First African American To Walk In Space To Be Inducted Into The Astronaut Hall Of Fame

Dr. Bernard Harris, the first African American to walk in space, will be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 31 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Astronaut Hall of Fame

The Mercury 7 astronauts (the first astronauts selected by NASA) created the Hall of Fame to celebrate and highlight astronauts’ accomplishments. Harris is one of two 2025 inductees, the other being Peggy Whitson.

“What a tremendous honor to induct them into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Harris and Whitson continue to serve as exemplary role models in their post-NASA careers.” Curt Brown, board chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, said in a press release.

“Being inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor, made even more special by the fact that it comes from my peers,” Harris said.

Dr. Bernard Harris’s career

Dr. Bernard Harris was born in Texas but spent most of his childhood in Houston and San Antonio. He earned a bachelor’s in biology from UH in 1978 and eventually went to medical school.

After finishing his residency at the Mayo Clinic and a fellowship at NASA’s Ames Research Center, he joined NASA as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon. Harris was chosen to be in the astronaut training program in 1990 and became an astronaut a year later.

He flew his first mission, STS-55, on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1993, when he organised research and experiments in physical and life sciences. Harris became the first African American to walk in space during his second mission, STS-63, on Space Shuttle Discovery in 1995.

Harris logged a total of 437 hours in space and traveled over 7 million miles. Additionally, several health-related innovations he designed during his time at NASA are still used on spacecraft today.

Life after space

After Harris left NASA, he launched Vesalius Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in new medical technologies and devices used widely by the public. He also focused on philanthropy through The Harris Foundation, a Houston-based nonprofit organization that helps socially and economically disadvantaged students realize their potential and follow their dreams.

Image: University of Houston