Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, speaks during a memorial ceremony honoring former Apollo astronaut Walter Cunningham. The ceremony was held Jan. 9, 2023, at the Heroes and Legends exhibit within the Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. Cunningham was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 7 – the first crewed flight test of the Apollo spacecraft – where he tested maneuvers necessary for docking and lunar orbit rendezvous. He passed away Jan. 3 at the age of 90.

A memorial wreath is placed in the Heroes and Legends exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida following a ceremony honoring the memory of former Apollo astronaut Walter Cunningham. The ceremony was held Jan. 9, 2023. Cunningham was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 7 – the first crewed flight test of the Apollo spacecraft – where he tested maneuvers necessary for docking and lunar orbit rendezvous. He passed away Jan. 3 at the age of 90.

A photo of former Apollo astronaut Walter Cunningham is displayed during a memorial ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The ceremony was held Jan. 9, 2023, at the Heroes and Legends exhibit within the Astronaut Hall of Fame at the center’s visitor complex. Cunningham was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 7 – the first crewed flight test of the Apollo spacecraft – where he tested maneuvers necessary for docking and lunar orbit rendezvous. He passed away Jan. 3 at the age of 90.

Lisa Schott, vice chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, speaks during a memorial ceremony honoring former Apollo astronaut Walter Cunningham at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The ceremony was held Jan. 9, 2023, at the Heroes and Legends exhibit within the Astronaut Hall of Fame at the spaceport’s visitor complex. Cunningham was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 7 – the first crewed flight test of the Apollo spacecraft – where he tested maneuvers necessary for docking and lunar orbit rendezvous. He passed away Jan. 3 at the age of 90.

Inside Mercury flight control, Walter C. Williams, associate director for Project Mercury operations (center) listens to Christopher Kraft, flight director (right).

S64-40113 (1964) --- Astronaut Walter Schirra Jr. (right) and Walter Williams, Deputy Director of Mission Requirements, pictured at the Mercury 7 memorial dedication. Photo credit: NASA

JOE WALTER NORRIS, MSFC RECEIVING

S64-31816 (10 Sept. 1964) --- Astronaut R. Walter Cunningham.

A model of Orion is seen at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Visitors to the NASA exhibit at the 70th International Astronautical Congress view a cutaway model of the agency’s Orion spacecraft, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA's Kristen Erickson speaks about educational science resources during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The back wall of the NASA exhibit is seen during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Broadway performers are seen on stage during the opening ceremony of the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Attendees are seen by the NASA exhibit at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA's Kristen Erickson speaks about educational science resources during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

A model of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket is seen in the agency’s exhibit at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

A model of the inside of Orion is seen at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Attendees pick up NASA bags at the agency’s exhibit at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Visitors to the NASA exhibit at the 70th International Astronautical Congress take a picture in a mockup of a space suit, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

A model of the Gateway is seen at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

S63-18249 (1963) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. standing beside T-38. Photo credit: NASA

Walter Cronkite in the Reduced Gravity Simulator. Various views of Cronkite in the Lunar Landing Research Facility's Reduced Gravity Simulator which was used to train the astronauts for weightlessness. L68-8308 Caption: "During a 1968 visit to Langley, then CBS News Anchorman Walter Cronkite tries out the Reduced Gravity Simulator, a series of cable-supported slings designed to approximate the Moon's gravity, 1/6th that of Earth's." Photograph published in Winds of Change, 75th Anniversary NASA publication, p 91, by James Schultz.

Walter Cronkite in the Reduced Gravity Simulator. Various views of Cronkite in the Lunar Landing Research Facility's Reduced Gravity Simulator which was used to train the astronauts for weightlessness. L68-8308 Caption: "During a 1968 visit to Langley, then CBS News Anchorman Walter Cronkite tries out the Reduced Gravity Simulator, a series of cable-supported slings designed to approximate the Moon's gravity, 1/6th that of Earth's." Photograph published in Winds of Change, 75th Anniversary NASA publication, p 91, by James Schultz.

Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer, The Planetary Society, speaks during a session titled, “Europa Clipper: Making a Mission to Understand Our Place in the Universe” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

David Folta, a Flight Dynamics Engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, is seen during a keynote titled “Astrodynamics of Lunar and Cis-Lunar Missions” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, is seen during a special session titled “Planetary Protection for the Future: Science, Exploration, and Commerce” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Chief Scientist Jim Green is seen during a special session titled “Planetary Protection for the Future: Science, Exploration, and Commerce” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Audience members participate in a special session titled ”The Immortal Spaceship: A Discussion on the Use Cases and Value of Persistent Platforms” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

A student asks NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine a question during a Heads of Agency interactive session at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

David Folta, a Flight Dynamics Engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, is seen during a keynote titled “Astrodynamics of Lunar and Cis-Lunar Missions” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 lunar module pilot, salutes as he is recognized by Vice President Mike Pence during the opening ceremony of the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Lisa Pratt, NASA's Planetary Protection Officer, answers a question from the audience during a special session titled “Planetary Protection for the Future: Science, Exploration, and Commerce” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Thomas Magner, Manager, Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), speaks during a session titled, “Europa Clipper: Making a Mission to Understand Our Place in the Universe” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Philippe Étienne, French Ambassador to the U.S., tries virtual reality viewers at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Lisa Pratt, NASA's Planetary Protection Officer, answers a question from the audience during a special session titled “Planetary Protection for the Future: Science, Exploration, and Commerce” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

A baby in a flight suit sits in front of the Artemis sign at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Lindsay Aitchison, Deputy Project Manager for the Advanced Space Suit Project at NASA speaks to visitors to NASA’s exhibit at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Andrew Klesh, a Mission Architect at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seen during a keynote titled “MarCO: Flight Results from the First Interplanetary CubeSat Mission” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Brad Bailey, program scientist with NASA's Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program is seen during a keynote titled “An Overview of NASA’s Lunar Science Exploration Plans for Artemis” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev, speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

An attendee takes a selfie with an RS-25 engine, the same type that will power NASA's Space Launch System, while visiting the NASA exhibit space at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Brad Bailey, program scientist with NASA's Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program is seen during a keynote titled “An Overview of NASA’s Lunar Science Exploration Plans for Artemis” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Panelists are seen during a discussion titled “ISS-Moon-Mars: Using Spaceflight Platforms to Study and Simulate Future Missions” during the the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer, The Planetary Society, speaks during a session titled, “Europa Clipper: Making a Mission to Understand Our Place in the Universe” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer, The Planetary Society, speaks during a session titled, “Europa Clipper: Making a Mission to Understand Our Place in the Universe” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

An RS-25 engine, the same type that will power NASA’s Space Launch System, is seen in the agency’s exhibit at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Photos of people who have visited the NASA exhibit are placed on the Artemis sign during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Philippe Étienne, French Ambassador to the U.S. speaks to Joseph Williams about virtual reality viewers at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Audience members participate in a special session titled ”The Immortal Spaceship: A Discussion on the Use Cases and Value of Persistent Platforms” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Andrew Klesh, a Mission Architect at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seen during a keynote titled “MarCO: Flight Results from the First Interplanetary CubeSat Mission” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, André Kuipers, speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA astronaut Janet Kavandi speaks about her time in space at a STEM day session with students during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA's Kristen Erickson holds up a braille image of the NASA logo and the moon during a talk about educational science resources at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Audience members participate in a special session titled ”The Immortal Spaceship: A Discussion on the Use Cases and Value of Persistent Platforms” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

European astronaut and professor, Institute of Space Systems, Reinhold Ewald, speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

David Folta, a Flight Dynamics Engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, is seen during a keynote titled “Astrodynamics of Lunar and Cis-Lunar Missions” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA astronaut Bob Curbeam spoke about his time in space at a STEM day session with students during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock, speaks about his time in space at a STEM day session with students during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

A model of a lunar lander is seen at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

A model of the Astrobee robot is seen at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

A model of is the Space Launch System (SLS) is seen at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The NASA social group poses for a photo with the Artemis sign during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

G60-02741 (May 1960) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. Photo credit: NASA

European astronaut and professor, Institute of Space Systems, Reinhold Ewald, speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev speaks to former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden during an astronaut and cosmonaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

