ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A retired astronaut who flew four space shuttle missions will be the featured guest when the Asheville Museum of Science celebrates its 10th year with its yearly fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 6, the museum announced this week.
John Casper, a retired Air Force colonel, is set to talk about his years in the shuttle program at the Under the Stars benefit, which the museum is billing as A Decade of Discovery. The evening runs from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Highland Brewing, and a VIP reception opens at 5:30 p.m.
Casper joined the astronaut corps in June 1985 after NASA picked him in May 1984. His first mission, STS-36 in 1990, had him in the pilot seat, and he went on to command three more flights: STS-54 in 1993, STS-62 in 1994 and STS-77 in 1996. Across those four trips he logged more than 825 hours in orbit, riding Atlantis, Endeavour twice and Columbia.
Before NASA, his career was in the cockpit. He flew 229 combat missions in Vietnam with the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing out of Phan Rang Air Base, later finished test pilot training at Edwards Air Force Base in California and logged more than 10,000 hours in 52 different aircraft. Casper, now 83, was born in Greenville, S.C., and calls Gainesville, Ga., his hometown.
The benefit will also feature live music, hands-on science demonstrations, food from local vendors and auctions. General tickets cost $100 and VIP tickets cost $150, with sales handled through the museum website.
Money raised goes to the museum’s education work, including school field trips, outreach programs and new exhibits. The museum at 43 Patton Ave. downtown reaches about 60,000 people a year across every county in Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary, and it is planning a major expansion of its downtown space with more room for learning programs.
Section: More Asheville NC events news
Asheville events business profiles
Filed under: Asheville NC Events News
