Bezos attends Aldrin gala for space education at KSC

Without educators, pioneers and innovators, there would be no space program, which is why Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin wants to foster a learning environment that will turn today's children into tomorrow's Martians.

"Tonight, we are here to honor the Apollo astronauts," said John Zarella, master of ceremonies for the Apollo 11 Anniversary Gala. "But we're also here to educate the next generation," Generation Mars.

Aldrin and his ShareSpace Foundation hosted the gala Saturday night at Kennedy Space Center's Apollo/Saturn V Center, drawing astronauts, educators and space fans from around the world. 

Dr. Andy Aldrin, director of the Buzz Aldrin Space Institute and Aldrin's son, said he grew up around the space program.

"I thought it was normal that people went to the moon," he said. 

Now he knows the time, money, innovation and manpower that went into the moon program. Today, there is a child out there who will be the first person to step on Mars, Andy Aldrin said.

"And right now, she may not even know that she's got the talent and passion to be an astronaut," he said.

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The event included a high-dollar auction, with offerings including space memorabilia, Buzz Aldrin's silver Nick Graham bomber jacket, an exhibition to Mount Everest and VIP tickets to a taping of "Late Night with Stephen Colbert." The auction brought in thousands of dollars to further Aldrin's "Get Your Ass to Mars" mission.

The live auction brought in more than $134,000.

But the evening also offered an opportunity to recognize the first winners of the Buzz Aldrin Space Awards.

"Jeff Bezos told me ... that he's been dreaming of space since the age of 5 years old," Buzz Aldrin said in giving the founder of private space exploration company Blue Origin and founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Amazon, his Space Innovation Award.

Bezos said he won a lottery called Amazon.com, and he's using his lottery winnings to push space exploration.

"I do think it's important that we go into space, and I can tell you why," he said. 

He doesn't see going to Mars or any other planet as a Plan B in case Earth is destroyed. He quoted several astronauts whose visits to the moon made them appreciate the beauty of Earth.

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But we're going to have to limit growth on the Earth if we don't move into space.

"I want to move out into the solar system," he said. 

"What's holding us back from making that next step is that space travel is just too darned expensive," he said.

Building reusable rockets is the answer to making space travel possible, he said, and that's the mission of Blue Origin.

Astronaut Mae Jemison, who was honored with the first Buzz Aldrin Space Pioneer Award, said as a child growing up in Chicago, even though she didn't see other female astronauts or astronauts of color, she knew that's what she would do.

"I assumed I would go into space," said Jemison. "I didn't do that by myself. I had help doing that. It is important to be here with people who support that imagination and determination that kids have."

Tim Christensen, director of education at the KSC Visitor Center. He was the first educator to receive one of the Mars maps. The giant maps, which have been given to more than 100 schools and education centers across the country, come with a Mars-centric curriculum. They encourage children to climb onto Mars and crawl around.

Christensen described watching Aldrin land on the moon in 1969. As a 12-year-old, Christensen said he alternated between watching his family's black-and-white television and running outside to look at the moon through binoculars.

The Mars maps connect today's children to being on Mars the way running outside to look at the moon connected him to the moon landing, Christensen said.

Alberto Canabal, director of design engineering for Mobile Products for Qorvo, is the father of possible next-generation astronauts. He drove from Orlando for the event. He follows Aldrin on social media, and his wife gave him a ticket to the gala for his birthday.

Canabal said he has twin 5-year-old sons who love space. One son wants to live on Saturn, at least on the weekends.

That's the generation Aldrin's foundation wants to reach, with its focus on STEAM education, encouraging children to concentrate on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Alan Matthews traveled from England for the event. He manages a trust with 15 schools and an ambassador for science, technology, engineering and math education.

"I want to get Mars maps over to the U.K.," he said.

Email Leonard at sleonard@floridatoday.com.