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“All of our spacewalks are created actually for 2 individuals; the system truly isn’t made where it’s simple for 3 individuals,” Akers informed collectSPACE. “That was a distinct circumstance where we could not get the capture bar on the Intelsat VI, and the ground [controllers] and our team created the concept of 3 individuals heading out. With the team effort and excellent ground group assistance, it worked slick.”
Brian Duffy (at right) inducts Tom Akers into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Credit: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Brian Duffy(at right)inducts Tom Akers into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Credit: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Akers and Tanner both carried out spacewalks to fix and update the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), thoroughly controling fragile optical instruments in a carefully restricted location. Tanner likewise assisted put together the big foundation truss and solar varieties wings for the International Space Station( ISS).
“I have actually typically been asked what is the distinction in between ISS and an HST EVA [extravehicular activity]and I believe it’s hands and total physical effort,” stated Tanner. “Manual mastery in your hands was more crucial for HST, and for ISS, you’re carrying around some quite huge, heavy items and steering a long method. That’s the greatest distinction.”
In overall, Akers invested nearly 30 hours of his almost 34 days in area carrying out spacewalks. Tanner logged 43 days, consisting of 46 and a half hours on EVAs.
Signing up with the ranks
Saturday’s event was led by news reporter John Zarella and consisted of remarks by Curt Brown, board chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which handles the candidate and choice procedure each year; Therrin Protze, primary running officer of the visitor complex; and Kelvin Manning, deputy director for NASA’s Kennedy Space.
“Today’s induction of Tom Akers and Joe Tanner honors 2 astronauts whose professions embody quality, management, and service,” stated Brown, who ended up being a NASA astronaut in the exact same class as Akers and flew with Tanner on Atlantis. “Their long lasting contributions to NASA, and their continuous work as teachers and coaches, show the best of the United States area program.”
Joe Tanner(at left )is inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame by his STS-115 pilot Chris Ferguson at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, May 16, 2026.
Credit: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Joe Tanner (at left) is inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame by his STS-115 pilot Chris Ferguson at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, May 16, 2026.
Credit: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
” We’re happy to invite them into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame,” stated Brown, who belongs to the 2013 class.
Brian Duffy, class of 2016, officially inducted Akers, providing him with his Hall of Fame medal. Chris Ferguson, who flew as the pilot of Tanner’s last objective, STS-115, and who was inducted in 2022, honored his previous crewmate. Some 20 veteran NASA astronauts, consisting of 15 other Hall of Fame members, participated in the occasion.
The event likewise consisted of the unveiling of the etched-glass pictures and objective spot screens, which will next hang together with the 111 other comparable plaques representing the conscripts. Established in 1990, the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame has actually been a function of the Heroes & & Legends destination at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex considering that 2016.
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