Astronauts Visit San Diego in July
By Johnny McDonald

Thomas Stafford

Space cowboys Scott Carpenter, Eugene Cernan and Thomas Stafford will appear at the San Diego Air and Space Museum on July 21.

The three astronauts will offer a unique perspective on outer limits of yesterday, today and tomorrow during an event called "Meet the Real Space Cowboys."

NASA recently announced its goal to build an outpost on the moon, stating that this is a critical first step in preparation for trips to Mars and beyond.

"We've been working on our sponsorship partnership with Omega Watches to produce this event for several months," said museum President Jim Kidrick. "Now, with Omega's help, we're bringing this cutting edge program to the people of San Diego.

Carpenter, Cernan and Stafford represent NASA's three premier manned space flight programs of the 20th century, the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.

Carpenter is one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, flying the United States' second manned orbital mission. Cernan, one of only 12 men to have walked on the moon, was the last man to walk on the moon in December 1972.

Eugene Cernan

Stafford flew in space four times on Gemini and Apollo spacecraft, including being Apollo mission commander on the historic Apollo-Soyuz test project, the first meeting of American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts in space.

Ed Buckbee, director emeritus of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and founder of U.S. Space Camp, will moderate "Meet the Real Space Cowboys." Buckbee served as a NASA public affairs officer during the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. He also co-authored "The Real Space Cowboys" with the late Wally Schirra.

The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a youth forum to discuss technology, engineering and mathematics. Buckbee's moderated forum with the three astronauts begins at 2 p.m.

Scott Carpenter