Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs<br />Headquarters, Washington July 16, 2004<br />(Phone: 202/358-1898/1600)<br /><br />RELEASE: 04-229<br /><br />NASA'S FIRST GENERATION OF ASTRONAUTS AND WALTER CRONKITE<br />NAMED AMBASSADORS OF EXPLORATION<br /><br /> During a special ceremony to commemorate the 35th <br />anniversary of human exploration of the Moon, Administrator <br />Sean O'Keefe will name NASA's first generation of astronauts <br />and former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite "Ambassadors of <br />Exploration."<br /><br />The awards will be presented during a special ceremony <br />Tuesday night in Washington.<br /><br />On this date in 1969 at 9:32 a.m. EDT, a Saturn V rocket <br />lifted off from launch complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space <br />Center in Florida. About 12 minutes later, the Apollo 11 <br />crew was in orbit and ready for their journey into the <br />history books. On July 20, with Command Module pilot Michael <br />Collins in lunar orbit, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz <br />Aldrin left the Lunar Module and set foot on the surface of <br />the Moon -- an accomplishment that today symbolizes American <br />ingenuity, adventure and spirit.<br /><br />The award celebrates the realization of a vision for <br />exploration first articulated by President John F. Kennedy <br />in May 1961, when NASA's fledgling human space flight <br />program had little more than 15 minutes of experience.<br /><br />"Shortly after Alan Shepard's historic flight in Freedom 7, <br />the President set a goal that captured the imagination of <br />the American people. The challenge of safely landing a man <br />on the Moon sparked unprecedented technological and <br />scientific achievements throughout the Mercury, Gemini and <br />Apollo programs," said Administrator O'Keefe. "As we work to <br />meet the goals set in our new Vision for Space Exploration, <br />the determination of these brave explorers renews our <br />commitment to expand human knowledge, revolutionize our <br />understanding of the Universe and advance science and <br />technology for the benefit of everyone on Earth."<br /><br />To recognize the sacrifices and dedication of the Mercury, <br />Gemini and Apollo astronauts, each will be presented a lunar <br />sample, part of the 842 pounds of Moon rocks and soil <br />returned during the six lunar expeditions from 1969 to 1972.<br /><br />Also among the honorees is famed CBS journalist Walter <br />Cronkite, the only non-astronaut selected as an Ambassador <br />of Exploration. Millions of Americans experienced the drama <br />and excitement of NASA's early years through the <br />knowledgeable reports of Cronkite, who considered the space <br />race as one of the most important events of the 20th century. <br />During the Apollo 11 mission, Cronkite was on the air for 27 <br />of the 30 hours it took for the Apollo 11 astronauts to <br />complete their mission on the lunar surface.<br /><br />The awards will remain the property of NASA, but Cronkite, <br />the astronauts and their surviving families, in coordination <br />with the agency, will select a museum or other educational <br />institution where their awards will be publicly displayed in <br />their name to help inspire a new generation of explorers.<br /><br />"These awards are a fitting tribute and serve to remind each <br />of us that great things can be achieved when we focus our <br />energies and our resources on a specific goal," added the <br />Administrator. "In January, President Bush charged us to <br />carry humanity forward into the Universe, to gain a new <br />foothold on the Moon, and to prepare for new journeys to <br />worlds beyond our own. Each of us can be an Ambassador of <br />Exploration and help secure America's preeminence in science <br />and technology by supporting the Vision for Space <br />Exploration."<br /><br />As Ambassadors of Exploration, the recipients will help <br />communicate the benefits and excitement of space exploration <br />and why the continuing investment in our future is vital to <br />the security and vitality of America.<br /><br />The 35th anniversary event can be seen live on NASA <br />Television and on NASA's Internet homepage at www.nasa.gov <br />beginning at 7:30 p.m. EDT, July 20.<br /><br />For more information about the achievements of the Apollo <br />program, Moon rocks and the Vision for Space Exploration, <br />visit the Internet at:<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/features/apollo11_35th.html<br /><br /><br />.Support/Space.Science/Our.Solar.System/Earths.Moon/Moon.Roc<br />ks/ <br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/explore_main.html