posted 05-03-2007 07:31 PM               

San Diego Aerospace Museum, San Diego, California - Schirra served as a director and the museum features the Walter M. "Wally" Schirra, Jr. Space Flight Gallery, that includes Schirra's Gemini spacesuit and the moon rock presented in his name. From Francis French:

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The museum's home page has been updated to memorialize him, and a special display has been created about him in the central rotunda, including artifacts from his aviation career.

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The Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas, Texas - Museum spokesman Farris Rookstool, III shares:

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The Frontiers of Flight Museum has lowered their flags to half staff at the museum and will post a floral wreath and condolence book in front of the Apollo 7 Command Module. The museum will forward the book to Mrs. Schirra.

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Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Hutchinson, Kansas - The Cosmosphere released the following:

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Astronaut Wally Schirra, 84, died today at his home in California, according to NASA officials. Schirra was the fifth American in space and the only astronaut to fly in all three early manned space programs — Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.

He was also a long-time friend and supporter of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.

"We're deeply saddened by the loss of a great friend and American," said Chris Orwoll, Kansas Cosmosphere president and CEO.

In 2004, the Gemini 6A spacecraft — flown by Schirra in 1965 — was restored at the Cosmosphere in the "Hall of Space" restoration gallery. The Gemini 6A is now on display in Oklahoma City. Schirra's spacesuit from the Mercury-Atlas 8 ("Sigma-7") flight is on permanent display in the Cosmosphere's "Mollett Early Spaceflight" gallery.

"We are proud to have artifacts pertaining to Wally Schirra here at the Cosmosphere," said Orwoll. "Restoring his Gemini spacecraft and displaying his Mercury spacesuit is an honor."

Schirra visited the Cosmosphere three times in the past four years. He attended the Hutchinson Community College Dillon Lecture Series in 2003; the Bombardier Aerospace Safety Standdown with Bob Hoover in 2004; and a book-signing and membership event in 2005.

Until his death, Schirra and the Cosmosphere staff stayed in close contact, most recently touching base at the Mutual Concerns Conference in San Diego. In his keynote address at the conference, Schirra praised the Cosmosphere for its dedication to strengthening relationships with other museums.

And as a result, the Cosmosphere is dedicated to maintaining Schirra's legacy.

A memorial table has been set up in the Cosmosphere lobby to pay tribute to Schirra. Guests are encouraged to leave their condolences and remembrances at the memorial.

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