United States Astronaut Hall of Fame: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎Inductees: add White's death in Apollo 1
→‎Inductees: Expand.
Line 10: Line 10:
''See also:'' [[:Category:U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductees]]
''See also:'' [[:Category:U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductees]]


Inductees into the Hall of Fame are selected by a [[blue ribbon]] committee of former NASA officials and flight controllers, historians, journalists, and other space authorities based on their accomplishments in space and their contributions to the advancement of space exploration.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2004/q2/nr_040504m.html | title=Boeing Executive Inducted Into Astronaut Hall of Fame | publisher=The Boeing Company | date=[[2004-05-04]] | accessdate=2007-05-27}}</ref>
In 1990, the original Mercury Seven astronauts became the inaugural class inducted into the Hall of Fame. Among these were [[Alan Shepard]], the first American in space and one of twelve men to walk on the moon, and [[John Glenn]], the first American to orbit the Earth.


The inaugural class was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990 and consisted of the [[Mercury Seven]]. Aside from being the first [[United States|American]] [[astronaut]]s, the Mercury Seven set several firsts in American spaceflight, some auspicious and some tragic. [[Alan Shepard]] was the first American in space and one of the twelve men to walk on the moon, [[John Glenn]] was the first American to orbit the [[Earth]], and [[Gus Grissom]] was the first American to go into space twice and was the commander of [[Apollo 1]], which resulted in the first American deaths directly related to spaceflight or the preparation for spaceflight.
⚫
Thirteen astronauts from the Gemini and Apollo programs were inducted in 1993, including [[Neil Armstrong]], the first man to walk on the moon, [[Edward Higgins White|Ed White]], the first American to [[spacewalk]] and one of the astronauts killed in the [[Apollo 1]] accident, [[James Lovell]], commander of [[Apollo 13]], and [[John Young (astronaut)|John Young]], whose six flights included a moon walk and command of the first [[Space_Shuttle_program|space shuttle]] mission.


⚫
Thirteen astronauts from the Gemini and Apollo programs were inducted in 1993. This class included the first and last man to walk on the Moon, [[Neil Armstrong]] and [[Eugene Cernan]] respectively, [[Edward Higgins White|Ed White]], the first American to [[spacewalk]] and another of the astronauts killed in the Apollo 1 accident, [[James Lovell]], commander of [[Apollo 13]], and [[John Young (astronaut)|John Young]], whose six flights included a moon walk and command of the first [[Space_Shuttle_program|space shuttle]] mission.
All twenty-four [[Project Gemini|Gemini]], [[Project Apollo|Apollo]], and [[Skylab]] astronauts not previously inducted were inducted in 1997.

The third class was inducted in 1997 and consisted of the twenty-four [[Project Gemini|Gemini]], [[Project Apollo|Apollo]], and [[Skylab]] astronauts that had not yet been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Notable members of the class were Roger Chaffee, the final astronaut killed in Apollo 1's fire, [[Harrison Schmidt]], the first scientist and second to last man to walk on the moon, and [[Jack Swiggert]] and [[Fred Haise]], the remaining crew of Apollo 13 that were not already inducted.


Twenty-two astronauts from the Space Shuttle program have been inducted since 2001. Among these are [[Sally Ride]], the first American woman in space; [[Story Musgrave]], who flew six missions in the 1980s and 1990s, and [[Francis Scobee]], commander of the ill-fated [[space shuttle Challenger|Challenger]] mission. <ref>[http://www.astronautscholarship.org/ahof_bios.html U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductee Biographies], retrieved [[May 4]][[2007]]</ref>
Twenty-two astronauts from the Space Shuttle program have been inducted since 2001. Among these are [[Sally Ride]], the first American woman in space; [[Story Musgrave]], who flew six missions in the 1980s and 1990s, and [[Francis Scobee]], commander of the ill-fated [[space shuttle Challenger|Challenger]] mission. <ref>[http://www.astronautscholarship.org/ahof_bios.html U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductee Biographies], retrieved [[May 4]][[2007]]</ref>

Revision as of 04:23, 28 May 2007

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame is located in Titusville, Florida. Its hours of operations are 9 am to 7 pm daily with tickets costing US$17 for adults and US$13 for children.[1] It features a large collection of personal astronaut memorabilia, particularly focusing on those astronauts who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

History

The idea behind the museum originated in the 1980s, when the then-six surviving Mercury Seven astronauts began conceived of the idea towards establishing a place where space travelers could be remembered and honored, along the lines of Halls of Fame for other fields.[2] The museum was eventually opened by a private organization in 1990.

