NASA News 
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321-867-2468
_____________________________________________________________
For Release: Feb. 22, 2002

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham				
(321) 867-2468						
	
KSC Release No. 13 - 02

NOTE TO EDITORS:
MERCURY ASTRONAUTS TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF SPACE FLIGHT AT KSC

The 40th Anniversary of John Glenn's historic Friendship 7 flight on Feb.
20, 1962, the first of America's orbital space flights, will be celebrated
at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and co-hosted by the Astronaut
Scholarship Foundation. Special events will take place throughout the day
and evening at the Visitor Center to celebrate 40 years of Americans in
Orbit.  

Beginning at about 7 p.m. EST, on Sunday, Feb. 24, NASA TV will broadcast
"An Evening With the Mercury Astronauts" live from the Saturn V Center at
Kennedy Space Center. Coverage of the event will continue throughout the
evening and include recent interviews with John Glenn and Wally Schirra.

Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell, chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship
Foundation, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Other Mercury astronauts attending, in addition to Glenn and Schirra, are
Scott Carpenter and Gordon Cooper. All will be at the KSC Visitor Complex to
celebrate and reminisce about their contributions to the space program. 

	NASA TV can be found on GE-2 satellite, transponder 9C, 85 degrees
west longitude. 

	For additional information on the event, visit
www.kennedyspacecenter.com

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