Apollo 13 was also one of the greatest space movies of all time. The celebration was a perfect occasion for an informal reunion of the film's stars, director, and others who brought Apollo 13 to the big screen in 1995.

So there stood Tom Hanks, looking like he'd just been rescued from a desert island -- and no wonder, since he's making a movie about a castaway. And Bill Paxton, who traded his space suit for a World War 2 Navy uniform in the sub thriller U-571. Both actors got to visit with their real-life counterparts, Jim Lovell and Fred Haise. Ron Howard, who directed the film, was there, along with younger brother Clint, who played flight controller Sy Liebergot. Liebergot himself was also in attendance.

And there were other luminaries from the sci-fi universe, including James Cameron and, from television, Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek's Lieutenant Uhura, and Bruce Boxleitner, who played John Sheridan on Babylon 5. Both Nichols and Boxleitner are long-time space enthusiasts, and seemed thrilled to be part of the festivities.

But the biggest thrill of the evening belonged to Hanks, who was awarded NASA's Public Affairs Distinguished Service Medal. Beamed Hanks, himself a lifelong space fan, "This is a really big deal for me."

Lovell, meanwhile, had his own bit of news: "It's time to move on," he declared, announcing that this was the last Apollo 13 reunion.