Space Camp® Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

News provided by

Jun 06, 2017, 11:57 ET

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., June 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Space & Rocket Center® is pleased to announce the selection of the 2017 class of the Space Camp® Hall of Fame: NASA astronaut Dr. Serena Aũnón-Chancellor; Dr. Jennifer Heldmann, a NASA research scientist; U.S. Marine Maj. (Ret.) John Hecker; and Dr. Michelle K. Christensen, a propulsion engineer at Blue Origin.

"Each of these individuals built successful careers from a dream they had while they were at Space Camp," Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, said. "The professional accomplishments of this year's inductees and their passion for inspiring the spirit of curiosity and exploration in others are outstanding examples of the achievements of our more than 750,000 alumni. By recognizing and sharing the stories of these four people, we are encouraging Space Camp trainees past and future to follow in their footsteps and to make their own dreams a reality."

The Space Camp Hall of Fame includes graduates and former employees who have distinguished themselves in their respective careers and friends of the Center who have made considerable contributions of personal time, effort or resources to further the goals of the Space Camp programs. Members exhibit leadership among the globe-spanning Space Camp alumni community, providing guidance and encouragement for alumni and continued support of the Space Camp mission.

The 2017 class will be inducted at the Hall of Fame Ceremony and Dinner, on July 14, 2017, at the Rocket Center's Davidson Center for Space Exploration. Charles Bolden, former NASA Administrator, retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. General and former NASA astronaut, will speak.

The induction ceremony is part of the three-day Space Camp SummerFest, a family-friendly event that concludes with a concert in Shuttle Park featuring "Party of the Year," a high-energy band produced by The Black Jacket Symphony.

For more information on the Space Camp SummerFest, visit rocketcenter.com/SummerFest.

Contact: Pat Ammons, [email protected], 256-721-5429.

About U.S. Space & Rocket Center

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is home to Space Camp®, Space Camp® Robotics and Aviation Challenge®, the Apollo 16 capsule, the National Historic Landmark Saturn V rocket and world-class traveling exhibits. USSRC is the Official Visitor Center for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and a showcase for national defense technologies developed at the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal.

To learn more about the exciting programs and activities at the USSRC, go to www.rocketcenter.com.

www.facebook.com/rocketcenterusa

https://www.twitter.com/RocketCenterUSA

SOURCE U.S. Space & Rocket Center