Saturday, July 13 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s Air Force One Pavilion in Simi Valley, CA, Buzz Aldrin Ventures hosted the Official Apollo XI 50th Anniversary Gala! This black-tie event commemorated those iconic first steps on the moon made by Neil Armstrong and Aldrin in 1969.

 

A half-century after the launch that changed the course of history, the evening honored the mission, team, and crew that ended the Space Race in a decisive victory for all of mankind.

 

Aldrin was joined by Apollo Astronauts Walt Cunningham, Charlie Duke, and Dave Scott, celebrity Gary Sinise, Music Sensation Tommy James, who performed some of his 1969 hits, GRAMMY-winning artist Gloria Gaynor who sang the National Anthem, and more than a dozen other astronauts and celebrities were in attendance.

 

The Gala included dinner underneath the retired Air Force One, arguably the most important aircraft in the world, that served seven U.S. Presidents (from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush) and toured the Apollo XI crew around the world upon their return, an exclusive Apollo XI Memorabilia Silent Auction, a special photo opportunity with Aldrin, and much more.