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Veteran astronauts Roy Bridges, Mark Kelly to be inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

By Charles Frazier, WFTV.com

Roy Bridges, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly to be inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Roy Bridges, left, and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, right, will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame during a ceremony in May.

By Charles Frazier, WFTV.com

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two veteran astronauts have been chosen to receive one of the industry’s highest honors.

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It was announced Wednesday that Roy Bridges and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly were chosen to be the newest inductees into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, located at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral.

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First selected as an astronaut in 1980, Bridges also went on to serve as Director of Kennedy Space Center from 1997 to 2003.

Senator Mark Kelly was chosen to be an astronaut in 1996 in a class with his identical twin brother, Scott, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame himself in 2020.

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Sen. Kelly’s induction would make him and his brother the first pair of siblings and the first pair of identical twins in the group. He would also become just the second sitting Senator to be inducted after John Glenn’s placement  in 1990.

Curt Brown is the chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which oversees the selection process. He says he’s proud to have Kelly and Bridges join the very exclusive club.

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“This year’s class is another example of excellence from our space program,” Brown said. “The Hall of Fame has inducted 105 individuals with this honor; this year’s nominees are perfect examples of the accomplished individuals who are inducted each year. Both Kelly and Bridges represent the committed spirit of exploration, bravery and teamwork that make our space program a continued success.”

An official ceremony and gala will take place at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on May 6, 2023.

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