Four space pioneers gather on stage with Rick Abramson during opening ceremonies for the 40th anniversary celebration of American spaceflight.

Four space pioneers gather on stage with Rick Abramson, president of Delaware North Parks Services of Spaceport, Inc., during opening ceremonies for the 40th anniversary celebration of American spaceflight. The former astronauts had just signed a commemorative painting of the first Mercury rocket launch to send John Glenn Jr. orbiting the Earth. From left are Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper, Abramson, Glenn and Scott Carpenter. The site is the Rocket Garden in the KSC Visitor Complex. The event was capped with a dinner held at the KSC Apollo/Saturn V Center