Two of the Apollo program's heroes were on Long Island Wednesday night for a special Newsday Live forum to mark its 50th anniversary.

During the Apollo program of the 1960s and '70s, NASA sent nine missions to the moon. Six of them landed astronauts safely on the surface, the only times humans have visited another celestial body.

Walt Cunningham served as the Lunar Module pilot on the Apollo 7 mission. And Milton Windler was one of the four flight directors of Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team.

The forum was moderated by former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel and Newsday columnist Joye Brown. They said this is not only an anniversary of America landing on the moon, but an anniversary of Long Island's unique and powerful role in getting there.

Newsday will be holding several more live events honoring the 50th anniversary of the Apollo program. The actual anniversary is July 20.