A spacewalker who tied the record for the most space missions, the military's highest ranking astronaut, and a former chief of the NASA astronaut corps will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame this May.
Retired astronauts Franklin Chang-Diaz, Kevin Chilton and Charles Precourt were confirmed as the 2012 honorees by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame's annual selections. The three veteran space shuttle crew members will be added to the 79 astronauts enshrined in the Hall of Fame since 1990, including all of NASA's Mercury, Gemini and Apollo program pioneers.
An induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 5, 2012 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, where the Astronaut Hall of Fame is located.
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation will host a gala in the three astronauts' honor on Friday, May 5, with many of the Hall's earlier inductees expected to attend...
BMckay Member
Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 01-24-2012 06:26 PM
Great choices! Well deserved by these three.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 01-25-2012 10:50 AM
I would like to know who does the voting and how many votes someone needs. I guess I'm comparing it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-25-2012 11:29 AM
Voting members of the selection committee include all living Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees who are willing to participate and a group of non-astronauts who are familiar with NASA's human spaceflight program, including journalists, authors, current or retired NASA and aerospace industry officials, educators and historians.
The committee is overseen by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
To be eligible, an astronaut must have made his or her first flight at least 17 years before the induction year and must be retired at least five years from the NASA astronaut corps. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, NASA-trained, commander, pilot or mission specialist and must have orbited the earth at least once and made significant contributions to the study of space.
posted 01-25-2012 11:36 AM
I guess they don't release the names of those who fell short! They must have waived the requirements for Roger Chaffee.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-25-2012 11:58 AM
quote:Originally posted by Fra Mauro: They must have waived the requirements for Roger Chaffee.
The selection committee and the current set of eligibility rules were put into place after the induction of the Apollo astronauts. The Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts were inducted as a group during ceremonies in 1990 and 1993. The first shuttle astronauts were inducted in 2001.
Tom Member
Posts: 1597 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
posted 01-25-2012 07:30 PM
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation lists the members of the Astronaut Hall of Fame here (the 2012 inductees are still to be added).
Breaking down the inductees by NASA astronaut class:
Group 1: all 7 astronauts
Group 2: all except See
Group 3: all except Williams, Bassett, and Freeman
Group 4: all except Michel
Group 5: all except Bull, Lind and Givens
Group 6: only Allen and Musgrave
Group 7: all except Overmyer and Petersen
Group 8: 15 of 35
Group 9: only Bolden, Blaha, Chang-Diaz, and O'Connor
Group 10: only Wetherbee, Shepherd, Culbertson and Thornton
Group 11: only Cabana
Group 12: only Bowersox and Chilton
Group 13: only Helms and Precourt
Groups 14 through 20: none (yet)
BMckay Member
Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 01-26-2012 06:13 AM
If anyone is interested in going and helping out the ASF by getting a table sponsorship, let me know. I am trying to arrange one. If not, let's see about a cS gathering that weekend. Email me.
irish guy Member
Posts: 287 From: Kerry Ireland Registered: Dec 2001
posted 01-26-2012 06:15 AM
A great weekend with great people, sure would love to travel for the event we will have to wait and see. We have been so lucky to meet many legends on our visits to the event (myself and Siobhan with Al Worden).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-27-2012 11:02 AM
The initial list of Astronaut Hall of Fame past inductees attending this year's gala and ceremony has now been added to Sightings.
(And as the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation notes, "Astronaut attendees are subject to change without notice; responses are still coming in.")
martinbiddulph Member
Posts: 56 From: uk Registered: Nov 2007
posted 01-27-2012 04:29 PM
We will be there again this year.
If you have never been it is a must do if you're a space GEEK!!! Best weekend ever. (Anyone fancy meeting up over the weekend like we did in 2010?)
BMckay Member
Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 02-02-2012 10:14 AM
I am trying to support the ASF by sponsoring a table. If there is anyone who is interested in sitting at a table with an astronaut along with 7 other space geeks and pay extra, please let me know. It is going to cost a lot but it will be worth it.
englau Member
Posts: 110 From: tampa, florida, usa Registered: Mar 2012
posted 04-02-2012 07:35 PM
I will be attending for the first time this year!
