Luncheon and book signing for local astronaut Fred Haise

Fans headed over to the Biloxi Visitor Center to grab lunch and get their books signed by the Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise this afternoon.

Born and raised in Biloxi, Haise is known for being a part of the Apollo 13 mission and flew the very first orbiter space shuttle Enterprise.

Friends and fans crowded the room as they listened to Haise’s speech while they enjoyed a buffet lunch.

The book, ‘Never Panic Early,’ chronicles Haise’s personal life in Biloxi and experiences in space.

Haise said he was happy to see so many people at the event interested and would love to see more people get involved in the NASA program. “Ah space program is still around, but I don’t think it has, in the whole country at least, the same interest that we enjoyed during the Apollo days when we went to the moon.”

The book ‘Never Panic Early’ came out in April and can be ordered online anytime.