Astronaut Fred Haise speaks at Aviation Summer Camp in Gulfport

Fred Haise made a surprise appearance at the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum just in time to give a speech to the summer camp’s graduating class.

The summer camp had 65 children go through the program. Children learned a variety of space techniques such as robotics, flight simulations, engine repair and assembly, and more.

The camp lasted two weeks, culminating with a field trip to the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport where students visited the Army Air Guard, the control tower, and the airport terminal.

At the graduation, Haise talked about his time in space and encouraged the children to keep reaching for the stars. “It was a very rewarding career i had. I felt happy most the time I went to work and that’s kind of the key of life is to kinda marry what your talent is.”

The aviation museum has 22 history galleries ready to entertain and educate young and old alike. The museum is open Thursday through Sunday. For more information go to their Facebook page.