A pair of astronauts have been chosen for the 2017 class and now they will be among the greats enshrined at this place known as the cathedral of U.S. space honor: The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

  • Michael Foale, Ellen Ochoa will join Heroes and Legends attraction
  • Foale, Ochoa were both mission specialists on shuttle flights
  • Pair will be inducted into hall of fame at May 19 ceremony

Today veteran shuttle astronauts Dr. Michael Foale and Dr. Ellen Ochoa were selected to join the Heroes and Legends attraction. This was the first induction announcement inside the Heroes and Legends exhibit, which opened last November.

Foale became an astronaut candidate in 1987 and served as a mission specialist on six space shuttle missions. He is the only American to serve both on the Russian Space Station Mir and the International Space Station.

Ochoa is distinguished as the first Hispanic woman in space after becoming an astronaut in 1991 and serving as a mission specialist on four shuttle flights.

“Tremendous contributions to the space program, good team players and people who have worked a lot outreach with students,” said Chairman of the board for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Dan Brandenstein.

Ochoa is currently serving as the director of Johnson Space Center in Houston. Both she and Foale will be inducted at a May 19 ceremony.