Astronaut Class of 1998

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The Picture

First Row (L to R)	Second Row (L to R)	Third Row (L to R)
Bjarni V. Tryggvason (Canadian Space Agency)	Paolo Nespoli (European Space Agency)	Timothy J. Creamer ( LTC , USA )
Douglas H. Wheelock ( LTC , USA )	Roberto Vittori (European Space Agency)	Stanley G. Love, Ph.D.
Gregory H. Johnson (Major, USAF)	Lee J. Archambault (Major, USAF)	Hans Schlegel (European Space Agency)
Patricia C. Robertson, M.D.	William A. Oefelein (LCDR, USN)	John D. Olivas, Ph.D.
Marcos Pontes (Brazilian Space Agency)	Gregory C. Johnson	Leland D. Melvin
Garrett E. Reisman, Ph.D.	Neil W. Woodward I I I (LCDR, USN)	Michael E. Fossum
Barbara R. Morgan	Michael J. Foreman (CDR, USN)	Alan G. Poindexter (LCDR, USN)
Leopold Eyharts (European Space Agency)	Christopher J. Ferguson (CDR, USN)	Gregory E. Chamitoff, Ph.D.
Tracy E. Caldwell, Ph.D.	George D. Zamka (Major, USMC)	Nicholas J.M. Patrick, Ph.D.
Sunita L. Williams (LCDR, USN)	Kenneth T. Ham (LCDR, USN)	Steven R. Swanson, Ph.D.
		Clayton C. Anderson

Astronaut Group XVII ‑ Class Patch

The patch of the Group XVII Astronaut Class of 1998 incorporates a unique four‑sided design representing NASA's four strategic enterprises of Space Science, Earth Science, Human Exploration and Development of Space, and Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology. The sharp apex envelops the gold astronaut symbol representing achievement and NASA's relentless pursuit of the stars. The black field represents the dark vastness of space bounded on the ascending sides with 31 stars representing each member of the class. The lower portion of the design highlights Earth's eastern and western hemispheres with six corresponding flags of the nations represented in the class. Orbiting around Earth is a Space Shuttle docked with the International Space Station destined to be "home away from home" for many members of the class. In the center of the design the Roman numerals XVII I, representing NASA's seventeenth group of astronauts, are encircled with seven stars in tribute to the original seven astronauts and the seven members of the Challenger crew. The class designation is flanked by a full moon and Mars, symbolic of Group XVII's central role in achieving NASA's long‑range goal of exploration of our solar system and beyond.

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