First astronauts honored at ceremony in Pensacola

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - A number of legendary astronauts and NASA officials visited the Naval Aviation Museum on NAS Pensacola on Saturday as folks celebrated a “Salute to the Pioneers of Space”.

Dozens of folks turned out to witness the Dec. 15 ceremony as numerous visitors, including Senator John Glenn and Ret. Navy Capt. Gene Cernan, took the stage to discuss their trips into space.

Survivor and commander of Apollo XIII, Ret. Navy Captain James Lovell was also at the ceremony with flight director Eugene Kranz and NASA engineer/flight director Glynn Lunney, to discuss the near-catastrophic flight.

Kranz and Lunney were key in successfully bringing the crew home after an oxygen tank explosion crippled the Apollo XIII Command/Service module.

The Naval Aviation Museum also unveiled its newest exhibit, a full scale replica of an Apollo Lunar Excursion Module, followed by a dinner and a tribute to the late Mr. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.

FOX10 News Reporter Cory Pippin was at the event and will bring you the story coming up at 9 p. m.