The 2024 U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Gala Featuring Space Rendezvous
Space Geeks Gathering for Good
Exploring the intersection of spaceflight history, pop culture, and space art.
This edition of Creating Space covers the 2024 Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame celebration at which I was a participant in the space art show.
Are you new to Creating Space? It’s the NERDSletter that explores the intersection of spaceflight history, pop culture, and space art. You can find this and all other posts at creating-space.art.
Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Weekend
My wife and I had a fantastic time at the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame celebration events which ran from May 30 through June 1, 2024. The event’s official title was “U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Gala Featuring Space Rendezvous 2024”. The lengthy title was well deserved. The three days were packed full of great talks, tours, and “table-centered” events (signings, meals, gala) – enough to satisfy even the most die-hard Space Geeks.
The events were organized by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), a non-profit organization, celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year, that provides scholarships to the brightest and most talented college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.1 I am proud to be able to support the ASF in their educational mission. A portion of my sales proceeds go directly to the ASF organization.
The ASF was created in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts (Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton); Betty Grissom (widow of the seventh astronaut, Virgil “Gus” Grissom); William Douglas, M.D. (The Project Mercury flight surgeon); and Henri Landwirth (Orlando businessman and friend). Their mission was to ensure the United States would be the global leader in technology for decades to come.2
In addition to setting up the scholarship program, the Mercury 7 astronauts envisioned a place where the accomplishments of astronauts could be celebrated and showcased to the public. This vision led to the creation of the U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® in 1990, with the members of the Mercury 7 inducted as the inaugural class. Every year, a new class of astronauts who have pushed the boundaries of space exploration take their place in the Hall and are honored at the U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Gala.3
This year, in conjunction with the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation hosted its Space Rendezvous which included astronaut talks, panel discussions, parties and receptions in celebration of all things space exploration, capping the three days off with a fundraising gala dinner at the Kennedy Space Center’s Saturn V Center. This year the ASF also reprised the Space Art show which I was very happy to be a part of for the second year.
Day One – A Super(nova) Experience
The first day of the celebratory long weekend was set aside for holders of the top-tier “Supernova” ticket. About thirty people enjoyed the activities of that day. Beginning with registration, we picked up our gift bags which included Girl Scout cookies and tchotchkes plus what I am obligated to say is the best item – a complementary promotional card adorned with one of twelve selected works of space-inspired art from yours truly.
After registering, we took the opportunity to meet the first of many astronauts at the event, Joan Higginbotham, who flew on STS-116 as a mission specialist in 2006. She signed copies of her official NASA portrait and stood for photos with each of us. She then gave an engaging talk about her astronaut career during a nice brunch. Before her talk began, Joan mentioned to me that she was currently working as a consultant on Blue Origin’s lunar lander intended for use in the Artemis program. As someone keenly interested in the development of the Apollo lunar lander, it was great to talk with someone involved in current efforts to return people to the Moon.
At the conclusion of the brunch, it was revealed to us that the special VIP event – which had been kept a secret until that time – would be a tour of the SpaceX “HangarX” where Falcon rockets are refurbished for reuse. I was hoping to see some space hardware on this trip, so this was very welcome news.
I will leave the details of the SpaceX field trip for a future post. For now, I will simply say it was an amazing experience to see those rockets up close and to learn about how they have turned old, conventional ideas about space operations on their heads.
Days Two and Three – More Talks, the Art Show, and a Gala
Day two kicked off with a series of talks and panel discussion with astronauts and some of the scholarship recipients. I attended a talk by astronaut Andy Allen who shared stories about his Space Shuttle career. An interesting take-away from his talk – he, like a number of other astronauts I would later learn, is an introvert. Who knew? Apparently, what we used to refer to as the “right stuff” has been replaced by the “bright stuff”. The qualification to become an astronaut went from being flight test jockeys in the 1960s, with their macho individualistic daredevil attitudes, to brainiacs with mile-long resumes who have the now-necessary trait of being able to play well with others.
Andy’s talk was followed by a panel discussion led by Bob Cabana with Rick Mastracchio, Nicole Stott, and Shane Kimbrough. Between the three panelists and the moderator, they had flown on the Space Shuttle, Soyuz, and Crew Dragon spacecraft, as well as the International Space Station. I was impressed by the rapport between all four of these astronauts – having never flown together on the same mission, but seemed like they would get along perfectly as crewmates if they ever had the opportunity to fly with one another. Again, the “plays well with others” trait of today’s astronauts was on exhibit.
The ASF was very kind to provide event attendees a copy of Tom Jones’ book, ‘Space Shuttle Stories’, along with a chance to meet the astronaut/author and have the book signed. In the book – which is full of beautiful photographs – Tom has collected personal recollections from astronauts who flew on each of the one-hundred-thirty-five Space Shuttle missions over its 30-year service life. It seems to me that this book takes its place alongside Andrew Chaikin’s ‘A Man on the Moon’, a collection of first-hand interviews with Apollo astronauts, as a historical first-person account of the Space Shuttle program. I am looking forward to exploring the book further.
(I know you are itching to see the Friday afternoon art show. Don’t worry, it’s coming up soon.)
Skipping ahead to day three, Saturday’s schedule offered two consecutive events at the Saturn V Center. The U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction ceremony was held in the first part of the day. Astronauts Dave Hilmers and Marsha Ivins were the honored inductees for 2024.
Saturday evening’s gala reception and dinner was held at the Saturn V Center, so we boarded the bus once more. On the way to the space center, we had a chance encounter with one of the Falcon 9 first stages that we saw on Thursday, on its way to the launch pad.
After arriving at the Saturn V Center, we had a chance to mingle and meet people before taking our seats at the tables underneath the enormous Saturn V. There is indeed something awe-inspiring about having a massive rocket booster hanging just a few feet above you. Back in 2018 I had a similar experience at the Constellation Foundation’s event in the Atlantis pavilion. Every so often, I found myself looking up from my plate, leaning my head back with my mouth agape at the impressive spacecraft above.
For this event, our table was positioned underneath the American flag painted on the side of the Saturn V’s first stage. As the national anthem was performed, I found myself looking at the flag on the rocket rather than the one held aloft by the honor guard. Unexpectedly, a wave of pride in the country I call home washed over me as I thought about where I was at that moment. Not far from where I was standing, about three miles to the east, mankind left Earth from Launch Complex 39 and journeyed over a quarter of a million miles (approx. 385,000 km) away to land on the Moon.
To me, the Apollo program was the pinnacle of America’s achievement. Collectively, companies specializing in a wide range of industries, together with scientists at universities across the country, came together with NASA to meet the previously thought impossible goal of sending people to the Moon and back.
Although there were no Apollo astronauts at this event, the astronauts that were present, many if not all Hall of Fame inductees themselves, like their predecessors, chose a profession that not only allowed them to achieved great things, but they inspired countless people, like me, to pursue our passions.
Art News
Friday afternoon was the part of the ASF weekend that I was most looking forward to – the space art show! I had the very special privilege of exhibiting my space-inspired artwork along with notable space artists Chris Calle, Lee Wilson, and astronaut/artist Nicole Stott.
I participated in my first ASF space art show in 2018 in Houston, Texas. I was proud to exhibit my artwork alongside Chris Calle and Michelle Rouch. I took only six images with me to display in Houston. This time, the venue was in Cocoa Beach, Florida at the oceanfront Hilton hotel, and I brought eleven different prints – the majority of which were new pieces that I created over the past several years. Again, I was thrilled to be co-exhibiting my artwork with Chris Calle, as well as with Lee Wilson and Nicole Stott. All three have been regular participants, with me and many other space artists, in past Spacefest art shows in Arizona.
The two-hour long ASF art exhibition and reception was certainly a big highlight of the trip for me. This was the first time I had exhibited my artwork at such an astronaut event since before the COVID-19 pandemic when I displayed my work at Spacefest X in 2019. It felt very good to be out in the world, again, and to be able to share my artwork with people.
The event was well attended by space enthusiasts and many former astronauts. I had the honor of meeting, for the first time, Robert Crippen. I asked Robert if he had any insights into what was like to wait several years for a flight, given the similar delays between his 1981 STS-1 Space Shuttle flight and those of Artemis II and the Starliner. He said he appreciated the extra training time.
I also met George “Pinky” Nelson for the first time and had a very enjoyable time talking with him. He shared his experience attempting to capture the Solar Max satellite using the Manned Maneuvering Unit in 1984.
I was able to reconnect with Bonnie Dunbar whom I had met on a few previous occasions. She has been working on projects focused on making better space suits for astronauts of the future.
In addition to the astronauts, I reacquainted myself with two “children of Apollo”, Rosemary Roosa and Rick Armstrong.
Normally, at group art shows, I look forward to getting together with all the artists for a photograph. This time, with all the other activity going on, it slipped my mind. Even after the event, we were not able to get the four artists together in the same place at the same time. However, I was able to capture selfies with each one separately at different times during the weekend.
Certainly, one of the high points of the show for me was selling a print of ‘Join the Crew of Spaceship Earth’ to Nicole Stott. It was especially gratifying that she chose that image, in particular. I had her and her message in mind when creating the piece. That message being that we need to behave more like responsible and cooperative crewmates on Spaceship Earth rather than mere passive passengers.
This now makes three astronauts who have been kind enough to purchase my artwork.
If you would like your own print of ‘Join the Crew of Spaceship Earth’, or any other space-inspired artwork I have created, please continue reading.
Supporting STEAM in the Ultimate Space Place
Attending the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s three-day event was not only a great experience for my wife and I, but it gave me an appreciation for what a fantastic organization they are running. That really should come as no surprise because the management team they have assembled and continuously nurture is made up of those high-performing astronauts I mentioned earlier. They also enlist what they call their “family” of past scholarship recipients to help facilitate. We had the honor of meeting some of them and we can say without hesitation that they are both brilliant and accomplished, themselves.
“When it comes down to it, the Mercury Seven Foundation may be our greatest legacy.”
– Mercury 7 Astronaut Wally Schirra, ASF Founder
One of the hallmarks of my space-inspired art business is giving back to society by donating a portion of my sales to educational organizations that support pursuits in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, the so-called STEAM fields. It is my pleasure to be able to help the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation in this way. The ASF organization has done superb work over the past forty years. I look forward to being able to participate in their events again in the future.
Merch of the Month
Join the Crew of Spaceship Earth Giclée Print
The call has been made – Join the Crew of Spaceship Earth! This art deco style piece invites us to take an active role in taking care of our spaceship we call Earth. It calls us to step up and take responsibility for preserving, for our very survival, the life sustaining environment and resources upon which all life on this planet depends.
About Giclée Prints
Open edition giclée prints of select images are custom ordered for you by the artist. Open editions are an affordable way to enjoy uniquely styled art while giving you the option of enhancing the look of your home with your own display frame. Made with high-quality archival inks on fine art papers.
Prints of select images are custom ordered for you by the artist. Professionally produced by a leading photographic printing lab in the United States. Framing suggestions and room decorations are not included.
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS WITHIN THE U.S. (Excluding Zazzle products.)
(NOTE: I currently ship exclusively to the U.S.)
SOCIAL IMPACT
Your purchase from Pixel Planet Pictures helps support and promote space-related STEAM organizations and initiatives that enable and inspire students and youth to learn, develop, and pursue passions in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Don’t forget to use your discount code, below, for 15% off. See below.
A special offer for readers of Creating Space ...
As a special thank-you for reading Creating Space, I am offering a discount on my artwork.
If you would like to support the mission of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation while saving some cash for yourself, consider making a purchase from my Pixel Planet Pictures shop using the special discount code, ASF15%. Using this code will save you 15% off your entire order while directing a portion of the proceeds toward the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
My space-inspired art portfolio can be found at pixel-planet-pictures.com. You can also follow me on Instagram (pixelplanetpics).
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All images and text copyright © Dave Ginsberg, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
About ASF
U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation
Sounds like an amazing time! Did ASF provide you full access because of your being a featured artist? (BTW Super jealous and eager to see pics of Hanger X.)