United States Astronaut Hall of Fame

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The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame is located in Titusville, Florida. 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.[1] The museum was eventually opened by a private organization in 1990.

The museum closed but was reopened on December 14, 2002. [2] 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.

Controversy

The space suit of astronaut Gus Grissom is on display. When the museum changed ownership, members of Grissom's family objected to the display of the spacesuit and requested that it be returned to them. They believe that Grissom's death was not an accident and object to a NASA-contracted organization making money from a museum which displays the spacesuit. NASA maintains that the spacesuit is their property.[3]

Inductees

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

Inductees include Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon; John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth; Alan Shepard, the first American in space and one of twelve men to walk on the moon; Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; and John Young, a moonwalker and the commander of the first space shuttle mission.[4]

NASA Johnson Space Center director Michael Coats and astronomers Steven Hawley and Jeffrey A. Hoffman were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in May, 2007.[5][6][7] Hawley and Hoffman are known for their efforts to launch and repair satellites, including the Hubble Space Telescope.

Exhibits

The Sigma 7 Mercury spacecraft and the Apollo 14 Command Module are on display as well as Gus Grissom's space suit. There is also an Astronaut Adventure room which acts as a simulator for use by children.

Location and visitor's details

The Astronaut Hall of Fame is located in Titusville, Florida near the bridge that connects the city with the Kennedy Space Center. Admission charge is $17 for adults and $13 for children. It is open daily. [8]

External Links

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ http://www.worldspaceflight.com/bios/hall_of_fame.htm
  3. ^ RoadsideAmerica.com, Luckless Gus Grissom in the hot seat again, November 242002, retrieved May 42007
  4. ^ U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductee Biographies, retrieved May 42007
  5. ^ 2007 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction, retrieved May 42007
  6. ^ U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame to Add Three American Heroes in May, retrieved May 42007
  7. ^ Carreau, Mark, 3 NASA shuttle fliers to enter Astronaut Hall of Fame, The Houston Chronicle, May 42007, retrieved May 42007
  8. ^ http://www.ksctickets.com/
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