Aldrin filed a petition
Griffin said. “It is so neat to claiming their 88-year-old