Biloxi dedicated the area surrounding the Fred Haise statue along Highway 90 as “Fred Haise Landing” on Saturday, honoring the Apollo 13 astronaut and Biloxi native who served as the mission’s Lunar Module Pilot in April 1970.
Haise, who is approaching his 93rd birthday, traveled from his home in Houston, Texas for the ceremony. Close to 200 people packed the Biloxi Visitors Center for the event, including many of his old friends from his hometown.
City Councilman Ward 1 Wayne Gray also announced the dedication of a portion of Highway 90—from Porter Avenue to Kuhn Street—as the Astronaut Fred Haise Highway. The rededication marked Haise’s return to the Coast four years after the 2022 unveiling of the Astronaut Fred Haise statue at the same location.
Haise was one of 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. He served as backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 before flying as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 13, logging 142 hours and 54 minutes in space during that mission.
For decades, Apollo 13 held the record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth. That record stood until the Artemis II mission, which landed earlier in April 2026. Haise reflected on the original mission’s goals during Saturday’s ceremony, noting that while the crew did not land on the moon as planned, the mission achieved its primary objective of traveling to the lunar environment.
A restored 144-foot moonwalk mural was unveiled during the dedication. Haise walked the restored mural during his visit, fulfilling a symbolic connection to the lunar mission he never completed. He is one of six surviving Apollo astronauts and the last surviving crew member of Apollo 13.
Haise said he hopes the future of space exploration continues to flourish as long as Congress supports missions. He has remained active in public engagement, having held more than 80 Zoom conferences with students and space enthusiasts in the year prior to the dedication.
Sources
- WLOX — confirmed the June 27, 2026 dedication of Fred Haise Landing and the Astronaut Fred Haise Highway, Haise’s age and Houston residence, attendance figures, the restored moonwalk mural, and Haise’s quotes about the Apollo 13 mission record
- NASA — documented Haise’s selection in April 1966, his backup roles on Apollo 8 and 11, his Lunar Module Pilot role on Apollo 13, and his total spaceflight time of 142 hours and 54 minutes
- WXXV News 25 — reported on the 144-foot moonwalk mural restoration and the June 27 dedication event
