U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame^®

Join us as we honor the next class of veteran NASA astronauts to be inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame^®.  This year, Roy D. Bridges Jr. and Senator Mark Kelly have been selected to receive one of the highest honors in their industry as each has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in furthering NASA’s mission of exploration and discovery. 

The induction ceremony will be held inside Space Shuttle Atlantis^® at 11:00 AM and viewing is included with admission. Signed posters of the inductees will be available to guests viewing the ceremony, but on a limited supply. Stop by Information (located outside the main entrance) to grab yours! 

2023 Inductees

Astronaut Roy D. Bridges Jr.

• Roy D. Bridges (Major General USAF, ret.) was selected in NASA's 1980 astronaut class.
• In July 1985, he piloted the shuttle Challenger for the eight-day Spacelab 2 mission. The main mission objective for STS-51F was to verify performance of Spacelab systems, determine interface capability of the orbiter, and measure the spacecraft environment.
• Bridges went on to serve as Center Director for NASA's Kennedy Space Center from 1997 - 2003. Between 2003 and 2005, he served as the Center Director of NASA's Langley Research Center.
• Bridges has received the National Nuclear Security Administration's highest honor - the Administrator's Distinguished Service Gold Award - in 2017, as well as NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal, the Presidential Meritorious Executive Award, the Northrop Grumman Award for Excellence, and many military honors.

Senator Mark Kelly

• Mark Kelly (Captain USN, ret.) has served as a U.S. Navy combat pilot, a NASA astronaut, and is now serving as a U.S. Senator for Arizona.
• In 1996, he was selected as an astronaut in the same NASA class as his identical twin brother, Scott. Kelly's first of four trips into space were as pilot of STS-108 in December 2001. He then served as pilot of STS-121 aboard Discovery, the second "Return to Flight" mission. STS-124, also aboard Discovery, in May of 2008 was Kelly's first mission as commander. He retired from NASA in 2011 after commanding space shuttle Endeavour on its final flight, STS-134.
• Kelly has spent more than 50 days in space - traveling over 20 million miles.
• Senator Kelly is the recipient of two Defense Superior Service Medals, Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and multiple Air Medals.

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) participated in creating a venue where space travelers could be remembered – the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Today, the foundation serves as a consultant for the Hall of Fame, which includes conducting the selection process of astronauts for enshrinement by an outside committee. For more information about the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees and process, visit www.AstronautScholarship.org.

While at the visitor complex, be sure to visit the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame located inside Heroes & Legends. There, you will learn about all of the astronauts who belong to this prestigious group through interactive kiosks.