73-112 FAI honors Apollo astronauts

NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058

FOR RELEASE: AUGUST 31, 1973

Jack Riley 713/483-5111

RELEASE NO: 73-112

FAI HONORS APOLLO ASTRONAUTS

Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan and John W. Young will receive the two highest awards of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale Monday, September 3, in Dublin, Ireland. The Apollo 16 crew also will be honored.

The FAI Gold Space Medal for 1972 will be presented to Cernan for "outstanding performance as commander of Apollo 17." It is the federation's highest award for space flight.

Young, Apollo 16 commander, will receive the Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal for 1972, the second highest award. In addition, he will represent fellow crewmen Astronauts Charles Mo Duke, Jr., and Thomas K. Mattingly II, in accepting the V. M. Komarov Diploma, the only FAI space award which recognizes achievement by a crew rather than an individual.

The FAI is a worldwide federation dedicated to progress in aviation and space flight. It is the official keeper of records in those fields. The Dublin meeting is its 66th annual general conference.

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