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Astronaut Scholarship Foundation History

1984
  • The Mercury Seven Foundation (later the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation) is formed by the six surviving original Mercury astronauts and the widow of the seventh, Mrs. Betty Grissom, to foster space science education through scholarship awards. Alan Shepard is elected Chairman and President.
1986
  • The first seven scholarships, each worth $1,000, are awarded. Two went to Georgia Tech, and one each to Miami (Ohio), North Carolina State, Texas A&M, University of Central Florida, and Washington University in St. Louis.
1987
  • The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) hosts its first major fund-raising event in Washington, D.C., honoring the 25th anniversary of John Glenn's flight as the first American to orbit the earth.
  • ASF raises the number of scholarships awarded annually to 10, each worth $3,000. Four schools are added: Harvey Mudd College, Penn State, Purdue, and University of Washington.
  • A partnership is formed between the ASF and the U.S. Space Camp Foundation. The goal is to develop a joint facility housing Space Camp-Florida and an Astronaut Hall of Fame.
1988
  • Space Camp-Florida opens its first season in a temporary facility in Titusville, Florida, hosting 2,500 children the first year.
1989
  • Ground is broken for a permanent facility, located in Titusville just west of the Kennedy Space Center, which will house both Space Camp-Florida and the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  • ASF increases the value of each of its 10 scholarships from $3,000 to $5,000.
1990
  • The 40,000 square foot Space Camp and Astronaut Hall of Fame is completed in March and the Project Mercury astronauts are enshrined in May. In June, the Astronaut Hall of Fame hosts a 15th anniversary reunion for the U.S.-Russian crews of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
  • ASF increases the value of each of its 10 scholarships from $5,000 to $7,500.
1991
  • The Astronaut Hall of Fame hosts the 30th anniversary of American Manned Space Flight, a gala event that includes a live remote broadcast on ABC's Good Morning America.
  • Mercury astronauts attend an ASF fund-raiser dinner in Washington, D.C., commemorating 30th anniversary of Alan Shepard's flight as the first American in space.
1993
  • Thirteen Project Gemini astronauts are enshrined in the Astronaut Hall of Fame following a major renovation of the facility.
1994
  • In June, more than 20 astronauts attend the Astronaut Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
  • ASF adds five schools to its scholarship program, raising the total number to 15 schools and annual funding to $112,500. The new schools are North Carolina A&T, Syracuse, Tufts, Colorado, and Minnesota.
1995
  • The first U.S. flag flown in space, carried by astronaut Alan Shepard on his pioneering Freedom 7 Mercury flight, returns to space aboard NASA's 100th human space flight from KSC, shuttle mission STS-71, commanded by Robert "Hoot" Gibson. When it returns, Gibson and Shepard present the flag to the Astronaut Hall of Fame for display.
1996
  • Ground is broken for major expansion that will double the size of the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
1997
  • The $4 million Astronaut Hall of Fame expansion is dedicated during an enshrinement ceremony for 24 astronauts who flew in Apollo spacecraft, including the Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz missions. The total number of enshrined astronauts reaches 44.
  • "Reaching for the Stars," a mural painted by Apollo astronaut Alan Bean, is unveiled in the rotunda of the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  • Gemini-Apollo astronaut James A. Lovell is elected Chairman and President of ASF, succeeding Alan Shepard.
  • The Apollo 14 Command Module, which carried astronauts Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, and Stuart Roosa to the moon, is placed on loan with the Astronaut Hall of Fame by the Smithsonian Institution.
  • ASF adds North Dakota State and the University of Kentucky to its program and the value of each scholarship is raised from $7,500 to $8,500. The Foundation now awards 17 scholarships annually, for a total of $144,500.
1999
  • In a fund-raiser, John Glenn is toasted and roasted in a Disney World tribute to his two space missions - as first American to orbit the earth in 1962 and for his 1998 space shuttle flight 36 years later, at age 78.
2000
  • The Astronaut Hall of Fame celebrates its 10th anniversary. A heroic size statue of Alan Shepard dedicated in the rotunda of the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  • Apollo 13 astronauts James Lovell and Fred Haise attend an ASF fund-raiser dinner celebrating 30th anniversary of that mission, in Santa Monica, CA. Tom Hanks and other stars of the "Apollo 13" movie also attend.