S. Somanath, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), during the Heads of Agency press conference at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is seen during the Global Networking Forum Young Professionals Town Hall at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Philippe Étienne, French Ambassador to the U.S. touches a Mars meteorite at the NASA exhibit during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, right, spoke about her time in space at a STEM day session with students during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

A student asks NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine a question during a Heads of Agency interactive session at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

A student asks NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine a question during a Heads of Agency interactive session with students at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, André Kuipers speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine speaks to agency employees as they gather for a group picture at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Alvin Drew, right, spoke about his time in space at a STEM day session with students during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine answers questions during a Heads of Agency interactive session with students at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine answers questions during a Heads of Agency interactive session with students at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Dr Johann-Dietrich Worner, Director General, European Space Agency (ESA), answers questions during a Heads of Agency interactive session with students at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Johann-Dietrich Woerner, Director General of the ESA (European Space Agency), during the Heads of Agency press conference at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Hiroshi Yamakawa, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is seen during the Heads of Agency press conference of the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is seen during the Heads of Agency press conference at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden, right, reacts to something former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave says, during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is seen during the Global Networking Forum Young Professionals Town Hall at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Dr. von Braun, Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), greets Commander of Apollo 7 mission, Walter M. Schirra, Jr., during the mission briefing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The Apollo 7 mission, boosted by a Saturn IB launch vehicle on October 11, 1968, was the first flight of the Apollo spacecraft with crew. Other crew members were Astronaut Donn Eisele and Astronaut Walter Cunningham.

Ben Reed, Deputy Division Director of the Satellite Servicing Project Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center speaks during a special session titled ”The Immortal Spaceship: A Discussion on the Use Cases and Value of Persistent Platforms” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ethiraj Venkatapathy, Senior Technologist for the Entry System Technologies at NASA’s Ames Research Center, is seen during the Paolo Santini Memorial Lecture: Ablators from Apollo to Future Missions to Moon, Mars, and Beyond at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Karen Kirby, Europa Clipper Deputy Project System Engineer, Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), speaks during a session titled, “Europa Clipper: Making a Mission to Understand Our Place in the Universe” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin moderates a panel with former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden; former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave, European astronaut and professor, Institute of Space Systems, Reinhold Ewald; Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev; and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, André Kuipers during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, introduces Nicola Fox, director of the Heliophysics division for the Science Mission Directorate, to give a presentation titled, “The Challenge of Exploring Our Sun - the 60-Year Odyssey to Parker Solar Probe,” during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Sandra Cauffman, acting Director of NASA's Earth Science Division, is seen during a special session titled “Home Planet 2030 – The Role of Earth Observations in Studying Our Planet” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Brian Muirhead, Pre-project Manager of Mars Sample Return at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seen during a keynote titled “Mars Sample Return Mission Concept Status” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA director of Heliophysics division, Science Mission Directorate, Nicola Fox, speaks at a presentation titled, “The Challenge of Exploring Our Sun - the 60-Year Odyssey to Parker Solar Probe,” during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin delivers remarks during the International Astronautical Federation World Space Award highlight lecture at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. The 2019 World Space Award was presented to the crew of Apollo 11. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Brian Muirhead, Pre-project Manager of Mars Sample Return at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seen during a keynote titled “Mars Sample Return Mission Concept Status” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA director of Heliophysics division, Science Mission Directorate, Nicola Fox, speaks at a presentation titled, “The Challenge of Exploring Our Sun - the 60-Year Odyssey to Parker Solar Probe,” during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Lawrence Friedl, Director of Applied Sciences Program in NASA’s Earth Science Division, is seen during a keynote titled “50 Years of Earth Observations: The contribution to sustainable development goals and plans for the future” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Lawrence Friedl, Director of Applied Sciences Program in NASA’s Earth Science Division, is seen during a keynote titled “50 Years of Earth Observations: The contribution to sustainable development goals and plans for the future” at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ethiraj Venkatapathy, Senior Technologist for the Entry System Technologies at NASA’s Ames Research Center, receives an award after giving the Paolo Santini Memorial Lecture: Ablators from Apollo to Future Missions to Moon, Mars, and Beyond at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)