Astronauts in Space and on Earth Mark Veterans Day 2019

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Generations of NASA astronauts in space and on Earth took a moment today (Nov. 11) to mark Veterans Day.

That's no surprise, since more than 60% of active astronauts have served in some branch of the military, according to NASA's Johnson Space Center, which oversees the astronaut corps. Those veterans include astronaut Andrew Morgan, who is currently living and working on the International Space Station during what will be a nine-month stay.

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"It's a privilege to honor our nation's veterans today," Morgan wrote on Twitter. "My own family's military service extends through multiple generations, representing every branch. I honor all vets by bringing reminders of my family's military legacy to space with me.  Your service inspires me!"

Retired NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who landed on the moon 50 years ago, also marked the day, joining in New York City's Veterans Day Parade. Before joining the astronaut corps, Aldrin attended West Point, served in the Air Force and flew combat missions during the Korean War.

"100 years of Veterans Day, 50 years of Apollo; I'm proud to be a part of both," Aldrin wrote on Twitter before the parade began, later sharing photographs from the occasion. "God bless all that served this wonderful country."

The ceremony also fell on the 53rd anniversary of Aldrin's first launch to space, on Nov. 11, 1966. During that four-day-long flight, dubbed Gemini 12, he and Jim Lovell, who later went on to fly in the Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 missions, concluded the Gemini program that prepared NASA for the moon-landing missions.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Meghan Bartels
Senior Writer

Meghan is a senior writer at Space.com and has more than five years' experience as a science journalist based in New York City. She joined Space.com in July 2018, with previous writing published in outlets including Newsweek and Audubon. Meghan earned an MA in science journalism from New York University and a BA in classics from Georgetown University, and in her free time she enjoys reading and visiting museums. Follow her on Twitter at @meghanbartels.