LCROSS lunar mission dedicated to Walter Cronkite

William Atkins
Saturday, 12 September 2009 18:27

Science - Space

NASA announced on September 11, 2009, that its Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission is being dedicated to the memory of legendary newscaster Walter Cronkite.


The NASA media brief “NASA Selects Target Crater for Lunar Impact” states that its LCROSS team has decided to honor the memory of Mr. Walter Cronkite, by dedicating its Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission to the "King of the Anchormen."

During his many decades of reporting, Mr. Cronkite conducted extensive news reports on the U.S. space program, beginning with the Mercury program, to the lunar landings of Apollo, and into the Space Shuttle era of manned space missions.

As Apollo 11 rocketed into space, on July 16, 1969, for its destiny on the Moon, Walter Cronkite shouted "Go, baby, go," and then proceeded to spend the next 27 out of 30 hours broadcasting the historic event to the world.

LCROSS project manager Daniel Andrews (NASA Ames Research Center) made the announcement that the LCROSS mission will be dedicated to the memory of legendary news anchor and radio/television broadcaster Walter Cronkite.

“Chip” Cronkite (formally, Walter Cronkite III), the son of Walter Cronkite, responded upon hearing about the honor to his father.

He stated, "Dad would sure be proud to be part, if just in name, of getting humans back up to the moon and beyond.” [NASA]

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