KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2007) – World Space Expo, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida from November 3-11, 2007, announced today a weekend Aerial Salute by the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights as part of a 45th Anniversary tribute to Project Mercury.
Project Mercury was the United States' first manned space program. The program successfully launched six of the original "Mercury 7" into space including Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth on February 20, 1962.
The 920th Rescue Wing, based at Patrick Air Force Base, will also stage a demonstration as part of the tribute. The 920th Rescue Wing, formerly the 301st Rescue Squadron, was responsible for recovering the Mercury capsules when they splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.
"We could not think of a better way to open the World Space Expo Aerial Salute than with a tribute to the brave men who pioneered America's manned space program," said Daniel LeBlanc, Chief Operating Officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, host of the World Space Expo.
The U.S. Army played a key role in the success of Project Mercury using its Redstone vehicle as a launch platform. Wernher von Braun, a celebrated pioneer in the U.S. space program, developed the rockets that carried America's first satellites and humans into space. Von Braun's team would go on to design Saturn V, the rocket that carried American astronauts to the moon.
"It is a privilege to perform over the Kennedy Space Center while paying tribute to the 45th Anniversary of Project Mercury," said Sergeant First Class Karen Morrison, Golden Knights Operations.