Astronauts hailed as heroes 50 years after historic moon landing

Buzz Aldrin applauds during a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida US on July 20. [Reuters]

Capping a week of celebrations over the historic Apollo 11 mission, Vice President Mike Pence joined astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Saturday at the launch pad in Florida that sent the moonwalker and his two crew mates to space for humankind’s first steps on the lunar surface 50 years ago.

Pence joined NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon behind his fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing that enthralled people around the world in 1969.