Media Inquiries Public Inquiries 202-633-1000 In 1969, mankind took four giant leaps in the Space Race with the launching of Apollos 9, 10, 11 and 12.  Not only was it the busiest in the entire Apollo program, but it was also the year we first saw footprints on the Moon.

July 20 marks the 35th anniversary of Apollo 11's triumphant Moon landing.

Roger D. Launius, chair of the National Air and Space Museum's Space History Division and former NASA Chief Historian, and Alan Needell, Space History Curator specializing in the Apollo program, are available for comment on this and other space program events.

Launius has lectured widely on historical subjects and has appeared in numerous documentaries. He is an active member of several professional associations, among them the American Astronautical Society, where he is a fellow, and a member of the board. He has written and edited numerous books and articles on historical subjects.

Needell, a curator in the Museum since 1981, has recently spearheaded the Museum's efforts preserve the Saturn V rocket currently on loan and displayed at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. This rocket played an vital role in the success of the Apollo space program. Needell has published several books and articles and is a fellow of the American Physical Society.

The National Air and Space Museum features many Apollo-era artifacts, including the Apollo 11 command module, Columbia, the space suits worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, and an authentic Lunar Module. Also in the downtown building is an exhibition, Apollo to the Moon, which contains hundreds of large and small items from several Apollo and other space missions.

To interview Launius and/or Needell on this or other space-related topics, please call the number(s) above.