posted 12-11-2004 06:25 PM
Saw Fred Haise (Apollo 13) today (Dec. 11, 2004) at the one year anniversary celebration of the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Today they had the grand opening of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar featuring the shuttle Enterprise.Both members of the Enterprise's crew were to have been present but only Haise made it. Something came up that caused Engle to miss the event.
Haise gave five short had several short half-hour presentations. Saw each of them except one because I attended the free showing of the new IMAX film, Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag.
Just in case he would be signing I took along a packet of antique Apollo 13 photographs I bought at the cape about 33 years ago. Thought who knows? Maybe I'd get lucky and get one signed. I stuck a couple of sharpies in my shirt pocket.
He wasn't signing. However, I did get a chance to shake his hand and ask him about his necktie which was a bottle of Tabasco sauce blasting off.
It ended on a sweet note. They served cake when he was finished.