Two NASA astronauts enter Hall of Fame

Two NASA astronauts, Dr. Ellen Ochoa and Dr. C. Michael Foale, were inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame May 19.

Dr. C. Michael Foale served on the International Space Station and also on Russia’s Mir spacecraft.

He flew on six space shuttle missions and was part of the crew which repaired the Hubble telescope.

“I returned yesterday from the U.K., because my mom died three weeks ago,” Dr. Foale said during his acceptance speech.

“But the good, the happy part of this,” he continued, “before she died, she knew I was going to be honored here.

“So thank you. really on behalf of my mom and for me for bestowing that to me.”

Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space, flew four shuttle missions. She is currently the director of the Johnson Space Center.

She shared a humorous anecdote.

“I remember that one of the first pieces of advice I got when I joined the astronaut office was, okay don’t worry,” Ochoa said.

“There’s really only two ways to mess up as an astronaut.

“Number 1, failing to follow the procedures exactly as written and Number 2, following the procedures exactly as written.

“I believe I was able to develop the in-depth knowledge and judgment that it was referring to.”