Two NASA astronauts have been inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
- Dr. Michael Foale and Dr. Ellen Ochoa were inducted into astronaut hall of fame
- Ceremony was held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
- Total number of honorees is 95
Veteran shuttle astronauts Dr. Michael Foale and Dr. Ellen Ochoa, took center stage at a Friday ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
"It's a great honor for me," said Foale. "My predecessors, my peers, my colleagues are all here today."
"While the spotlight today is on astronauts, we know we are simply the ones who represent everyone in the NASA community who have made NASA's accomplishments possible," Ochoa.
Dr. Michael Foale and Dr. Ellen Ochoa were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on Friday. (Greg Pallone, staff)
Foale, a veteran of six space shuttle missions, is the only astronaut to serve on the International Space Station and the Mir space station.
He logged more than 374 days in space including four space walks totaling 22 hours and 44 minutes.
Ochoa is a four time spaceflight veteran with more than 1,000 hours in orbit. She became the first Hispanic female astronaut to go to space in 1990.
She is currently the 11th director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
"I think it's a challenge for anybody," Ochoa said. "A lot of people want to become astronauts, I feel so fortunate I was selected."
"They are a gaggle of people I really like, and it's just fun," says Foale.
Foale and Ochoa flew together on two separate shuttle missions.
Now they stand together as new members of the hall of fame.
The total number of honorees in the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame now stands at 95.