posted 06-09-2009 12:30 PM               

Celebrate Apollo 40th Anniversary with Astronaut Dinner

Forty years ago, the Apollo 11 crew sat down for their pre-launch dinner at Kennedy Space Center, prior to embarking on the mission that landed mankind on the moon. In keeping with that same tradition, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is offering a limited number of devoted fans the chance to dine with Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, and other Apollo astronauts, at an intimate, Apollo 40th Anniversary dinner in Cocoa Beach, FL on July 15, 2009 - the same date the crew enjoyed their pre-launch meal.

Guests will savor a four-course meal with several Apollo astronauts including Aldrin, Vance Brand, Jerry Carr, Walt Cunningham, Charlie Duke, Bruce McCandless, Edgar Mitchell, Rusty Schweickart, and Al Worden.

The ticket also includes a commemorative keepsake autographed by the astronauts in attendance and a photo CD of images from the evening.

In addition, guests will receive VIP accommodations at the public Apollo 40th Anniversary Celebration event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on July 16.

Only twenty-five dinner tickets are available for $1,000 each through the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's website or by calling 321-455-7015. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

All proceeds go directly to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit organization which provides scholarships to exceptional college students pursuing degrees in science and engineering. Ticket price, over fair-market value, should be considered a donation.

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation awards 19 $10,000 college scholarships annually and has awarded $2.8 million to students nationwide.