Two NASA astronauts inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, one preparing for Axiom launch

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01-06-2025

Two veteran astronauts were inducted May 31 into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame — and one of them had to miss the induction ceremony as she's preparing to launch on yet another mission.
Organized by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, the annual ceremony was held under Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The new inductees are Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson, bringing the total number of astronauts in the Hall of Fame to 111.
Harris flew on two space shuttle missions. He served as mission specialist on STS-55 and as payload commander on STS-63, accumulating 438 hours in space. During his second mission in 1995, Harris became the first African American to perform a spacewalk.
Harris was 13 years old when inspired by the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. While astronauts at that time were traditionally white test pilots, it did not stop Harris from dreaming.
"I had that black-and-white television that I talked about - I could turn one channel and see some of the greatest accomplishments of human beings at that time, and then turn the channel and see Blacks fighting for their right to vote, or to exist depending depending on what part of the country they were in," Harris told FLORIDA TODAY. "I decided if I didn't see someone like me, I'd be the first."
It would be nearly another decade before African Americans and even women became astronauts.
As for being the first African American to perform a spacewalk, Harris told FLORIDA TODAY that while he had already become an astronaut, being the first in this regard was not even on his mind. "As a mission specialist, an aspiration for me was to do a spacewalk," said Harris.
Going into his second mission, he did not even have a spacewalk assigned until into the mission. Harris was thrilled to not only perform a spacewalk, but helping to set the foundations for the ISS.
"In truth, I didn't know I was the first African American until I got back inside and I got the call from President Clinton," said Harris. "The EVA (spacewalk) didn't scare me as much as 'now I got to talk to the president'," said Harris.
Being an astronaut is not the only thing on Harris' list of accomplishments. He's also served as a research scientist and flight surgeon. According to the Visitor Complex's website, Harris conducted research on how the human body adapts to space, leading to the development of in-flight medical devices which assist astronauts with lengthy trips to space.
Harris also founded the Harris Foundation, which works to ensure students from all backgrounds receive quality education. He also is involved in numerous education initiatives.
As for Whitson, Harris had positive words for her. "I'm really honored to be inducted with her. She is a remarkable person," Harris told the crowd at the Visitor Complex.
Whitson had to miss Saturday's ceremony as she's currently in pre-mission quarantine with her three other crewmates. She's preparing to fly to space for the seventh time. However, a prerecorded video was presented during her recognition, during which Whitson spoke of growing up on a farm in rural Iowa and being inspired by the moon landing.
"Since there were no female astronauts at the time at the lunar landing, I focused my efforts on making enough money for flying lessons," said Whitson.
After graduating with her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, and the space shuttle flying astronauts of all backgrounds, Whitson applied to become a NASA astronaut. It took Whitson four times of applying before she was finally selected in 1996 - yet the wait paid off as she went on to shatter records with NASA and now Axiom Space.
Already, Whitson holds the record for the most time accumulated in space by an American astronaut — 675 days. On June 8, she is set to command the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. Whitson will lift off in a SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
Axiom Space is a private company which has sent three previous multinational missions to the ISS. The company is working to build the space station which will replace NASA's ISS when it retires no earlier than 2030.
Whitson's previous missions include STS-111, Expedition 5, STS-113, Expedition 16, Expedition 50/51/52, and Axiom Mission 2 in 2023. Whitson joined Axiom Space after retiring from NASA in 2018.
According to the Visitor Complex's website, Whitson has served as NASA's Chief of the Astronaut Office, twice as Commander of the ISS, Chair of NASA's Astronaut Selection Board, NASA Operations Branch Chief, NASA Deputy Division Chief for both Medical Sciences and the Astronaut Office, and co-chair of the US/Russian Mission Science Working Group.
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To get named to the Astronaut Hall of Fame, here are the basic requirements the candidates must meet:
Their first flight was at least 15 years before the induction.
The last day eligible for a NASA flight assignment was at least five years before the candidate's nomination.
Candidate must be a U.S. citizen.
The candidate must have served as a NASA-trained space shuttle commander, pilot, mission specialist, International Space Station commander, or flight engineer.
The candidate must have orbited Earth at least once.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [e-mail] or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Two astronauts inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame