posted 04-28-2017 10:49 AM               

Astronaut Anna Fisher, first mom in space, retires from NASA after 39 years

The last member of NASA's first group of space shuttle astronauts to still work for the agency has retired after more than three decades of service.

Anna Lee Fisher, who was recruited in 1978 as one of the United States' first six women astronauts and who became the first mother to fly into space, left NASA on Friday (April 28), the space agency announced in a press release.

"We appreciate all of the years that Anna has dedicated to our space program," said Chris Cassidy, chief of NASA's Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Anna, and that first class of astronauts to include women, set the stage for decades of female astronauts after them."

posted 04-29-2017 11:09 AM               

Y'all. My mom retired from @NASA today. She was an astronaut for 39 years!! I'm getting so emotional about it. Just proud to be her daughter.

posted 04-30-2017 10:35 AM               

Your mother is a super woman. She took time to reach out to rookies and to be real. You are blessed and we are both proud! — Dottie Metcalf-Lindenberger

Anna you are such an amazing role model and a trailblazer! — Anousheh Ansari

Proud to work with her for many years, Kristin Fisher... she outlasted us all! — Scott Parazynski

Thank you Anna for your decades of service to our nation and the world! — Ron Garan

It has been an honor and an inspiration to know Anna. Enjoy retirement!! — Karen Nyberg

Congratulations Anna. Godspeed on your next journey. Ad Astra — Leland Melvin

Thanks for your dedicated service Anna Fisher! So proud to have experienced your leadership as my boss! — Clay Anderson

posted 04-30-2017 09:49 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Delta7:
I bet a lot of people don't know that Fox News reporter Kristin Fisher is the daughter of Anna and Bill Fisher, the one born a year before Anna's shuttle flight.

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That I did. What I didn't know was that Anna had another daughter.

posted 10-05-2017 10:37 PM               

Viking Looks to the Stars for Debut of Fifth Ocean Ship

Set to Debut in 2018, NASA Astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher Will be Honored as Godmother to Viking Orion

Viking today announced that American chemist, emergency room physician and recently retired NASA astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher will be honored as godmother to its fifth ocean ship, which will debut in July 2018. The new ship has been named Viking Orion after the prominent constellation and in honor of Dr. Fisher's contributions to NASA's Orion exploration vehicle project. The announcement was first made by Viking Chairman, Torstein Hagen, during a press conference in New York City celebrating the first call in Manhattan for the company's third ship, Viking Sky.

The 930-guest Viking Orion reached a major construction milestone last week, when the ship met water for the first time during her "float out" ceremony at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard. Dr. Fisher attended the September 28 ceremony and assisted with several maritime traditions. Viking Orion will spend her maiden year sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean, before making her way to Asia, Australia and then Alaska.

"Vikings were the original long-distance explorers and the first to use the stars and constellations as a way to navigate uncharted territory," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "The spirit of exploration is at the heart of everything we do, and so I am especially proud that an astronaut will be honored as godmother to our new ship. Dr. Fisher is a past Viking guest, a fellow scientist and a true explorer. As one of the first women in space, she has inspired generations of curious minds, and I look forward to welcoming guests onboard Viking Orion to learn more about her impressive career in space exploration."

"The idea of exploring new territories has always appealed to me, whether through science or by traveling the world. I was 12 years old when I heard Alan Shepard's voice on the radio during his sub orbital flight, and at that moment, I knew that I also wanted to explore beyond earth's atmosphere. I knew from that young age that I wanted to be an astronaut," said Dr. Fisher. "I always wanted to be an explorer and I am proud and honored to be godmother to Viking Orion – a ship that was designed to help her guests see more of the world."

A float out ceremony is significant because it denotes the first time a ship touches water and moves into its final stage of construction. Viking Orion's float out began at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, and in keeping with maritime tradition, Dr. Fisher, as godmother to the ship, assisted with the ceremony, first "mast stepping," by welding coins under the ship mast. The commemorative coins she welded represented her birth year, as well as the birth year of Chairman Hagen. Two special coins were also welded to represent members of the Hagen family: 1911 to represent Ragnhild "Mamsen" Hagen, the mother of Chairman Hagen, and 2012 to represent Finse, the yellow Labrador of Karine Hagen, Viking's senior vice president and daughter of Torstein Hagen. Dr. Fisher then cut a cord to allow water to begin flowing into the ship's building dock. Following a two-day process that set Viking Orion afloat, the ship was then moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.

