SpaceFlight Insider

July 16th, 2017

From left to right, Buzz Aldrin, Jeff Bezos, Harrison Schmitt, Michael Collins, and Walt Cunningham at the 2017 Apollo 11 ShareSpace Foundation Gala. Photo Credit: Tom Cross / SpaceFlight Insider

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. Under one of the three surviving Saturn V Moon rockets, Buzz Aldrins ShareSpace Foundation hosted a gala and auction in honor of mankinds first footsteps on another world on Saturday, July 15, 2017.

Aldrin was joined by fellow Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, Walt Cunningham (Apollo 7), Jack Schmitt (Apollo 17), as well as former space shuttle astronauts Mae Jemison (STS-47), Winston Scott (STS-72 and STS-87) and Terry Virts (STS-130 and Soyuz TMA-15M), as well as NewSpace entrepreneur Jeff Bezos.

The event was held just five days prior to the 48th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing that saw Aldrin and Neil Armstrong become the first humans to set foot on Earths closest celestial neighbor, the Moon. The duotouched down on the Moons Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis) on July 20, 1969, the first of six crewed landings on the lunar surface.

The ShareSpace Foundation is a nonprofit organization formed to encourage young people to pursue careers in S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math). Aldrin conveyed these statements in the days leading up to this weekends gala.

As we approach the 50thanniversary of the Moon Landing, its my ultimate ambition to lay the foundations that will inspire and support the next generation to become space pioneers. I passionately believe that we can land people on Mars by 2040. To do this we need to provide our future space pioneers with the right educational tools and motivation and we need the funding to do so, Aldrin stated via a release. By attending the event, guests are invited to play a historical role in the advancement of Mars exploration by sharing our vision and supporting our ambitions. Humanity needs to explore, to push beyond current limits, just like we did in 1969. I want to do everything I can to lay the groundwork.

All profits from ticket sales as well as other fundraising efforts went to the non-profit ShareSpace Foundation.

Tagged: Apollo 11 Buzz Aldrin's ShareSpace Foundation Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Saturn V The Range

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ShareSpace Apollo 11 Gala held under KSCVC's Saturn V - SpaceFlight Insider