Would anyone be able to give me some tips on how to approach astronauts and such during the time when everyone just mills about? What is the general etiquette there?
I'm a bit nervous and already devising a plan on what I want to say to certain people who have been very influential in my life.
Thanks! Can't wait to see everyone!
BMckay Member
Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 04-03-2012 08:06 AM
Just be yourself. Introduce yourself and talk them normally. They are just real people. I try not to interupt there dinner or conversations with others. Most people there enjoy the conversations and meeting people so just go and enjoy the night and teh people you meet.
BMckay Member
Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 04-05-2012 03:12 PM
One month to go. Who is interested in having a cS get together? If interested, I'll try to coordinate one.
Also if anyone is interested in a signed poster, let me know and we can work something out for mine. I don't collect them.
englau Member
Posts: 110 From: tampa, florida, usa Registered: Mar 2012
posted 04-09-2012 09:59 PM
Thanks! Do you try to attend every year? It looks like a very worthwhile event to go to! Who have you met in the past? What were some of your favourite experiences? Yes! Less than a month now... I'm counting down the days.
BMckay Member
Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 04-23-2012 02:36 PM
I hope people are still attending. If interested in a collectSPACE gathering, I think lunch time on Saturday would be a good time. Email me offline to let me know if you are going.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex website has the breakdown of who is appearing and signing on Saturday and Sunday.
BMckay Member
Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 04-30-2012 08:11 AM
So far we have about three of us attending.
Any interest in getting a table at the special lunch? I will check with KSCVC but I do not think you have to pay for the whole package if you already have admission tickets.
Otherwise we can meet at noon in front of Orbit Cafe next to the wall. Then grab some tables at Orbit.
BMckay Member
Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 05-03-2012 07:39 AM
I have decided to go to the special lunch and since it will be less then what is listed cause I already have admission, it should be worth it and fun.
I have heard from about two people so if interested call KSCVC to make reservations.
Otherwise how about 2 p.m. outside of the Orbit Cafe for a cS meet up?
Space Geek FL Member
Posts: 20 From: Inverness, FL, USA Registered: Oct 2011
posted 05-03-2012 04:07 PM
I'll be there as well, don't know if I'll do the lunch yet but I'll be hanging out.
MarylandSpace Member
Posts: 1336 From: Registered: Aug 2002
posted 05-03-2012 11:03 PM
Hope you all have a great induction weekend. I have attended seven and made many great collectSPACE friends.
Carpe Diem!
irish guy Member
Posts: 287 From: Kerry Ireland Registered: Dec 2001
posted 05-04-2012 08:30 AM
Safe travells to everyone and enjoy the weekend. Sad there's no more Shuttles. I remember meeting up with there Brian and Garry.
We hope to be there next year, we have so many great memories from our three visits to the HOF.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame welcomed three new space travelers into its ranks Saturday (May 5), honoring a spacewalker who tied the record for the most space missions, the military's highest ranking astronaut, and a former chief of the NASA astronaut corps.
Franklin Chang Diaz, Kevin Chilton and Charles Precourt, the Hall of Fame's 11th class of space shuttle astronauts and the first to be inducted after the 30 year program had come to its end, were enshrined during a public ceremony held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, which includes the Hall of Fame.
englau Member
Posts: 110 From: tampa, florida, usa Registered: Mar 2012
posted 05-28-2012 04:37 PM
Would anyone be able to tell me where to go to find the photos from the 2012 induction weekend? I know that really wonderful photographer was walking around snapping photographs during that gala and posts them online for purchase. I'd love to find out where to do so!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-28-2012 05:26 PM
The photographer was First Photo Studio of Cocoa Beach. They have yet to post the 2012 Astronaut Hall of Fame photos online, but you may be able to call them for their prints.
englau Member
Posts: 110 From: tampa, florida, usa Registered: Mar 2012
posted 05-31-2012 11:54 PM
The gala photos just went up today for anyone who is interested!
posted 01-24-2012 05:30 PM
advertisement