Last man to walk on moon one of three astronauts to visit the San Diego Air & Space Museum

(July 13, 2007) - Astronaut Eugene Cernan, one of only three people to voyage to the moon on two different occasions, and one of only twelve humans to walk on the moon, will share his experiences at the July 21st "Meet the Real Space Cowboys" forum at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

Cernan will join the other "Meet the Real Space Cowboys," astronauts Scott Carpenter, and Thomas Stafford to offer a unique perspective on space exploration, yesterday, today and tomorrow - and it's free to the public. There is renewed public interest in the manned space program since NASA announced its goal to build a new outpost on the Moon. Returning to the moon is a critical first step in preparation for trips to Mars and beyond.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum has partnered with Ben Bridge, Omega Watches, and NASA to bring this exciting event to the public.

"We've been working on our sponsorship partnership with Omega Watches to produce this event for several months. Now, with Omega's help, we're bringing this cutting edge program to the people of San Diego," said Jim Kidrick, San Diego Air & Space Museum President. "Omega is exactly the type of partner we look for to join us in future programs. It's a world-class company, with a decades-long track record of sending our Astronauts into space wearing Omega'rugged, precision chronometer time pieces."

"Omega is excited about coming to the San Diego Air & Space Museum," said Gregory Swift, Omega US brand president. "We were looking at organizations in Los Angeles and San Diego for just the right partner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Omega Speedmaster, and the San Diego Air & Space Museum team was head and shoulders above competitive organizations. We're privileged to sponsor this celebration and further acknowledge the accomplishments of all astronauts, especially San Diego's late Wally Schirra, through our participation."

The three astronauts, Scott Carpenter, Eugene Cernan and Tom Stafford represent NASA's three premier manned space flight programs of the 20th century, the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. Carpenter is one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, flying the United States' 2nd manned orbital mission. Cernan made a daring and life-threatening spacewalk on the Gemini 9 mission, flew within eight miles of the lunar surface on Apollo 10, and was the last person to walk on the moon while commanding Apollo 17 in December, 1972. Stafford flew in space four times on Gemini and Apollo spacecraft, including being Apollo mission commander on the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first meeting of American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts in space.

Ed Buckbee, director emeritus of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and founder of U.S. Space Camp, will moderate "Meet the Real Space Cowboys." Buckbee served as a NASA public affairs officer during the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. He also co-authored The Real Space Cowboys with astronaut Wally Schirra.

San Diego Air & Space Museum's partnership with Omega also includes a new traveling exhibit featuring an authentic NASA Lunar Roving Vehicle [LRV] and an Apollo 10 space suit that will be display in the Museum's Walter M. "Wally" Schirra Space Flight Gallery. LRVs were used by astronauts on the last three Apollo missions to the moon to increase their range of exploration on its surface.

"Seeing an actual LRV up close is a very special opportunity and it alone is worth a visit to the Museum," said Kidrick.