The museum closed but was reopened on December 14, 2002. [3] It was originally privately operated but changed managements to the the privately run, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which privately operated by a contract from NASA, and receives input from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which supervises the selection of astronauts for induction into the Hall.

Inductees

See also: Category:U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductees

Inductees into the Hall of Fame are selected by a blue ribbon committee of former NASA officials and flight controllers, historians, journalists, and other space authorities based on their accomplishments in space and their contributions to the advancement of space exploration.[4]

The inaugural class was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990 and consisted of the Mercury Seven. Aside from being the first American astronauts, the Mercury Seven set several firsts in American spaceflight, some auspicious and some tragic. Alan Shepard was the first American in space and one of the twelve men to walk on the moon, John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth, and Gus Grissom was the first American to go into space twice and was the commander of Apollo 1, which resulted in the first American deaths directly related to spaceflight or the preparation for spaceflight.

Thirteen astronauts from the Gemini and Apollo programs were inducted in 1993. This class included the first and last man to walk on the Moon, Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan respectively, Ed White, the first American to spacewalk and another of the astronauts killed in the Apollo 1 accident, James Lovell, commander of Apollo 13, and John Young, whose six flights included a moon walk and command of the first space shuttle mission.

The third class was inducted in 1997 and consisted of the twenty-four Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab astronauts that had not yet been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Notable members of the class were Roger Chaffee, the final astronaut killed in Apollo 1's fire, Harrison Schmidt, the first scientist and second to last man to walk on the moon, and Jack Swiggert and Fred Haise, the remaining crew of Apollo 13 that were not already inducted.

Twenty-two astronauts from the Space Shuttle program have been inducted since 2001. Among these are Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; Story Musgrave, who flew six missions in the 1980s and 1990s, and Francis Scobee, commander of the ill-fated Challenger mission. [5]

Except for 2002, inductions have been held every year since 2001. The most recent class, inducted in May 2007, consists of NASA Johnson Space Center director Michael Coats and astronomers Steven Hawley and Jeffrey A. Hoffman.[6][7][8] Hawley and Hoffman are known for their efforts to launch and repair satellites, including the Hubble Space Telescope.

Exhibits

Among the Hall of Fames displays are two spacecraft. The Mercury spacecraft piloted by Wally Schirra, Sigma 7, to orbited the Earth six times in 1962 is one. CSM Kitty Hawk, the Command Module used in the Apollo 14 spaceflight to the Moon, is the other. There is also an Astronaut Adventure room which acts as a simulator for use by children.

The spacesuit worn by Gus Grissom during Mercury 4 is also on display and has been stuck in a tug of war between NASA and Grissom's heirs and supporters since 2002. The spacesuit, along with other Gus Grissom artifacts, were loaned to the original owners of the Hall of Fame by the Grissom family when it opened in 1990. However, after the Hall of Fame went into bankruptcy and was taken over by a NASA contractor in 2002, the family requested all of their items to be returned.[9] All of the items, except the spacesuit, were returned to Grissom's family. Both NASA and the Grissom's claim ownership of the spacesuit.[10] NASA claims Grissom checked out the spacesuit for a school show and tell and then never returned the spacesuit, while the Grissom's claim Gus rescued the spacesuit from a scrap heap.[11]

External Links

References

  1. ^ "Kennedy Space Center Tickets". Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  2. ^ http://www.astronautscholarship.org/ahof.html
  3. ^ http://www.worldspaceflight.com/bios/hall_of_fame.htm
  4. ^ "Boeing Executive Inducted Into Astronaut Hall of Fame". The Boeing Company. 2004-05-04. Retrieved 2007-05-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductee Biographies, retrieved May 42007
  6. ^ 2007 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction, retrieved May 42007
  7. ^ U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame to Add Three American Heroes in May, retrieved May 42007
  8. ^ Carreau, Mark, 3 NASA shuttle fliers to enter Astronaut Hall of Fame, The Houston Chronicle, May 42007, retrieved May 42007
  9. ^ John Kelly (2002-11-20). "Gus Grissom's Family, NASA Fight Over Spacesuit". Florida Today. Retrieved 2007-05-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Luckless Gus Grissom in the hot seat again". RoadsideAmerica.com. 2002-11-24. Retrieved 2007-05-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Chistopher Lee (2005-08-24). "Grissom Spacesuit in Tug of War". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-05-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Stub icon

This space- or spaceflight-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Astronaut_Hall_of_Fame&oldid=134006274"