Two space shuttle-era spacewalkers enter Astronaut Hall of Fame
Summary
Tom Akers and Joe Tanner, two astronauts from the space shuttle program, were inducted into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 16, 2026. Both flew four space missions each, including spacewalks to repair the Hubble Space Telescope and work on the International Space Station.Key Facts
- Tom Akers and Joe Tanner were inducted into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame together in 2026.
- They both flew four space shuttle missions but never launched together.
- Akers was part of the only three-person spacewalk in history during a 1992 mission.
- Both astronauts performed spacewalks to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Tanner helped assemble parts of the International Space Station, including solar panels.
- They trained together and were friends outside of work, attending the same church.
- Their induction took place at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.
- Akers began his astronaut career earlier (class of 1987), while Tanner became an astronaut in 1992.
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