Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins to Headline Friday Programming at Theater in the Woods

July 3, 2019 - Days after the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins will join fellow Apollo astronaut and space shuttle test pilot Joe Engle on stage with fellow astronaut and EAA board member Charlie Precourt to headline the Friday programming at Theater in the Woods. Collins, a West Point graduate, joined NASA in 1963 and also flew on the Gemini 10 mission three years prior to Apollo 11. Starting at 8 p.m., Collins and Engle will cover all aspects of the Apollo program, especially the historic Apollo 11 mission.

"Even a half-century later, the Apollo 11 mission stands as one of the great human achievements of all time," said Rick Larsen, EAA's vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. "We are honored to have Michael Collins, Joe Engle, and others take us back to the memorable 'one giant leap for mankind.' We know this will be a hugely popular evening program that will make EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019 even more of a must-attend event."

After the Rotorcraft Awards at 6 p.m., NASA Chief Technologist Douglas Terrier will kick off the evening space programming at 7 p.m. with an update on NASA's mission to return to the moon by 2024, among other items. Space program historian and author Robert Godwin will join other guests to discuss the lunar module design and role in the Apollo program, moderated by Charlie Precourt.

NASA will also host two other panel discussions on Friday, including "The Women of NASA" at 10 a.m. and "Defying Gravity or … The Great Escape" at 1 p.m.

Burt Rutan will also be back at the Theater in the Woods on Friday at 1 p.m. discussing his 49th manned research prototype, the SkiGull.