Veteran space shuttle astronauts Shannon Lucid and Jerry Ross have both been selected as inductees for the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. The decision to induct both Lucid and Ross was announced, Feb. 7, at the Kennedy Space Center.
The announcement was made by Dan Brandenstein at the Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction in Florida. Barndenstein, who also happens to be a previous inductee to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, is the chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
Shannon Lucid is a biochemist and former astronaut who previously held the record for the longest continuous stay in space for an American and for a woman. Lucid has flown on five missions to space, including her record setting mission onboard the Russian Mir space station. Jerry Ross is a U.S. Air Force officer who flew a total of seven space shuttle missions. Ross also holds the record for the most number of spaceflights along with fellow astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz. Due to their extensive careers and contribution to spaceflight in general, Lucid and Ross have been selected as this year's inductees to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
The selection process for potential inductees to the Astronaut Hall of Fame involves a blue ribbon committee consisting of a variety of authorities in space flight including journalists and historians as well as former NASA staff members and officials. The committee follows strict criteria when selecting candidates. The requirements for eligibility include being both a NASA-trained commander and an American citizen. Moreover, candidates must have orbited the Earth at least once; and lastly, the candidate's first flight should have occurred 17 years before their nomination.
"Shannon Lucid and Jerry Ross are extraordinary astronauts who made history as very important and frequent crewmembers in shuttle missions," said Brandenstein. "We are looking forward to honoring their accomplishments and sharing their tremendous life stories at the May 3 induction."
Lucid was selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 1978 while Ross was selected in 1980, just 2 years apart. The induction ceremony takes place on May 3. The pair will be part of the thirteenth batch of astronauts to be inducted to the Hall of Fame.
