Pioneering astronaut, NASA scientist and surgeon Dr. Bernard Harris will be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame later this spring.
A native of Temple, Texas, Harris graduated from the University of Houston in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He matriculated to Texas Tech University for medical school and completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in 1985, followed by a fellowship at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
Dr. Harris joined NASA as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon. He remained with the agency from 1990 to 2010. During his tenure, he became an astronaut and served as a mission specialist on STS-55 in 1993 and the groundbreaking STS-63 flight in 1995 – which made him the first African American to walk in space.
“Space exploration has always been about pushing boundaries, inspiring future generations, and proving that the impossible is achievable,” Dr. Harris said in a news release that announced his upcoming enshrinement. “I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given.”
Harris will be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame alongside former astronaut Peggy Whitson on May 31 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral, FL.