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Author
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Topic: Private astronauts on Space Mirror Memorial
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328KF
Member Posts: 1237
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 07-16-2019 12:59 PM
   
The Astronauts Memorial Foundation has voted to include "private astronauts" on the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. As a result, Virgin Galactic/Scaled Composites test pilot Mike Alsbury will become the first non-government astronaut to be honored on the wall. Alsbury died on a powered flight of SpaceShipTwo in October of 2014. The board is now working on getting Alsbury's name on the mirror. The goal is to have a ceremony and his name engraved on the memorial around the time of Oct. 31, which would be the fifth anniversary of his death. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43137
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-16-2019 02:27 PM
This is a good move by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation; Alsbury deserves to be memorialized for his sacrifice in pursuit of opening up spaceflight to the public. quote:
Originally posted by 328KF:
...the first non-government astronaut to be honored on the wall.
As Florida Today notes, the distinction is that Alsbury was not flying on a government-sponsored mission. (Greg Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe were the first two non-government astronauts to be added to the mirror.) |
328KF
Member Posts: 1237
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 07-16-2019 02:50 PM
An important distinction, so thanks for clarifying that. Also important to note, as one can read in the links, that this criteria does not apply to private spaceflight passengers, only crewmembers. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43137
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-02-2019 02:02 PM
Astronauts Memorial Foundation release The Astronauts Memorial Foundation Remembers Michael AlsburyThe Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) remembers Michael Alsbury on the 5th Anniversary of Alsbury making the ultimate sacrifice in service to the space program. On October 31, 2014, Alsbury, a private test pilot, lost his life during a test flight of SpaceShipTwo. AMF is in the process of adding Michael T. Alsbury's name to the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This past summer, AMF's board of directors voted to include his name on the wall, making Alsbury the first private astronaut to be included in the astronauts that AMF honors. "The AMF Board feels Michael's contributions are worthy of remembrance, as he gave his life in the furtherance of the mission of space exploration. Michael's life story will be remembered by future generations, and be an inspiration to those who seek to explore the unknown," said former NASA Astronaut, Commander Eileen Collins, who is a member of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation Board of Directors. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43137
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-13-2020 08:44 PM
From the Astronauts Memorial Foundation: The Astronauts Memorial Foundation invites you to commemorate and honor Michael T. Alsbury for his sacrifice and contribution to human spaceflight.Saturday, January 25th, 2020 at 2:00pm Name Dedication Ceremony
Space Mirror Memorial
Kennedy Space Center Complimentary parking and admission into the Visitors Complex is included with your confirmed reservation for this historical and nationally significant tribute. Download the invitation here. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43137
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-25-2020 05:35 PM
collectSPACE Fallen SpaceShipTwo pilot's name added to Space Mirror MemorialA name has been added to the U.S. national memorial for fallen astronauts, honoring the first commercial spacecraft pilot to be lost in the pursuit of opening spaceflight to the public. Michael Alsbury was remembered Saturday (Jan. 25) as his name was unveiled on the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Alsbury died in 2014 during a test flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane.  |
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