Happy National Astronaut Day 2024!
As the inspiring President and CEO of Uniphi Good, music industry fixture Annie Balliro has presided over her successful artist management and marketing firm since 2009 before branching out into Uniphi Space Agency, which has expanded into the nation’s biggest private talent management firm for astronauts.
Emboldened with the company’s tagline of #webelieveinastronauts, Uniphi Good partners with corporations or institutions to advise NASA’s intrepid homegrown heroes on navigating partnerships in media, film and television by creating a positive network of bridges between the worlds of space travel, music, and pop culture.
In 2016, Balliro envisioned an opportunity to create a wellspring of astronaut recognition by launching National Astronaut Day. This special occasion is now observed every May 5 in salute to Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard‘s historic first spaceflight aboard Freedom 7 on May 5, 1961.
Related: Happy National Space Day 2024! Here’s how 8 lucky kids can win a trip to Florida’s Space Coast
This year she’s thrilled to spearhead the inaugural Astronaut Rock Star Awards, an evolving event that celebrates the unique intersection of astronauts and music, with real rock stars handing out awards in three categories to astronauts, individuals and organizations who are pillars of support and pioneering voices in space exploration and STEM/STEAM education. All winners will be announced on May 5, 2024.
Included in this debut year’s list of victors are:
Astronaut Alan Shepard – First American in Space on May 5, 1961. Astronaut Wendy Lawrence will present this legacy award to Alan’s daughter Laura.
High schooler STEMist Yuridia Sanchez & 18-year-old Sophia Crowder, ITGirls girl-empowering initiative founder and beyond.
Former NASA Astronaut and Intuitive Machines executive Col. Jack D. Fischer, who oversaw the Odysseus (“Odie”) lunar landing this year as part of the IM-1 mission in 2024. The IM-1 mission successfully landed the first spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole region, marking the United States’ first return since Apollo 17, as well as, the first private lunar lander on the Moon.
Fischer’s award will be presented by rock greats O.A.R. at their Boston, MA show at Leader Bank Pavilion on July 20th, 2024 – in…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Space…