posted 06-15-2018 09:09 PM               

Viking's Fifth Ocean Ship Named By NASA Astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher In Italy

930-Guest Viking Orion Features New NASA Photo Exhibit and Immersive Exploration Programming

Viking today [June 14] named its fifth ocean ship, Viking Orion during a spectacular celebration in Livorno, Italy. The ship was delivered to Viking last week and is currently sailing a maiden voyage with her ceremonial godmother, American chemist, emergency room physician and retired NASA astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher, along with dozens of Dr. Fisher's friends, family, academics, explorers and fellow astronauts.

Above: Left to right: Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen, Dr. Anna Fisher, retired NASA astronaut and ceremonial godmother to Viking Orion, Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, and Senior Vice President of Viking, Karine Hagen, at the naming ceremony for Viking's fifth ocean ship.

Named after the prominent constellation and in honor of Dr. Fisher's work on NASA's Orion exploration vehicle project, the 930-guest 47,800-ton Viking Orion arrived in Livorno early this morning. The ship will continue her maiden season sailing itineraries in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean this summer before heading east to sail Viking's newest itineraries in Asia, Australia and Alaska.

"Today is a proud day for the entire Viking family. Just three years ago we launched our first ocean ship, and now we are welcoming our fifth ship, whose name was selected to honor both the original Viking explorers who used the constellations for long-distance navigation, as well as the great space explorers of our time," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "We are grateful for Dr. Fisher's many contributions to the scientific community, and we are humbled that she is godmother to Viking Orion. The spirit of exploration is at the heart of the Viking way of travel, and we look forward to welcoming guests onboard our newest ship, which has been designed to offer opportunities for learning about the great history of space exploration."

Following her arrival this morning, Viking Orion was positioned alongside the city's historic Medici-built Fortezza Vecchia (Old Fortress). Livorno is known as a gateway to Tuscany, a region reached by the original Viking explorers. Nearby, Pisa is also known for its native Galileo Galilei – "The Father of Science" – whose gravitational theories and invention of the Galilean telescope have been central to advancements in oceanic navigation. It was at the Fortezza Vecchia that in 1662 students of Galileo held an experiment to test his projectile motion theory.

Livorno – with its Fortezza Vecchia – was chosen specifically for Viking Orion's naming ceremony because of those connections to scientific studies and exploration. During the day today, Viking Orion guests and international dignitaries were treated to an interactive exhibit inside the Fortezza Vecchia that tells the stories of exploration technology throughout history – from the Vikings' solar compass to Galileo's gravitational and projectile motion experiments. The exhibit was designed and built specifically for Viking Orion's naming ceremony.

During the naming ceremony this evening, guests enjoyed a high-tech show and musical concert that paid tribute to Nordic mythology and the spirit of exploration. Legendary British explorer Sir Ranulph "Ran" Fiennes served as the narrator for the event, which also included musical performances from Italian tenor Antonio Corianò, Norwegian bukkehorn musician Sissel Morken Gullord and Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø, who is widely considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos and who will also be godmother to Viking Jupiter®, which debuts in early 2019.

Above: In keeping with naming custom, Dr. Anna Fisher, retired NASA astronaut and ceremonial godmother to Viking Orion, cut a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break on the ship's hull.

Dr. Anna Fisher served as ceremonial godmother and offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for Viking Orion – a naval tradition that dates back thousands of years. In keeping with the naming custom, Dr. Fisher also used an historic Viking broad axe to cut a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break on the ship's hull. The ship was officially blessed by Monsignor Liberio Andreatta. Mons. Liberio Andreatta has led Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, an office of the Vicariate of Rome, an organ of the Holy See, reporting directly to the Cardinal Vicar of the Pope – and is the largest operator of pilgrim travel in the world. Staying true to shipbuilding tradition, Viking Orion has also been blessed by Father Dino Cecconi, the Chaplain of the Port of Ancona, at her float out ceremony in September 2017.

In addition to the naming ceremony, released today was "Finse Explores the Universe," the 14th book in the educational children's book series, "The World of Finse," which showcases the adventures of Viking Senior Vice President Karine Hagen's yellow Labrador, Finse. This newest book was written and published to coincide with the launch of Viking Orion to help inform children of our terrestrial world and beyond –and will be available for purchase on all Viking ships.