WATCH: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to Celebrate Aviation Weekend Aug. 2 – 4

Retired U.S. Navy Pilot and Former NASA Astronaut Chris Ferguson Talks With Steve Wilson

WATCH: The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will celebrate Aviation Weekend August 2 – 4. The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson talked with Retired U.S. Navy Captain and Former NASA Astronaut Chris Ferguson about Aviation. Ferguson was a Navy pilot and was also inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in January 2022.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will celebrate Aviation Weekend August 2 – 4. There will be multiple special events taking place all weekend. Attendees will have an opportunity to speak with astronauts, pilots and scholars about their remarkable adventures. CLICK HERE for the events schedule.

My broadcasting partner, Dr. Terry Spain, and I were at the Visitor Complex as we prepared for the weekend’s celebration.

I also had the opportunity to talk with retired U.S. Navy Captain and former NASA Astronaut Chris Ferguson.

Ferguson was a Navy pilot, having attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). He was the first pilot to release several types of air-to-ground-weapons from the F-14 Tomcat.

As a retired Navy pilot, I asked Ferguson what Aviation Weekend means to him.

He told me, “I am absolutely amazed at how the airspace structure has changed and how the flight management systems have changed throughout the years. It is a very rapidly and continuously changing environment. To me, it’s not something you can rest on your laurels. You have to continue to evolve with the airspace systems, knowing where you can and cannot fly and it’s very complex.”

Ferguson went on to say, “I enjoy flying!”

Not only was Ferguson a Navy pilot but he also flew aboard the Space Shuttle three times. He was commander of STS-135, which was the final mission of the Space Shuttle Program.

Ferguson was elected to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in January 2022 and has received awards and medals including Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Strike/Flight Air Medal, NASA Spaceflight Medals, Navy Commendation Medals, Navy Achievement Medal and various other service awards and citations.

You can talk with Ferguson on Saturday, August 3, as he will be at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex celebrating Aviation Weekend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia.  He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018,  Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

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