2001
  • ASF partners with Delaware North Parks Services (DNPS), operators of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, to honor the first four space shuttle astronauts inducted into the Hall, raising the total number of enshrinees to 48. The new inductees are Bob Crippen, Joe Engle, Richard Truly, and Rick Hauck.
2002
  • ASF and DNPS host the "40th Anniversary of Americans in Orbit" honoring John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra and Gordon Cooper at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Over 1,000 people attended this benefit and thousands of dollars were generated for ASF scholarships.
  • The Space Camp Foundation hits hard financial times and closes the doors to both Space Camp and Astronaut Hall of Fame in September.
  • Delaware North Parks Services and NASA acquire the Astronaut Hall of Fame and reopen its doors in December.
  • ASF enters into a new agreement with DNPS to provide for the retention of astronaut artifacts at the Hall of Fame, appearances by astronauts at special events, and the continuation of the annual Astronaut Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
  • ASF hosts the "Apollo 13 IMAX Experience" with Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, and Astronaut Jim Lovell at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The event was the single most successful event in ASF's history.
2003
  • ASF chooses a blue ribbon committee to select the second class of Space Shuttle Astronauts to be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  • ASF and DNPS host "The Right Stuff Gala" at KSC to honor the second class of space shuttle astronauts inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The new inductees are Dan Brandenstein, Hoot Gibson, Story Musgrave, and Sally Ride, raising the total number of astronaut enshrinees to 52.
2004
  • ASF raises the value of each scholarship from $8,500 to $10,000. The Foundation now awards 17 scholarships annually, for a total of $170,000.
  • Skylab/Space Shuttle astronaut Owen Garriott is elected Chairman of ASF, succeeding Jim Lovell.
  • Space Shuttle astronaut Bob Crippen is elected Vice-Chairman of ASF, succeeding Owen Garriott.
  • Linn LeBlanc is elected Executive Director of ASF, succeeding Howard Benedict.
  • ASF chooses a blue ribbon committee to select the third class of Space Shuttle Astronauts to be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  • ASF and DNPS host the "2004 Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Gala" at KSC to honor the third class of space shuttle astronauts inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The new inductees are Richard Covey, Frederick Gregory, Dick Scobee, Kathryn Sullivan, and Norman Thagard. Including this class of inductees, there are now 57 enshrinees in the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
2005
  • ASF announces the addition of the Howard Benedict Memorial Scholarship in honor of the Foundation's long-serving Executive Director. ASF adds the University of Oklahoma to its scholarship program. The Foundation now awards 18 $10,000 scholarships annually, for a total of $180,000.
  • Apollo astronaut Al Worden is elected Chairman of ASF, succeeding Owen Garriott.
  • Space Shuttle astronaut Bob Crippen is re-elected Vice-Chairman of ASF.
  • ASF chooses a blue ribbon committee to select the fourth class of Space Shuttle Astronauts to be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  • ASF hosts the "2005 Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Gala" at KSC to honor the fourth class of space shuttle astronauts inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The new inductees are Joseph Allen, Gordon Fullerton, and Bruce McCandless. With this new class, there are now 60 astronauts enshrined in the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
2006
  • ASF chooses a blue ribbon committee to select the fifth class of Space Shuttle Astronauts to be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  • ASF hosts the "2006 Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Gala" at KSC to honor the fifth class of space shuttle astronauts inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The new inductees are Charles Bolden, Henry Hartsfield, and Brewster Shaw. With this new class, there are now 63 astronauts enshrined in the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
2007
  • ASF adds the University of Michigan to its scholarship program. The Foundation now awards 19 $10,000 scholarships annually, for a total of $190,000.
  • ASF chooses a blue ribbon committee to select the sixth class of Space Shuttle Astronauts to be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  • ASF hosts the "2007 Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Gala" at KSC to honor the sixth class of space shuttle astronauts inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The new inductees are Michael Coats, Steven Hawley, and Jeffrey Hoffman. With this new class, there are now 66 astronauts enshrined in the Astronaut Hall of Fame.