5/7: Astronaut Hall of Fame 2011 inductions

The public is invited to celebrate the induction of the tenth group of space shuttle astronauts into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Veteran space shuttle astronauts Karol J. “Bo” Bobko and Susan J. Helms will join the ranks of legendary space pioneers like Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Alan Shepard, and Sally Ride. The public ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will be held Saturday, May 7 at 3:00 p.m.

Each inductee brings their own chapter to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. The addition of Bobko, a shuttle commander who flew two orbiters' first flights; and Helms, a spacewalker who set a world record outside the International Space Station, will bring the number of space explorers enshrined in the Hall of Fame to 79. More than 20 Hall of Fame astronauts have accepted invitations to attend the ceremony including Walt Cunningham, Charlie Duke, Al Worden, Robert "Hoot" Gibson and Bob Crippen.

As part of the weekend celebration, astronaut presentations and autograph signings with Hall of Fame astronauts will be held throughout the day on Saturday, May 7. A special Astronaut Encounter presentation with STS-1 space shuttle pilot and Hall of Fame astronaut Bob Crippen will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Astronaut Encounter Theater. This special Astronaut Encounter is included with regular admission. Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke will sign copies of his book, "Moonwalker," at 11:45 a.m., and space shuttle astronauts Joe Allen, STS-5 and STS-51A, and Rick Hauck, STS-7, STS-51A, STS-26, will sign autographs at 1:00 p.m. in The Space Shop at the Visitor Complex.

Induction weekend ticket packages are available for $79 plus tax for adults and $57 plus tax for children 3-11 years and include the following:

Lunch With the Apollo Astronauts: Reflections of 50 Years of Spaceflight, featuring these distinguished Hall of Fame astronauts:
- Walt Cunningham: Apollo 7 Lunar Module Pilot; Hall of Fame class of 1997
- Charlie Duke: Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot; Hall of Fame class of 1997
- Fred Haise: Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot; Hall of Fame class of 1997
- Edgar Mitchell: Apollo 14 Lunar Module Pilot; Hall of Fame class of 1997
- Al Worden: Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot, Hall of Fame class of 1997
Reserved seating at the Induction Ceremony
Commemorative poster of the 2011 Inductees
Two-day admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

Standing-room only viewing of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is included with regular admission or an Annual Pass to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Induction weekend ticket packages are available for purchase by phone at 877-313-2610 or online at KennedySpaceCenter.com.

The 2011 inductees were selected by a committee of current Hall of Fame astronauts, former NASA officials, historians and journalists. The process is administered 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.