‘Heroism, commitment and bravery:’ Meet the newest inductees to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Three veteran astronauts have been chosen to receive one of their profession’s top honors.

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David Leestma, Sandy Magnus, and Chris Ferguson will be inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in June, joining only 101 others to have received the honor in more than 30 years.

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The three astronauts will be inducted during an official ceremony and gala at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on June 11.

All three inductees are described as having “distinguished careers, centered around their love of space and science.”

Capt. Leestma was chosen to be an astronaut in 1980 and would go on to fly three space shuttle missions, performing a wide variety of mission tasks

During his tenure as the Director of NASA Flight Crew Operations, he oversaw 41 more successful space shuttle flights. Leestma went on to served in a number of senior executive positions at NASA until he retired in 2014 after 35 years.

Dr. Sandra “Sandy” Magnus was selected to NASA’s Astronaut Corps in April of 1996. Magnus flew shuttle missions to space in 2002 and in 2011.

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Magnus would go on to serve at NASA headquarters in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and has worked extensively with international space agencies. Magnus is a member of NASA”s Aerospace Advisory panel and President of the Board of AstraFemina, a non-profit organization dedicated inspiring girls to pursue STEM careers by connecting them with women in STEM role models.

Retired U.S. navy Captain and former NASA astronaut Capt. Chris Ferguson piloted one shuttle mission and was the commander on two others.

Capt. Ferguson ash logged more than 40 days in space and 5,700 hours in high-performance aircraft. Ferguson currently works as the flight crew representative for Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program where he ensures their CST-100 Starliner spacecraft and training systems meet the needs of NASA’s astronauts.

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame was founded more than 30 years ago by the surviving Mercury 7 astronauts.

A new Astronaut Hall of Fame opened at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in 2016 as part of the “Heroes & Legends” attraction.

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Hall of fame inductees are selected by a committee of Hall of Fame astronauts, former NASA officials, flight directors, space historians and journalists.

For full bios on the inductees and more information on the ceremony, click here.

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