Alamogordo’s New Mexico Museum of Space History to Induct Five Space Pioneers During 50th Anniversary Celebration

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — The International Space Hall of Fame Foundation has selected five trailblazing space pioneers for induction into the International Space Hall of Fame at the New Mexico Museum of Space History this fall. The announcement, released Monday, April 6, 2026, highlights the museum’s deep roots in Alamogordo and southern New Mexico’s historic role in America’s space program.

The inductees, chosen from 45 nominees submitted from across the country, are:

• The Mercury 13, a group of 13 courageous American women who underwent the same rigorous testing as NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts in 1959–1960.

• Swiss astrophysicist Michel Mayor, co-winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star.

• NASA astronauts and identical twins Senator Mark Kelly and Scott Kelly, whose landmark Twins Study advanced understanding of long-duration spaceflight.

• NASA mathematician Creola Katherine Johnson, whose precise calculations helped launch America’s crewed space missions.

• Dolores “Dee” O’Hara, the first aerospace nurse assigned to NASA’s Mercury astronauts and a pioneer in space medicine.

The Governor’s Commission to the New Mexico Museum of Space History officially confirmed the selections on February 27, 2026. The formal induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as the highlight of the museum’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

Museum Executive Director Karen Kincaid Brady emphasized the significance of the event for Alamogordo and New Mexico.

“As we celebrate our country’s 250th Anniversary and the Museum’s 50th anniversary, we felt it was important to showcase how our state has and continues to support the space program,” Brady said. “Few people realize that southern New Mexico hosts White Sands Missile Range, the birthplace of America’s space and missile program, and one of the reasons the Museum is here today.”

The International Space Hall of Fame is a cornerstone of the New Mexico Museum of Space History, honoring individuals and teams worldwide who have advanced humanity’s quest to explore space. Since opening in 1976, the museum has inducted 174 individuals and one team.

The Induction Committee was co-chaired by Cathy Harper, ISHFF Operations Manager, and Brianna Buller, NMMSH Curator. Other members included Karen Kincaid Brady, educators Llirmarie De Leon and Mackette Kark, April James, ISHFF Board Chairman Cliff Hudson, Board Member Joan Griggs, and Governor’s Commission member Don Elder.

Joan Griggs described the difficult but rewarding selection process: “Selecting just five people from the list of impressive and highly qualified individuals was a daunting challenge. I was excited and honored to be a part of such an important process.”

Cliff Hudson, ISHFF Board Chairman, reflected on the long-standing partnership between the Foundation and the Museum: “Fifty years ago, our two organizations came together to open the doors of the Museum and induct some of the most important names in the space field — individuals like Yuri Gagarin, Robert Goddard, William Lovelace, and Max Valier. This October we will honor another group of outstanding individuals and celebrate five decades of the ‘jewel of Alamogordo’ — the New Mexico Museum of Space History.”

Who Are the 2026 Inductees?

The Mercury 13 — Jerrie Cobb, Myrtle Cagle, Janey Hart, Rhea Hurrle Woltman, Jean Hixson, Irene Leverton, Sarah Gorelick Ratley, Jerri Sloan Truhill, Bernice Steadman, Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen, Wally Funk, Geraldyn “Jill” Carpenter, and Marion Dietrich — were skilled pilots who proved women could handle the physical and psychological demands of spaceflight. Although politics prevented them from joining the astronaut corps at the time, their efforts paved the way for future generations. Wally Funk became the only member to fly in space, riding Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket in 2021 at age 82.

Michel Mayor, professor emeritus at the University of Geneva, revolutionized astronomy by discovering 51 Pegasi b — the first confirmed planet outside our solar system orbiting a star like our Sun. His work opened the door to thousands of exoplanet discoveries and deepened our understanding of the cosmos.

Mark and Scott Kelly participated in NASA’s Twins Study, comparing the effects of nearly a year in space on Scott with his identical twin Mark on Earth. The research provides critical insights into how the human body adapts to microgravity, radiation, and isolation — information vital for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Creola Katherine Johnson, famously portrayed in Hidden Figures, performed complex manual calculations of launch windows, trajectories, and return paths for Project Mercury, Apollo lunar landings, and the Space Shuttle. Her work at NASA spanned 33 years and helped break barriers for African-American women in science and engineering.

Dolores “Dee” O’Hara, RN, became the first nurse dedicated to America’s astronauts in 1959. She cared for the Mercury Seven and their families, supported every major launch through the Apollo era, and conducted groundbreaking bed-rest studies that helped scientists understand the effects of spaceflight on the human body. She continued her work through Skylab, the Apollo-Soyuz mission, and the first Space Shuttle flight.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is a Smithsonian Affiliate and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The International Space Hall of Fame Foundation, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides vital philanthropic support for the museum’s programs and exhibits.

The October 3, 2026, induction ceremony and gala will be a major community event for Alamogordo, celebrating both the museum’s golden anniversary and southern New Mexico’s enduring connection to the U.S. space program.

For more information about the inductees, the ceremony, or the 50th Anniversary events, visit spacehalloffame.org or nmspacemuseum.org, or email info@spacehalloffame.org.

Article prepared for KALHRadio.org,  AlamogordoTownNews.org and 2nd Life Media licensed brands 

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