A Start Is Waiting For Two Space Veterinarians That Are Added To The Astronaut Hall Of Fame

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A black man in a blue suit who wears a medal poses with a badge that shows him and his astronaut mission stains. Behind him is a video screen that shows the same with a woman. — 2025 US Astronaut Hall of Fame-Re-delivered Bernard Harris (left) and Peggy Whitson (via a recorded video) during their induction ceremony in the Kennedy Space Center visitor complex in Florida on May 31, 2025. | Credit: Kennedy Space Center visitor complex

The US Astronaut -Hall of Fame took off its annual introductory ceremony on Saturday (May 31), but one of the two award winners of this year could not participate for a reason that is unique for all past comparisons.

Bernard Harris, the first black astronaut that carried out a space walk, entered the stage, received its induction medal and revealed the badge that will represent him in the Hall of Fame in the Kennedy Space Center complex of NASA in Florida. His colleague in 2025, Peggy Whitson, would have done the same, but was not available because she had to be in quarantine before her upcoming fifth start.

Like Harris, Whitson has retired from NASA, but has been working for Axiom Space since 2018, a space service based in Houston. She led the company’s second mission to the international space station in 2023 and will now lead its fourth, AX-4 and start as soon as the second week of this month.

Three men and women pose with a badge that bears the similarity of the woman while all four fingers hold up — At a private event that took place before the quarantine, Peggy Whitson and her AX 4 crewmates pose with their Astronaut Hall of Fame Plaque. | Credit: Kennedy Space Center visitor complex

Like the already exhibiting exhibitions of the 109 astronauts, Harris’ backlit badge contained his portrait in glass, its name, his year of its induction and his pictures of his mission spots. Harris carried out his historical Eva or extrave -hikular activity in 1995 on the second of his two Space Shuttle flights.

“In truth, I didn’t know that I was the first African American until I got back in and I got the call that President Clinton wanted to speak to me,” said Harris, according to Orlando Sentinel. “I somehow went like ‘what for?'”

Whitson is the very first astronaut that was included in the Hall of Fame, while he is still in the middle of the mission and only the second induction at the time or after anchoring. (Michael Lopez-Alegria, who also works for Axiom Space, was the first since 2021. Mercury Astronaut John Glenn, who was in the first class of induction in 1990, flew into space in 1998 as a space shuttle protection specialist in 1998.))

Not that you would know by watching the patches in Whitsons Hall of Fame badge. Your upcoming Axiom Space-4 (AX-4) emblem, like your former commercial flight (AX-2), is missing. Based on the authorization requirements of the Hall, the honor is only open to the occupation members trained by NASA, which apparently also extends to the missions on the exhibition of the astronaut.

Whitson saw her badge during a private visit to the visitor complex with her three AX 4 crew members in front of your entry complex.

Before flying to Axiom, Whitson set the record for the most cumulative time in space by an American, 665 days, as well as the global record for most of the planet by a woman. These records have only grown when it continues to fly. (Your total time is currently 675 days.)

“Harris and Whitson really represent the courage, the adventurous spirit and the commitment to exploration that are of crucial importance for success in the space program,” said Curt Brown, chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which manages the Hall selection process. “With their remarkable achievements and contributions in the field, it is only appropriate to welcome them in the USAastronaut -hall of Fame in the Kennedy Space Center visitor complex, where they join the legacy of the Space Trailblazers to get this prestigious honor.”

Two men in dark color suits meet on stage, where you represent another medal to another — In 2014, the introductory Jerry Ross will present his STS 55 crew Bernard Harris with an Astronaut Hall of Fame Medal while Harris’ induction ceremony on May 31, 2025 in Kennedy Space Center Visitor complex. | | Credit: Kennedy Space Center visitor complex

In addition to Brown and Harris, the ceremony on Saturday also contained comments by Glief Operating Officer of the visitor complex, and Kelvin Manning, incumbent director of the Kennedy Space Center. Harris was welcomed in the hall and presented his induction medal in the induced Jerry Ross, who flew on the STS-55, Harris’ first space flight in 1993.

Kent Rominger, who entered the hall in 2015 and, as WHITSON served as the head of the Astronaut office, officially introduced the veterans -space Shuttle and Space Station Astronaut in her absence.

“Please know that my heart is with you,” said Whitson in a pre -drawn message, which was played on Saturday, according to Orlando Sentinel. “It is a privilege to be part of such a respected group of people who have devoted their lives of researching the unknown.”