Herrington Brings Space Mission Story to Fort Hall Reservation
FORT HALL, Idaho — John B. Herrington, the first citizen of a federally recognized Native American tribe to fly in space, visited the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center on Wednesday, sharing his journey from childhood dreams to the International Space Station with local students and guests.
Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, launched aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in November 2002 for a mission that lasted 13 days and 18 hours. During that time, he completed three spacewalks totaling roughly 20 hours and helped assemble a key structural component on the left side of the International Space Station.
“I went to the space station. I did three spacewalks and helped assemble the first truss on the left side of the space station,” Herrington said during the visit.
Herrington’s path to NASA began with his graduation from Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1984. He joined the Astronaut Corps in April 1996, becoming the first member of a recognized tribal nation to earn that distinction and ultimately fly in space.
Despite the historic achievement, Herrington was candid about the gap between his earliest dreams and reality. As a child, he imagined himself reaching the moon. He acknowledged a sense of envy toward those who made that journey, while expressing deep gratitude for the mission he was given. “I used to sit in a cardboard box and dream I was going to the moon,” he said, adding that he considered himself fortunate to have achieved something he once only imagined.
Students Respond to Message of Possibility
For the Shoshone-Bannock students gathered to hear Herrington speak, the visit carried personal significance. Seeing a Native American achieve success at the highest levels of science and exploration resonated in a way that few classroom lessons can replicate.
Thirteen-year-old Chloe Thomas said the visit gave her a new sense of what was possible. “It inspired me to know that like other natives can get that high up with their careers and do that much stuff,” she said, noting she hadn’t often seen that kind of representation.
Classmate Taetyn Taggart, also 13, said the encounter may have set her own course. “I probably will want to be an astronaut as well, to prove, like, anybody could really do anything — especially natives,” she said.
Herrington’s message to students centered on self-belief and seeking mentors who share your background. “Believe in yourself. If there’s something you want to do, talk to somebody doing it,” he said. He encouraged students with ambitions in aerospace, law, or engineering to connect with people already walking that path — and especially those who come from similar communities.
The Fort Hall stop underscores a broader theme in Herrington’s post-NASA life: using his story as a tool to open doors for Native American youth who may not see themselves reflected in science, technology, or public service careers. His presence on the Fort Hall Reservation, home to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, brought that mission squarely into Southeast Idaho.
Events like Wednesday’s visit are part of an ongoing effort to connect Idaho students with role models in STEM fields. For communities like Fort Hall, where educational and career pathways can feel limited, a face-to-face encounter with someone who broke barriers at a national level carries lasting weight.
Bannock County and the surrounding region have seen a range of community engagement efforts in recent months. Residents in Pocatello recently packed City Hall for a high-profile hearing on a proposed data center development — a reminder that local futures are shaped by decisions made both in council chambers and in school gymnasiums. Read more about that hearing here.
What Comes Next
No additional appearances by Herrington in Idaho were announced following Wednesday’s event. School officials and tribal education programs have not yet confirmed whether the visit will lead to any follow-up programming. Students and families interested in STEM opportunities through tribal education channels are encouraged to contact the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ education department directly for more information on available resources and upcoming programs.