CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – April 8, 2003 – The 2003 Debus Award Winner and the keynote speaker for this year’s Debus Award Banquet will
be available for brief interviews Saturday, April 12 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Adrian Laffitte, director of Atlas Programs for Lockheed Martin Astronautics at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, will be honored as
this year’s winner of the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award – Florida’s most prestigious space honor.
Laffitte is being recognized for his outstanding personal and professional efforts in supporting the U.S. space program throughout
his career, but especially for his recent work directing launch operations of the historic Atlas rocket, including successful
inaugural Atlas 3 and Atlas 5 satellite delivery missions.
NASA Deputy Administrator Frederick Gregory, a veteran of three shuttle missions, will be featured speaker.
News media interested in covering this event must be escorted and should contact Christie Robinson of Delaware North Parks Services
at (321) 449-4273 to discuss logistics and arrange access to the event.
Media should be present by 7 p.m. EDT for the 7:10 p.m. opportunity. The dinner will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.
News media are invited to stay for the program, which is expected to begin about 8:30 p.m. Tickets to be seated for the black-tie
optional dinner are available for $85 per person. Please contact Jim Banke to reserve a seat. Payment may be made at the door. A
cash bar will be available.
The National Space Club is a non-profit corporation composed of representatives of industry, government, educational institutions
and private individuals who share a commitment to increasing public awareness of America’s aerospace programs.
For more information about the Debus Award Dinner and the National Space Club contact Jim Banke, 321-868-6288 or jbanke@hq.space.com
