Legendary Astronauts Return to the Space Coast for Annual Autograph & Memorabilia Show

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Aug. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Six of the 12 men who have walked on the moon—among them Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin, the second man to set foot on the lunar surface—will join astronauts representing every era of manned spaceflight and other space legends for the annual Astronaut Autograph & Memorabilia Show (AAMS) at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9-10, 2013.

Along with Aldrin, the list of participating astronauts includes moonwalkers Alan Bean, Gene Cernan, Charlie Duke, Edgar Mitchell and David Scott, as well as Dan Brandenstein, Scott Carpenter, Mary Cleave, Walt Cunningham, Ed Gibson, Dick Gordon, Fred Haise, Tom Jones, Jack Lousma, Bruce McCandless, Mike McCulley, Mike Mullane, Bill Pogue, Bob Springer, Thomas Stafford and Al Worden. More astronauts are expected to sign on as the event draws closer.

Hosted by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), the weekend-long AAMS is first and foremost an autograph show, inviting members of the general public to meet, shake hands and take pictures with their astronaut heroes. Astronauts will mingle with guests and host autograph booths in KSCVC's Debus Center from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. Autograph fees vary by astronaut, with most falling in the $40-$200 range.

One-day passes to the show are $15 and weekend passes are $20 for KSCVC ticket-holders. Admission to KSCVC is required prior to autograph show entry.

In addition to the signing portion of the show, the AAMS weekend includes a number of special events designed for avid space enthusiasts. Those who purchase a Gold, Platinum or Platinum Plus ticket package will be treated to a number of exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences contingent upon package level.

Platinum Plus guests, for example, are invited to play a game of space trivia with Gemini and Apollo astronaut Dick Gordon on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 7, take an astronaut-hosted tour of KSCVC's new Atlantis exhibit on Friday, Nov. 8, and enjoy exclusive meals—including a "Tropical Evening with the Astronauts" dinner and program—throughout the weekend. Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus packages include admission to KSCVC.

The rare space artifacts and astronaut-accompanied experiences up for grabs in ASF's 11^th Annual Auction of Astronaut Experiences & Memorabilia will be on display at KSCVC on Saturday, giving all AAMS guests the rare opportunity to preview and bid on their favorite lots in a live setting. The auction opens online at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 1 and closes on 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013.

Details about the annual auction, as well as AAMS one-day and weekend passes, tiered ticket packages and a-la-carte/add-on options are provided on the AAMS homepage, www.astronautscholarship.org/aams. All tickets may be purchased online via ASF's Astronaut Store or by calling 321-455-7016, which is also the number to call with AAMS questions.

Proceeds raised by the online auction and ticket sales aid the nonprofit ASF in providing inspirational college scholarships to top science and technology students in the U.S.

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury Program astronauts. Its mission is to aid the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships for college students who exhibit motivation, imagination and exceptional performance in these fields. ASF funds twenty-eight $10,000 scholarships annually and has awarded more than 3.7 million to deserving students nationwide. Today, more than 100 astronauts from the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle and Space Station programs have joined in ASF's educational endeavor. For more information, call 321-455-7012 or log on to www.astronautscholarship.org.

SOURCE Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

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