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To encourage astronaut and space program workers’ reunions on the anniversaries of Apollo flights, as reminders of our achievements and inspiration for future exploration of the moon, Mars, and beyond.

Experiences. ShareSpace Awards.

We plan to present (nontransferable) awards to randomly selected winners (lottery-like) from $100 donations for space-related adventure experiences including guaranteed suborbital flights. Startups will be limited to space advocacy membership groups, people who have already shown an interest in space exploration, but the general public will be included soon after the initial offerings. We plan to create even greater publicity through nationally broadcast TV contests, with the winners receiving ever more expansive prizes, progressively leading to prizes of possible orbital flights.

Education. Science Education Ambassadors.

These ambassadors could be parents or retired teachers of K–12 students, in all state and federal political districts, who will inspire students to see space in their futures, to encourage studies of math and science, and to help ensure that education policies are carried out. We must begin with the children to educate the next generation on the importance of space exploration, and the knowledge that will be necessary to get us there and to keep expanding and exploring new horizons.

You can become part of ShareSpace at www.sharespace.org or receive more information about our activities at www.buzzaldrin.com.

Acknowledgments

JUST AS LAUNCHING a rocket to the moon requires many dedicated people working behind the scenes, this book is the result of a tremendous team effort by numerous individuals working together from the inception of the ideas to the finished product. As such, I want to express a heartfelt thanks to all who helped launch Magnificent Desolation, who worked with me each step of the way and brought this book in for a successful landing.

My deepest appreciation to Lisa Cannon, President of StarBuzz LLC, for her indefatigable and invaluable efforts in overseeing every aspect of the writing and editing of the project. I could not have told this story without her.

Day in, and day out, I thank Ken Abraham for his exceptional writing talents in shaping the story and putting my words together in a dramatic and enjoyable style. No small task!

I must extend an extraordinary thanks to my agent, Dan Strone, CEO of Trident Media Group, for catching the vision for this project, helping to create our initial proposal, and believing in it passionately.

A very special thanks to John Glusman, Vice President and Executive Editor of Harmony Books at the Random House Crown Publishing Group, for seeing the potential of Magnificent Desolation, embracing the project wholeheartedly, and applying his outstanding editorial skills to the manuscript. And kudos to Kate Kennedy for keeping us all on the same page.

To the numerous individuals who willingly and freely gave of their time so we could interview them, I extend my sincere thanks. You have greatly enhanced the telling of my story with your insights and information. In addition, I could not have done this without the buoy of support from my staff at StarBuzz LLC. They keep my life running smoothly and have assisted in researching many of the details and historic moments included in this book.

It is never an easy task to travel back along the roads and pathways of one’s life. I especially appreciate my family, children, stepchildren, and two sisters, who shared their memories and insights. As a result, the process of writing the book has been richly rewarding and renewing.

I am deeply grateful to my wife, Lois, who has inspired me at this time in reliving and recounting the amazing journey of my life.

From the moon to the magnificence of life here on Earth, I thank the Higher Power in this great universe.

Copyright © 2009 by StarBuzz LLC

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Harmony Books, an imprint of the Crown

Publishing Group, a division