
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Master of Ceremony Jim Banke, pauses during his opening remarks to attendees during NASA Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center in Florida. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Steve Griffin, chairman of the National Space Club Florida Committee, speaks to attendees during NASA Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center in Florida. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Robert Cabana speaks to attendees during Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center in Florida. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy Space Center and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden speaks to attendees during Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center in Florida. At left, on stage, is Master of Ceremony Jim Banke. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Hundreds of attendees listened to NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden during Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center in Florida. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy Space Center and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Hundreds of attendees listened to NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden during Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center in Florida. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy Space Center and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Hundreds of guests filled the Apollo/Saturn V Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during the center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – PBS NewsHour Science Correspondent Miles O’Brien, speaks to attendees during Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center in Florida. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Robert Cabana speaks to attendees during Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center in Florida. The gala was coordinated by Kennedy Space Center and the National Space Club Florida Committee with the theme, “Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future.” The event was attended by about 650 current and retired NASA and contractor workers, dignitaries, and several former Kennedy Space Center directors. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett