A material made to provide thermal protection to a body travelling at hypersonic speed in a planetary atmosphere. Some re-entry vehicles have ablating materials on their surface, which blocks transfer of heat to the rest of the vehicle and helps maintain acceptable temperatures of the vehicle's structure and interior.
DEF:
NONE
ABORT
Procedures to cut short or break off an action. The Space Shuttle system has four basic abort modes: 1) Return to Launch Site 2) Abort-Once-Around 3) Abort To Orbit and 4) Abort From Orbit.
DEF:
NONE
ADAPTER SKIRT
An extension or flange of a launch vehicle stage or section that provides a way of fitting on another stage or section.
DEF:
NONE
AEROBALLISTICS
Study of the interaction of vehicles or high-velocity projectiles with the atmosphere. As the Space Shuttle re-enters the atmosphere, the problem of the effect on its trajectory is a problem in aeroballistics.
DEF:
NONE
AERODYNAMICS
Study of the motion of gases (air in particular) and of the forces acting on solid bodies when they move through those gases, or when the gases move around, or up against the solid bodies.
DEF:
NONE
AFTERBODY
A companion body that follows a satellite or space vehicle. Also, a section of a launch vehicle, rocket or missile that enters the atmosphere behind another part that is protected for atmospheric entry.
DEF:
NONE
AFTERBURNER
A device that increases the thrust of a jet engine by burning additional fuel in the uncombined oxygen which is present in turbine exhaust gases.
DEF:
NONE
AIRLOCK
1. A small chamber that allows for passage between two places of differing pressure (such as between the cabin of a spacecraft and outer space). 2. A compartment that may be depressurized without depressurizing the Orbiter cabin or Spacelab module.
DEF:
NONE
AIRSPACE
A specific portion of the atmosphere, above a particular portion of the Earth. It is usually defined by the boundaries of an area on the surface projected upward.
DEF:
NONE
APOGEE
The point farthest from the Earth in a geocentric orbit. At apogee, the orbiting body's velocity is at a minimum. In order to enlarge the orbit, or make it circular, a spacecraft's thruster is turned on at apogee to give the vehicle and its payload increased velocity. Apogee is the opposite of perigee.
DEF:
NONE
ALSEP
APOLLO LUNAR SURFACE EXPERIMENTS PACKAGE (abbr. ALSEP). Experiments and scientific materials left on the Moon by the Apollo astronauts for the purpose of transmitting data back to Earth
DEF:
NONE
APOLLO PROJECT
A NASA project, initiated in 1961, to put man on the Moon before the end of the decade. By the completion of the project in 1973, 12 astronauts had landed and explored the Moon's surface during six missions. Experiments performed during the Apollo program included cosmic-ray and neutron detection, magnetometry, laser ranging, solar wind and lunar atmosphere probing.
DEF:
NONE
APOLLO-SOYUZ TEST PROJECT
A joint U.S.-Soviet space mission in July, 1975, that centered on the docking of Apollo 18 and Soyuz 19 spacecrafts. As a result of this project a standard docking system for possible space rescue was developed.
DEF:
NONE
APPROACH
The maneuvers of a space vehicle from a stationkeeping (predetermined orbit) position toward an orbiting payload for the purpose of capture.
DEF:
NONE
APPROACH AND LANDING TEST (s) (ALT)
A 9-month long Space Shuttle test program that was conducted at the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California in 1977. The Orbiter was carried into the air by a modified 747 jet, which was known as the SCA (Shuttle Carrier Aircraft). There was a total of 13 flights in the ALT program, with various tests of both manned and unmanned captive flights. Tests were performed to determine structural loads and responses to ground-handling and control characteristics up to flight takeoff speed. The manned flights evaluated all systems in the flight environment in preparation for the Orbiter free flights. Free flights then verified pilot-guided approach and landing capabilities of the Orbiter.
DEF:
NONE
ARIANE
A three-stage launch vehicle designed by the European Space Agency to give Europe and independent launching capabilities for its own satellites (which were previously launched by NASA).
DEF:
NONE
ATLANTIS
The Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle (OV) 104.
DEF:
NONE
ATLAS
A group of launch vehicles used as primary intermediate boosters. They were used as launch vehicles in a variety of programs including Mercury and Ranger. There are three mainstage liquid propellant rocket engines and two small vernier engines on Atlas boosters. The engines are all ignited on the ground and brought up to approximately full thrust before space vehicle launch. The thrust of an Atlas is approximately 1,921,550 new tons at sea level, and it can lift a selection of payloads up to about 5440 kg. (12,000 lb.) into low Earth orbit.
DEF:
NONE
ATLAS-CENTAUR CLASS
Payloads weighing approx. 4000 lb. to 4400 lb. (1800 kg to 2000 kg.)
DEF:
NONE
ATMOSPHERE
1. The gases, suspended solid, and liquid materials that are bound by gravity to a region around a planet or satellite. 2. The breathable environment inside a spacecraft, space capsule or space station.
DEF:
NONE
ATTITUDE
The position or orientation of a vehicle while either in motion or at rest, determined by the relationship between its axes and a reference line, plane (such as the horizon) or a fixed system of reference axes.
DEF:
NONE
AUTOMATED PAYLOADS
Payloads supported by an unmanned spacecraft that operates independently of the Space Shuttle. Automated payloads are detached during the operational phase of the Orbiter flights.
DEF:
NONE
BALLISTIC MISSILE
A missile that is propelled and guided only during the initial phase of its flight. During the portion of its flight that is non-powered and non-guided, it describes a path similar to that of an artillery shell and essentially operates in accordance with the laws of ballistics (free to move, behave and be modified by ambient conditions, substances or forces such as gases or temperature).
DEF:
NONE
BALLOON-TYPE ROCKET
A liquid-fuel rocket (like the Atlas), that requires the pressure of its own propellants (or other gases) to give it structural integrity.
DEF:
NONE
BARBECUE MODE
A rolling maneuver of the Space Shuttle Orbiter to help equalize the external temperature of the spacecraft.
DEF:
NONE
BERTHING
A process that uses the remote manipulator system to carefully bring together an orbital element and the Orbiter Vehicle, that is, the positioning of a payload on the repair/maintenance support fixture in the cargo bay.
DEF:
NONE
BIOPAK
A container that supports a living organism in a habitable environment for biological tests during space flight.
DEF:
NONE
BIOPROPELLANT
A rocket propellant that consists of two unmixed or uncombined chemicals (fuel and oxidizer) and is fed to combustion chamber separately.
DEF:
NONE
BLOCKHOUSE
A structure made of reinforced concrete, often built underground or party underground, to provide protection against blast, heat or explosions during rocket launchings or similar activity.
DEF:
NONE
BOATTAIL
The back (rear or aft) end of rocket that contains the propulsion system and its interface with vehicle tankage.
DEF:
NONE
BOOST
1. Additional power, pressure or force supplied by some type of booster, such as a hydraulic boost, or the extra propulsion provided to a flying vehicle during lift-off or other portion of its flight. 2. To boost pressure. 3. To supercharge. 4. To push along during a portion of the flight, such as a rocket boosted to altitude with another rocket.
DEF:
NONE
BOOSTER SEPARATION MOTOR (abbr. BSM)
Small, solid-fueled booster separation motors that "translate" (move) the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters away from the Orbiter's still-thrusting main engines and the external tank.
DEF:
NONE
BREAKOFF PHENOMENON
Also called the "breakaway phenomenon". The feeling that occasionally occurs during high-altitude flight or spaceflight of being completely separated and detached from the Earth and human society.
DEF:
NONE
BURN
The firing of a rocket's engine. Such as the "third burn" of the Shuttle's orbital maneuvering subsystem engines would mean the third time during a Shuttle flight that the OMS engines had been fired.
DEF:
NONE
CAPTIVE FIRING
The test firing of a propulsion system where the engine is operated at full or partial thrust while restrained in a test stand. Data is obtained to verify design and demonstrate performance capabilities.
DEF:
NONE
CARGO
The total complement of payloads on any one Space Shuttle flight. This includes everything contained within the Orbiter cargo bay as well as additional equipment, hardware and consumables located in other parts of the Orbiter.
DEF:
NONE
CARGO BAY
An unpressurized mid-section of the Orbiter fuselage behind the cabin aft bulkhead. It is where most payloads are carried. Hinged doors extend the full length of the bay, in which the maximum useable space is 60 ft (18.3 m) long and 15 ft. (4.6 m) in diameter.
DEF:
NONE
CELESTIAL GUIDANCE
Also known as automatic celestial navigation, it refers to the process of directing movements of an aircraft or space vehicle, especially in the selection of a flight path, by reference to celestial bodies.
DEF:
NONE
CHALLENGER
The name of the Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle (OV) 99.
DEF:
NONE
CHAMBER COOLANT VALVE (abbr. CCV)
A component of the main Space Shuttle Main Engine.
DEF:
NONE
CHASE PILOT
A pilot engaged in flying an escort plane advising a pilot who is making a check, training or research flight in another vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
CHEMICAL FUEL
A fuel that depends on an oxidizer for combustion or for the development of thrust.
DEF:
NONE
CLEAN ROOM
A limited space where dust, temperature and humidity are controlled as necessary for the fabrication and/or assembly of critical components.
DEF:
NONE
COLUMBIA
The first Orbiter to actually fly in space, April 12, 1981. "Columbia" is the Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle (OV) 102.
DEF:
NONE
COMBUSTION CHAMBER
Any chamber that is for the combustion of fuel, in particular the part of a rocket engine in which the combustion of propellants takes place at high pressure.
DEF:
NONE
COMBUSTION DEVICES
Parts located in the areas of a liquid rocket engine where controlled combustion, or burning, of the liquid fuel and oxidizer occurs.
DEF:
NONE
COMMANDER
The member of the Space Shuttle crew who has utmost responsibility for the safety of all personnel on board and has authority throughout the flight to deviate from the flight plan, procedures and personnel assignments as necessary to preserve crew safety or vehicle integrity. A commander, as well as a pilot or pilot-qualified mission specialist are always required to operate and manage an Orbiter flight.
DEF:
NONE
CONCEPTUAL FLIGHT PLANNING DATA PACKAGE
A package of data produced by the Space Transportation System flight operator that contains a) a basic trajectory b) a basic STS (Space Transportation System) configuration and the flight constraints c) the consumable allocations d) the crew and vehicle in-flight maintenance requirements e) the recommended Shuttle crew work/rest schedule and f) an opportunity matrix used to establish the crew work/rest cycles.
DEF:
NONE
CREW MODULE
A pressurized working, living and stowage compartment, in three sections, in the forward portion of the Orbiter. It is made up of the flight deck, mid deck/equipment bay and an airlock.
DEF:
NONE
CRYOGENICS
Fluids or conditions of extremely low temperatures, generally below -150 C (123 degrees Kelvin)
DEF:
NONE
DEDICATED FLIGHT
A Space Shuttle flight that is assigned to a single user. In a mission of this type, the user pays all costs of the launch and related services plus options.
DEF:
NONE
DEDICATED SPACELAB
An extension module dedicated to a single discipline, such as biological sciences, that may fly more than once a year over the course of several years and may be assigned to a payload development center.
DEF:
NONE
DEEP SPACE NETWORK (DSN)
The tracking and communication system for all automated scientific spacecraft circumnavigating the solar system. Once a spacecraft has been injected into the proper trajectory towards its target planet, the DSN takes over communications from other facilities. The network is controlled and monitored at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
DEF:
NONE
DEFENSE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (DSCS)
Since the nature of military communications requires secrecy, the US military operates its own, separate communications satellites.
DEF:
NONE
DELTA CLASS
Payloads weighing approximately 2000 lb. to 2500 lb. (900 kg. to 1100 kg.)
DEF:
NONE
DELUGE COLLECTION POND
A launch-site facility where water used to cool the flame deflector is flushed as the rocket begins its ascent.
DEF:
NONE
DE-ORBIT BURN
A retrograde rocket engine firing where vehicle velocity is reduced to less than that required to remain in orbit.
DEF:
NONE
DEPLOYMENT
The process of removing a payload from the cargo bay and releasing it from the Orbiter.
DEF:
NONE
DESTRUCT LINE
A boundary line on each side of the down-range course on a rocket test range. A rocket cannot fly beyond either boundary line without being destroyed under destruct procedures.
DEF:
NONE
DIAMONDS
The series of end-to-end diamond shapes that appear in patterns of shock waves often visible in rocket exhaust.
DEF:
NONE
DISCOVERY
The name of the Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle (OV) 103.
DEF:
NONE
DOCKING
The procedure to join two or more spacecraft or orbiting objects, specifically with regards to sealing two manned spacecraft together in orbit with latches and sealing rings. In such a process two hatches can then be opened between them without losin cabin atmosphere, allowing crew members to move from one craft to the other.
DEF:
NONE
DOCKING MODULE
An additional kit for the Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle that allows positive interception, engagement with and release of other orbiting elements or vehicles equipped with similar docking set-ups.
DEF:
NONE
DOGLEG
A directional turn made within the launch trajectory to create a more favorable orbit inclination.
DEF:
NONE
DOUBLE-BASE PROPELLANT
A solid rocket propellant that uses two unstable compounds (such as nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin) and does not require a separate oxidizer.
DEF:
NONE
DOWNWEIGHT
Landing weight, particularly STS payloads and all items required by specific payloads.
DEF:
NONE
DRAG
Atmospheric resistance to the orbital motion of a spacecraft. Drag has the effect of lowering the orbit.
DEF:
NONE
DROGUE PARACHUTE
A small parachute that pulls a larger parachute out of stowage. Also a small parachute used to slow down a descending spacecraft, space capsule or airplane.
DEF:
NONE
DROGUE RECOVERY
A recovery system used for space capsules that have been slowed after atmospheric entry by the deployment of a small parachute/s, which allows for a reduction of aerodynamic heating and stabilization of the vehicle so that a larger recovery parachute/s can be safely deployed at lower altitudes.
DEF:
NONE
DRY WEIGHT
Appropriately applied to liquid rockets, refers to the weight of a rocket without its fuel.
DEF:
NONE
DYSBARISM
A term of aerospace medicine describing a condition in the human body resulting from the existence of a pressure differential between the total ambient pressure of dissolved and free gases within the body's tissues, fluids and cavities. Symptoms caused by decreased barometric pressure are abdominal gas pains (bends) at altitudes above 25,000 ft. (620 m.) to 30,000 ft. (9145 m.). Increased barometric pressure occuring from descent of high altitudes is characterized by painful distension of the ear drums.
DEF:
NONE
EFFECTOR
Any device used to maneuver a rocket in flight.
DEF:
NONE
EJECTION CAPSULE
1. The detachable unit of an airplane or manned spacecraft that serves as a cockpit or cabin. Once detached, it may be parachuted to the ground. 2. A box-like unit containing a variety observed data or recording instruments which may be ejected from a satellite, probe or unmanned unit and returned to Earth by parachute or other deceleration device.
DEF:
NONE
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
The monitoring of the expenditure of rocket fuel for flight control and navigation.
DEF:
NONE
ENERGY RELEASE SYSTEM
The portion of a solid rocket igniter that provides the necessary heat to ignite the propellant and raise it to a self-sustaining combustion level.
DEF:
NONE
ENTERPRISE
The name of Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle (OV) 101.
DEF:
NONE
EQUATORIAL ORBIT
A satellite or spacecraft orbit within the plane of the Earth's equator.
DEF:
NONE
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
ESA promotes and maintains space policy for the European Community as well as cooperates with NASA on important scientific missions. For instance, the Arianne rocket system is an ESA program.
DEF:
NONE
EXHAUST PLUME
Hot gas ejected from the thrust chamber of a rocket engine. As the plume expands while the rocket ascends it exposes the engine and vehicle to a larger radiative area.
DEF:
NONE
EXOBIOLOGY
The area of biology that involves studies of extraterrestrial environments for the existence of living organisms, recognition of evidence for possibilities of life in such environments and study of any nonterrestrial life forms that may be found.
DEF:
NONE
EXPANDABLE SPACE STRUCTURE
A structure that is packaged in a small area for launch and then erected to its full size outside of the Earth's atmosphere.
DEF:
NONE
EXPLORER 1
The United States' first successful satellite, launched on January 31, 1958 by a Jupiter-C rocket. Data collected by Explorer 1 led to the discovery of the Earth's radiation belts.
DEF:
NONE
EXPLOSIVE-ACTUATED DEVICES
Electrically initiated pyrotechnics on which all major Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) functions (except steering) are dependent on.
DEF:
NONE
EXTERNAL TANK (ET)
A tank containing the propellants for three Space Shuttle Main Engines. At lift-off, the external tank absorbs the total thrust loads of the three main engines and the two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs). After the Solid Rocket Boosters separate at an altitude of approx. 27 miles (44 km.) the Orbiter, with main engines still burning, piggybacks the external tank to near orbital velocity (approx. 70 miles or 113 km.) above the Earth where the nearly empty tank then separates and falls into the ocean on a preplanned trajectory.
DEF:
NONE
EXTRAVEHICULAR MOBILITY UNIT (EMU)
An assembly used for extravehicular mobility and activities, and comprised of the space suit, life-support subsystem, displays and controls module, manned maneuvering unit, plus several other crew items together with emergency life support and rescue equipment.
DEF:
NONE
FERRY FLIGHT
A flight within the Earth's atmosphere with a Space Shuttle Orbiter mounted on top of a modified Boeing 747 Shuttle carrier aircraft.
DEF:
NONE
FIN
A fixed or adjustable airfoil attached longitudinally to an aircraft, rocket, or similar structure to provide a stabilizing effect.
DEF:
NONE
FLAME BUCKET
A deep, cave-like structure built beneath a launch pad. It opens at the top to receive the hot gases from the rocket positioned above it, and is also open on one or three sides below, with the fourth side being thick metal, bent so as to deflect the exhaust gases.
DEF:
NONE
FLEET SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (FLTSATCOM)
A communications system designed to provide an operational near-global satellite network in support of high priority communications requirements of the U.S. Navy and Air Force. Satellites in the FLTSATCOM system allow communication between naval aircraft, ships, submarines, ground stations, Strategic Air Command, and the presidential command networks.
DEF:
NONE
FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM (FCR)
The facility used by a flight control team for direct support of a Space Shuttle flight from prelaunch countdown through landing rollout.
DEF:
NONE
FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM (FCT)
Personnel in the Mission Control Center whose duty includes providing support for the duration of each Space Shuttle Flight. The team is comprised of flight control room teams and support room personnel.
DEF:
NONE
FLIGHT DATA FILE (FDF)
An onboard file of crew activity plans, procedures, reference material and test data necessary for carrying out the flight.
DEF:
NONE
FLIGHT-DEPENDENT TRAINING
Preparation of a mission or payload specialist for a particular flight. A portion of the training involves simulations with the rest of the Shuttle flight crew and ground terms.
DEF:
NONE
FLIGHT READINESS FIRING (FRF)
1. A test in which a rocket is restrained at the launch pad while its liquid propellant engines are fired to determine its readiness for a flight test or operational mission. 2. In the case of a Space Shuttle flight, the readiness firing test involves stacking the flight vehicle on the launch pad and a countdown demonstration test is performed. This test duplicates to the fullest extent possible an actual launch countdown. The engines are shutdown after 20 seconds of sustained firing.
DEF:
NONE
FLIGHT SIMULATION
A training session where a portion of the flight is practiced by Shuttle flight crew and/or ground personnel.
DEF:
NONE
FLYBY
An interplanetary mission where the spacecraft passes close to its target planet but does not land or go into orbit around it.
DEF:
NONE
FLYING TEST BED
A rocket, aircraft, or other type of flying vehicle used for carrying objects or devices being flight tested.
DEF:
NONE
FOOTPRINT
An area within which a spacecraft is expected to land.
DEF:
NONE
FORWARD FUSELAGE
The cockpit, living quarters and experiment operator's station of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. This area also contains the pressurized crew module and provides support for the nose section, nose gear and nose gear wheel wells and doors.
DEF:
NONE
FORWARD SKIRT
A section of the forward assembly of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster that contains flight avionics, rate gyro assemblies, range safety system panels and systems tunnel components.
DEF:
NONE
FREE FLYING SYSTEM
A satellite or payload that is detached from the Orbiter during its operational phases and is capable of independent operation.
DEF:
NONE
FRUSTUM
The part of the forward assembly of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster that houses the three main parachutes of the space vehicle's recovery system, the altitude switch, frustum location aids and the floatation devices.
DEF:
NONE
G
The symbol used to represent acceleration due to gravity. When a spacecraft is accelerated or decelerated everything inside it experiences a force that may be as high as "several g's".
DEF:
NONE
GEMINI PROJECT
The beginning of sophisticated manned space flight. Project Gemini (1964-1966) expanded and refined the scientific and technological endeavors of Mercury, with the addition of a second crew member and maneuverable spacecraft. A total of 10 two-man launches occurred, each one successfully placing the astronauts in orbit and returning them safely to Earth.
DEF:
NONE
GEOPROBE
A rocket vehicle made to explore space close to Earth, at a distance of more than 4000 miles (6437 km.) from Earth's surface.
DEF:
NONE
GEOSYNCHRONOUS EARTH ORBIT (GEO)
An orbit in which a satellite or spacecraft revolves around Earth, above the equator, at the same rate at which the planet rotates on its axis.
DEF:
NONE
GROUND ELAPSED TIME (GET)
The time elapsed since launch.
DEF:
NONE
GROUND ENVIRONMENT
1. The environment surrounding and affecting a system or piece of aerospace equipment while it operates on the ground. 2. Part of a guidance, or other system that functions on the ground, and the total equipment, conditions, facilities and personnel that go to make up a system, or part of a system functioning on the ground.
DEF:
NONE
GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT (GSE)
Any ground-based non-flight equipment used for launch, checkout or in-flight support of a space vehicle or other operational end item or subsystem. The GSE includes everything that is required for handling, servicing, inspection, testing, maintenance, alignment, adjustment, checkout, and repair.
DEF:
NONE
GROUNDTRACK
The path taken by a spacecraft over the Earth's surface.
DEF:
NONE
GROUND UMBILICAL CARRIER PLATE (GUCP)
An umbilical connector that links the Space Shuttle External Tank and the ground fluid and pneumatic systems. It controls vent valve action, helium injection into the liquid oxygen anti-geyser line, atmosphere monitoring and conditioning of the inter-tank activity. The GUCP also carries gaseous hydrogen boiloff.
DEF:
NONE
G-SUIT
A suit that exerts pressure on the abdomen and other lower parts of the body to prevent or slow down the collection of blood below the chest under positive acceleration.
DEF:
NONE
G-TOLERANCE
The ability of a person or animal to tolerate acceleration of a particular value or g-force.
DEF:
NONE
GUIDANCE
The procedures undertaken to direct the movements of an aeronautical vehicle or spacecraft, with particular reference to the selection of a flight path. Different types of guidance mechanisms include setting a predetermined path that is not altered, or inertial guidance where accelerations are measured and integrated within the craft, and command guidance where the space vehicle responds to information received from an outside source. Other guidance processes may use a beam, the influence of the Earth, celestial bodies or information coming from the destination (homing guidance).
DEF:
NONE
GUIDED MISSILE
1. Referring to any missile that is capable of receiving some degree of guidance or direction after it has been set in motion. 2. An unmanned, self-propelled vehicle (such as a rocket or pilotless aircraft) carrying a destructive payload and able to be directed or of directing itself after launch or take-off.
DEF:
NONE
HABITABLE PAYLOAD
A payload with a pressurized compartment allowing for the support of a crewperson without wearing a pressure-suit.
DEF:
NONE
HANGFIRE
A problematic condition in the ignition system of a rocket engine.
DEF:
NONE
HATCH
A door in the pressure hull of a space vehicle. The hatch has a tight seal to prevent cabin atmosphere from escaping to the outside.
DEF:
NONE
HEAT EXCHANGER
A component in the Space Shuttle Main Engines that coverts liquid oxygen to gaseous oxygen for oxygen tank and pogo-system accumulator pressurization.
DEF:
NONE
HEAT SOAK
The increase in temperature in rocket-engine components once firing has ceased. Heat soak is a result of heat transfer through contiguous parts when no active cooling exists.
DEF:
NONE
HOT GAS MANIFOLD (HGM)
A main part of the Space Shuttle Main Engine connecting and supporting the preburners, high-pressure fuel turbopumps, main combustion chamber and main injector.
DEF:
NONE
HOT STREAKING
A term derived from the localized heat marks visible on the wall of a combustion chamber after firing has ended. The burning gases stratify into longitudinal zones of high-temperature gases that do not break up and mix with cooler gases.
DEF:
NONE
HYDROGEN
The lightest and one of the most abundant chemical elements found on Earth, hydrogen is also fuel for the Space Shuttle Main Engines. High in energy content and very clean, its only combustion product when burned with oxygen is water. When cooled to a liquid, hydrogen takes up less than 1/700 as much space, making it a natural for aerospace use which requires high energy, low-weight fuel.
DEF:
NONE
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
Fluid pressure caused by gravitational force.
DEF:
NONE
HYPERGOLIC PROPELLANTS
Rocket propellants that ignite spontaneously when brought into contact with eachother.
DEF:
NONE
HYPERSONIC
Speeds of Mach 5 or greater.
DEF:
NONE
HYPERSONIC FLOW
In aerodynamics, refers to the flow of fluid over a body at speeds considerably greater than the speed of sound and in which the shock waves start at a finite distance from the surface of the body.
DEF:
NONE
IDEAL ROCKET
A theoretical rocket formulated for parameters that are corrected as rockets are produced. The ideal rocket observes ideal (perfect) gas laws, no friction, no heat transfer across the rocket wall, an axially directed velocity of all exhaust gases, a uniform gas velocity across every section normal to the nozzle axis, chemical equilibrium established in the combustion chamber and maintained in the nozzle, and a homogenous and invariant propellant.
DEF:
NONE
IGLOO
A pressurized container designed for Spacelab pallet subsystems where no pressurized module is used.
DEF:
NONE
IGNITER
A device used to start combustion, such as a squib to ignite the fuel in a rocket.
DEF:
NONE
IGNITION DELAY
1. In solid rocket motors it is the time period from the moment of arrival of the heat energy from the igniter at the propellant grain surface until the propellant is burning. 2. In liquid rocket engines, ignition delay is the time from initial contact of fuel and oxidizer until a certain degree of pressure is generated.
DEF:
NONE
IMAGES FROM SPACE
Imaging systems on spacecraft that have, in more recent years, provided scientists with outstanding visuals of planets and moons. The Voyager spacecraft carry maneuverable camera systems and the process of producing pictures of the planets and moons is accomplished by 1. Image Scanning and 2. Data Storage and Transmission (aboard the spacecraft) and 3. Data Reception, 4. Data Storage and 5. Image Reconstruction (on Earth). Pictures from the spacecraft are stored and reassembled at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
DEF:
NONE
INERTIAL UPPER STAGE
A solid fuel system that boosts payloads from the Space Shuttle's low earth orbit into higher orbits, or into interplanetary trajectories. During the launch portion of the flight, the passive upper stage will be in the Orbiter's payload bay. Once the Space Shuttle has assumed low orbit the upper stage-satellite combination is placed in space.
DEF:
NONE
IN-FLIGHT START
An engine ignition sequence after take-off and during flight, including starts both within and above the Earth's atmosphere.
DEF:
NONE
INSERTION
The procedures required to put a satellite, spacecraft or aerospace vehicle into orbit.
DEF:
NONE
INSTRUMENT MODULE (IM)
A conglomeration of hardware at the transition adaptor of the Multimission Modular Spacecraft. Instrumentation consists of the mounting structure and all supporting and interfacing equipment as well as mission instruments.
DEF:
NONE
INTERSTAGE SECTION
A section of rocket or missile that sits between stages.
DEF:
NONE
INTERTANK
A part of the Space Shuttle External Tank that is not actually a tank but serves as a mechanical connection between the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks. The intertank provides structural continuity to the propellant tanks, is a protective housing for instruments and receives and distributes thrust loads from the Solid Rocket Boosters.
DEF:
NONE
INTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITY (IVA)
Refers to the location of Shuttle crew activities taking place within the Orbiter, inside a payload module carried in the cargo bay when the doors are closed.
DEF:
NONE
JET ENGINE
1. Any engine that expells a jet or stream of gas or fluid, obtaining all or most of its thrust by its reaction to the ejection. 2. The engine of an aircraft that obtains all or most of its thrust by its reaction to its ejection of combustion products and acquires oxygen from the atmosphere for the combustion of its fuel. This type of jet engine may have a compressor, typically turbine-driven to take in and compress air, or it may compress air by other means.
DEF:
NONE
JET PROPULSION
The means of propulsion of a rocket or other craft by means of a reaction engine or by duct propulsion.
DEF:
NONE
JOVIAN
Pertaining to, or of the planet Jupiter. Associated with or similar to Jupiter.
DEF:
NONE
JOVIAN PLANET
Any of the giant planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune.
DEF:
NONE
JP-4
A liquid fuel used for jet and rocket engines, made primarily of kerosene.
DEF:
NONE
JUPITER
The largest planet in the solar system, more than twice the mass of all other planets. It is about one thousand times larger than the Earth, although its density is much less than Earth's as it is made up largely of hydrogen and helium.
DEF:
NONE
JUPITER-C
A version of the Redstone Ballistic Missile and direct descendant of the V-2 rocket made in Germany during World War II. It is a three-stage rocket that carried Explorer I into orbit in 1958.
DEF:
NONE
KNOT
A nautical mile per hour at 1.1508 statute miles per hour (1.852 km./hr.)
DEF:
NONE
LANDER
A spacecraft or mission that lands on another planet or celestial body.
DEF:
NONE
LANDING GEAR
Components of an aircraft, spacecraft or aerospace vehicle that support and provide mobility for the craft on water, land or other surface. The apparatus may be made up of wheels, floats, skis or other devices, including all necessary bracing, struts, shock absorbers, etc.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCH (noun)
1. The act of launching a rocket or space vehicle from the surface. 2. The results of such action, such as the transition from static repose to dynamic flight. 3. The action of sending up a rocket, probe or like object from a moving vehicle, such as a spacecraft or aircraft.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCH (verb)
1. To send a rocket off under its own power, such as a guided missile. 2. To use a catapult to send off a missile or aircraft. Or by means of inertial force such as the release of a bomb from a flying aircraft. 3. Giving a space probe an additional boost for flight into space just before it separates from the launch vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCH AZIMUTH
The initial compass heading of a powered space vehicle at the time of launch.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCH COMPLEX
The site, facilities and required equipment to launch a rocket or space vehicle. The complex varies according to the type of rocket being launched.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCH CONFIGURATION
The apparatus of boosters, spacecraft and launch escape system (if appropriate) that must be lifted off the ground at launch.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCHER
A structure or device often incorporating a tube, group of tubes, or a set of tracks, from which self-propelled missiles are sent up and by means of which the missiles are usually aimed or given initial guidance.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCHING ANGLE
The angle between a horizontal plane and the longitudinal axis of a space vehicle or rocket, etc. that is being launched.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCHING RAIL
A rail that provides initial support and guidance to a rocket launched in a non-vertical postition.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCH PAD
1. The load-bearing base or platform from where the rocket is launched. 2. The area in the Space Transportation System where the stacked Shuttle flight vehicle goes through final prelaunch checkout, countdown, and actual launch.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCH RING
A metal ring on the launch pad where a rocket or missile stands before launch.
DEF:
NONE
LAUNCH WINDOW
An interval of time during which a rocket or space vehicle can be launched to accomplish a specific task.
DEF:
NONE
LIFT-OFF
The action taken by a rocket or aerospace vehicle as it separates from its launch pad, particularly in a vertical ascent, as lift-off is only applicable to vertical launch, whereas take-off is applicable to ascent at any angle.
DEF:
NONE
LIGHTNING PROTECTION
The tip of the nose cap of the Space Shuttle External Tank that forms a lightning rod for protection of the tank during launch.
DEF:
NONE
LIQUID HYDROGEN TANK
The largest section of the Space Shuttle External Tank. Its main function is to hold 383,066 gallons (1,449,905 liters) of liquid hydrogen at 20 K (-253 C or -423 F) and to provide a mounting platform for the Orbiter and Solid Rocket Boosters.
DEF:
NONE
LIQUID OXYGEN TANK
A portion of the Space Shuttle External Tank that holds 143,060 gallons (541,482 liters) of oxidizer at 90 K (-183 C or -297 F).
DEF:
NONE
LIVE TESTING
Testing of an aerospace vehicle, rocket engine or missile by actually launching it.
DEF:
NONE
LOAD FACTOR
The ratio of vehicle thrust to its overall mass.
DEF:
NONE
LUNAR MODULE
A vehicle used for manned Moon landing. The module is undocked from its position aboard the launch vehicle once in lunar orbit, and prepared for descent to the Moon. The descent segment remains on the surface of the Moon once the astronauts have left to rejoin the comman module.
DEF:
NONE
LUNAR ORBITER PROBES
A NASA project that took place between August 1966 and August 1967, designed to provide scientists with various images of the Moon in preparation for a manned landing. The Orbiter Probes were used to select landing sites for the Apollo mission and demonstrated that the Moon's gravitational field permitted stable orbits. The probes were purposely crashed at the close of the mission to prevent interference with future projects.
DEF:
NONE
MACH NUMBER (symbol M)
The ratio of the speed of a body or of a point on a body with respect to the surrounding air or other fluid, or the speed of a flow, to the speed of sound in the medium. Mach is represented by a number (i.e. Mach 5), and is named after the Austrian scientist Ernst Mach (1838-1916).
DEF:
NONE
MAIN STAGE
1. The stage of a multistage rocket that develops the greatest amount of thrust, with or without booster engines. 2. The period of a single-stage rocket, powered by one or more engines, when full thrust (at or above 90%) is attained. 3. A sustainer engine, known as a stage after booster engines have fallen away.
DEF:
NONE
MANEUVER PAD
Information and/or data on spacecraft altitude, thrust values, event times, etc., transmitted in advance of a maneuver.
DEF:
NONE
MARS
Fourth planet in the Solar System, with an atmosphere 100 times thinner than Earth's. Mars' diameter is 6794 km, and has been largely explored by the Mariner 9 and Viking probes.
DEF:
NONE
MAX-Q
The condition of maximum dynamic pressure, referring to the point in the flight of a launch vehicle when it experiences the most severe aerodynamic forces.
DEF:
NONE
MERCURY
The innermost planet in the Solar System, with huge cliffs and a crust of silicate rock, similar to Earth's. Mariner 10 discovered a minute trace of atmosphere, a trillionth the density of Earth's. Mercury has a diameter of 488 km.
DEF:
NONE
MERCURY PROJECT
The pioneering American project destined to put man in orbit. The two one-man sub-orbital flights and four orbital manned missions took place between May 1961 and May 1963. Two space boosters were used with the Mercury capsule, the first was a modified Redstone and the second was a Mercury-Atlas combination.
DEF:
NONE
METEOROLOGICAL ROCKET
A rocket for upper air observation (routine as opposed to research), particularly the portion inaccessible to balloons (above 100,000 feet or 30,480 m.)
DEF:
NONE
MID DECK
Part of the crew station module of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The mid deck contains provisions and stowage facilities for four crew sleeping stations. The waste management system, personal hygiene station and work/dining table are also located in the same portion.
DEF:
NONE
MID FUSELAGE
A structure that forms the payload bay of the Orbiter, and interfaces with the forward fuselage, aft fuselage and wings. It also supports the payload bay doors, hinges and tie-down fittings, the forward wing glove, and various Orbiter system components.
DEF:
NONE
MISSILE
Any object that has been thrown, dropped, fired, launched or somehow projected with the purpose of striking a target. Also known as guided missile or ballistic missile. The term "missile" should not be loosely used as a synonym for rocket, spacecraft, or launch vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
MISSION
The carrying out of a set of investigations or operations in space for the purpose of achieving program goals. A mission may only require part of a flight or several flights to accomplish the program goals, thereby distinguishing a "mission" from a "flight", which is a single Space Shuttle round trip.
DEF:
NONE
MISSION CONTROL CENTER (MCC)
The NASA facility that provides all support for prelaunch, ascent reentry and landing phases of a flight. Mission control is responsible for providing systems monitoring and contingency support for all Space Transportation System (STS) elements, communications with the crew and onboard systems, as well as performing flight data collection and coodination of flight operations.
DEF:
NONE
MISSION SPECIALIST
Member of the Space Shuttle crew responsible for coordinating the overall payload/Space Transportation System interaction. During the payload operation phase of a flight, the mission specialist directs the allocation of STS and crew resources to accomplish the combined payload objectives. He/she is also responsible for coordinating overall Orbiter operations in the areas of crew planning, consumables usage and other activities that affect payload operations.
DEF:
NONE
MISSION STATION (MS)
An area located aft of the pilot's station on the right side of the Orbiter's flight deck. It has displays and controls for Orbiter-to-payload interfaces and payload subsystems, as well as an auxiliary caution-and-warning display that alerts the crew to critical malfunctions in the payload systems. The mission specialist typically performs payload support operations from the location.
DEF:
NONE
MOBILE LAUNCH PLATFORM
A structure on which the components of the Space Shuttle are stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building and subsequently moved to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center.
DEF:
NONE
MOBILITY AID
Hand and foot-rails that help crew members move around the spacecraft.
DEF:
NONE
MOON
The Earth's only naturally occuring satellite, with a diameter of 3476 km, its surface consisting of alumina-rich rocks, and marl made up of volcanic melts that surfaced some 3.5 billion years ago.
DEF:
NONE
MULTIMISSION MODULAR SPACECRAFT (MMS)
A spacecraft designed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to serve a variety of missions launched from the Space Shuttle. The MMS uses standard modules for basic spacecraft functions, and integrates these modules with mission-unique equipment into a particular MMS spacecraft. The MMS can be used in low-Earth-orbit (LEO) or in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) in support of different types of research and remote sensing missions.
DEF:
NONE
MULTISTAGE LAUNCH
A launch using several stages to boost the payload into orbit. Once the first-stage booster has used its fuel, it is dropped and the secondary booster is fired. When the second-stage booster is out of fuel, it is dropped, and so on. Multistage launching allows very high payload velocities.
DEF:
NONE
NAVIGATIONAL PLANETS
The four planets commonly used in air and celestial surface navigation: Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn.
DEF:
NONE
NAVSTAR GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
Formerly used exclusively by the US military, NAVSTAR provides pinpoint locations for objects on the surface of the earth using tracking data from the many satellites in the system.
DEF:
NONE
NEPTUNE
The eighth major planet from the Sun, Neptune has an atmosphere where methane has been detected. Hydrogen and helium are believed to be the main constituents of the planet. It has two known satellites, Triton and Nereid. Its diameter is 49,500 km.
DEF:
NONE
NEUTRAL BUOYANCY SIMULATOR
A training activity that uses objects immersed in water to simulate weightlessness in space. Astronauts move the objects under water, or may wear a pressurized suit to allow for free-floating under the water themselves.
DEF:
NONE
NOZZLE
Aft portion of the thrust chamber that controls the expansion of exhaust products so the thermal energy produced in the combustion chamber is efficiently converted to kinetic energy, thereby giving thrust to the vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
NUCLEAR-ELECTRIC ROCKET ENGINE
A rocket engine having a nuclear reactor to generate the electricity that is used in an electric propulsion system.
DEF:
NONE
OMS DELTA-V KIT
An optional Space Shuttle flight kit consisting of auxiliary propellant tanks that can be added to the basic orbital maneuvering subsystem. Each tank can be used to increase orbital velocity by 500 ft. per second (152 m/sec.).
DEF:
NONE
OPERATIONAL BIOINSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM (OBS)
Instrumentation that provides an amplified ECG (electrocardiograph) signal from any two crewmembers on board the Shuttle and transmits it to Shuttle avionics where it is sent to the ground in real time or stored on tape.
DEF:
NONE
ORBIT
In astronomy and space science the path followed by a satellite (such as the Moon) around an astronomical body (such at the Earth). When a body in space is moving around a primary body under the influence of gravitational force alone, its path is known as an orbit.
DEF:
NONE
ORBITAL MANEUVERING SYSTEMS
Two engines, located in the external pods on each side of the aft fuselage of the Orbiter, that provide thrust for orbit insertion, orbit change, orbit transfer, rendezvous and de-orbit. The orbital maneuvering engines can provide a velocity change of 1000 feet per second (305 m./sec.) when the Orbiter carries a payload of 65,000 lb. (29,500 kg.)
DEF:
NONE
ORBITAL MOTION
Continuous motion such as a circle or an ellipse on a closed path.
DEF:
NONE
OXIDIZER
A material that supplies oxygen or other oxidizing materials for deflagration (a burning process where large quantities of gas and energy are released rapidly) of a sold propellant or combustion of a liquid fuel.
DEF:
NONE
PAD DEGREE
Water sprayed on some launch pads during the launch of a rocket in order to reduce the temperatures of critical parts of the pad or rocket.
DEF:
NONE
PALLET
An unpressurized platform installed in the Orbiter cargo bay for mounting instruments and equipment that require direct exposure to space.
DEF:
NONE
PARAGLIDER
A vehicle with flexible wings and kite-like design used in a recovery system for launch vehicles or as an entry vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
PAYLOAD
Originally referred to the revenue-producing portion of an aircraft's load, such as passengers, cargo and mail. In Space Transportation System terminology, the payload is defined as the total complement of specific instruments, space equipment, support hardware and consumables carried in the Orbiter to accomplish a particular activity in space.
DEF:
NONE
PAYLOAD CARRIER
One of the major classes of standard payload carriers certified for use with the Space Shuttle for economical payload operations. The carriers are classified as habitable modules (Spacelab), or as attached but uninhabitable modules.
DEF:
NONE
PAYLOAD RETENTION SUBSYSTEM (PRS)
Remotely controlled retention latches that hold down or release payload items, but do not transmit Orbiter stresses (like bending) to the payload.
DEF:
NONE
PAYLOAD SPECIALIST
A non-career astronaut who flies on the Space Shuttle as a passenger and is responsible for reaching the goals of the payload/experiment objectives. He/she is the onboard expert scientist in charge of payload/experiment operations.
DEF:
NONE
PAYLOAD SUPPORT EQUIPMENT (PSE)
Equipment used on the Shuttle flight to support the payload, such as caution and warning systems, data recording, controlled functions and instrumentation.
DEF:
NONE
PAYLOAD SYSTEM
The combination of spacecraft, instrument module and other mission-unique equipment that are used together to meet a certain mission objective.
DEF:
NONE
PERTURBATION
1. Any departure from an assumed steady state of a system or a minor departure from the nominal path, such as a desired trajectory. 2. A disturbance in the motion of a celestial body, resulting from a force additional to that which causes the usual motion, specifically, a gravitational force.
DEF:
NONE
PILOT
Second in command on a Space Shuttle flight. The pilot assists the commander as required in conducting all segments of the Orbiter flight. He/she has authority and responsibilities as are dedicated to him or her by the commander.
DEF:
NONE
PILOT PARACHUTE
A smaller parachute used to pull a main parachute, or drogue, from stowage.
DEF:
NONE
PIONEER
A series of NASA probes launched in the late 1950's through the mid-70's designed to explore the solar system. They explored the Van Allen radiation belt and monitored activity in the solar system. Pioneer 10 and 11 made extensive observations of Jupiter and Saturn.
DEF:
NONE
PIONEER-VENUS PROBES
Two probes launched in 1978 for the specific purpose of observing Venus. Information gathered by the probes made a significant difference to previous astronomical theories about the planet.
DEF:
NONE
PITCHOVER
A programmed turn that a rocket or launch vehicle makes from the verticle as it describes an arc and points in a direction other than verticle.
DEF:
NONE
PLANETARY BOUNDARY LAYER
The layer of atmosphere from a planet's surface to the geostrophic wind level. The "free atmosphere" is above this layer.
DEF:
NONE
PLANET FALL
The landing of a spacecraft on the surface of a planet.
DEF:
NONE
PLUTO
The ninth planet in our solar system, roughly half the diameter of Earth's, or approx. 4000 miles (6400 km). It is covered with methane ice and has one satellite named Charon.
DEF:
NONE
PNEUMATIC CONTROL ASSEMBLY (PCA)
A segment of the Space Shuttle Main Engine that controls ground-supplied gaseous used for engine prestart purges and vehicle-supplied helium for the operational purge, controls the oxidizer bleed valve and fuel bleed valve, and provides emergency shutdown control of the main propellant valves should there be electrical power loss to the engine.
DEF:
NONE
POSIGRADE ROCKET
An auxiliary rocket that fires in the direction of the vehicle's flight, for example, in separating two stages of a vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
PREBURNERS
Fuel and oxygen preburners that provide hydrogen-rich hot gases at approx. 1030 K (760 C or 1400 F). Gases in the preburners, which are found on each Space Shuttle Main Engine, drive the fuel and oxidizer high-pressure turbopumps.
DEF:
NONE
PRESSURE-LADEN SEQUENCE
A method of effecting fail-safe engine starts by sequencing the operation of rocket engine control valves; the sequencing being achieved by vent mechanisms on the control system or propellant feed system (or both) that are triggered by pressure changes.
DEF:
NONE
PRIME MERIDIAN
The zero meridian of longitude passes through Greenwich, England, and is adopted as a standard east-west reference.
DEF:
NONE
PRIMITIVE ATMOSPHERE
A celestial body's atmosphere as it existed in the early stages of its formation.
DEF:
NONE
PROPELLANT
Any material such as a fuel, an oxidizer, an additive, a catalyst or any compound or mixture of such, carried in a rocket vehicle that releases energy during combustion and thereby provides thrust to the vehicle. Propellants may be in solid or liquid form.
DEF:
NONE
PROPULSION SYSTEM
The engines, tanks, lines, and all associated equipment necessary to provide the propulsive force for a specific vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
PULSEJET ENGINE
A compressorless jet engine in which a combustion takes place intermittently, creating thrust by a series of explosions, typically occuring at the approximate resonance frequency of the engine. The German V-1 rocket used a pulsejet engine.
DEF:
NONE
PYROGEN
A small rocket motor that is used to ignite a larger rocket motor.
DEF:
NONE
PYROPHORIC FUEL
A fuel that will ignite spontaneously in the air.
DEF:
NONE
QUASI-STELLAR OBJECTS (QSO)
Stars that may be visible or not visible, but are powerful radio sources, and have been detected with radio telescopes.
DEF:
NONE
RADAR
Radio detection and ranging. A transmitter that sends a radio pulse toward an object and measures the time interval until the reflected pulse echo) returns. The time interval indicates the range, or distance, of the object.
DEF:
NONE
RADAR ALTITUDE
The actual distance of an aircraft, aerospace vehicle, or spacecraft from the nearest terrain feature. Radar altitude is determined by a radio altimeter.
DEF:
NONE
RADIAL VELOCITY
1. The movement of a celestial body toward or away from an observer. It is positive if receding, and negative if approaching. 2. The velocity at which two spacecraft or other objects approach or recede from one another. 3. In radar applications it is the vector component of the velocity of a moving target that is directed away from or towards the ground station.
DEF:
NONE
RADIATION
Emission and propagation of energy through matter or space by means of electromagnetic disturbances that display both wave-like and particle-like behavior, where in this instance the particles are known as "photons". Streams of fast-moving particles (alpha and beta particles, free neutrons, cosmic radiation, etc.) are also included in this term. Nuclear radiation is that which is emitted from atomic nuclei in various nuclear reactions.
DEF:
NONE
RADIOACTIVITY
The spontaneous decay or disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus that is usually accompanied by the emission of ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays, beta particles, etc. Radioactivity occurs naturally where it is the spontaneous disintegration of naturally occuring radioisotopes, whereas radioisotopes which are made in nuclear reactors or accelerators are referred to as artificial radioactivity.
DEF:
NONE
RADIO FREQUENCY (RF)
A frequency at which coherent electromagnetic radiation of energy is applicable to communication purposes. The frequencies are measured in Hertz (one oscillation per second).
DEF:
NONE
RADIO WAVES
Electromagnetic waves that are between wavelengths of 1 millimeter and several thousand kilometers and frequencies between 300 gigahertz and a few kilohertz. The higher frequencies are used for spacecraft communications.
DEF:
NONE
RAMJET
A reaction propulsion jet engine that has a specially shaped tube or duct open at both ends into which fuel is fed at a controlled rate, and into which air needed for combustion is shoved, or "rammed" into the duct and compressed by the forward motion of the vehicle/engine assembly. The "rammed" air passes through a diffuser and is then mixed with fuel and burned, after which the combustion products are expanded in a nozzle.
DEF:
NONE
RANGE RATE
The rate at which the distance from the measuring equipment to the signal source or target being tracked is changing with respect to time.
DEF:
NONE
RAYLEIGH ATMOSPHERE
A theoretical, idealized atmosphere consisting only of particles, such as molecules, that are smaller than about one-tenth the wavelength of all radiation incident upon that atmosphere. Such a model has often served as a starting point in descriptions of the optical properties of actual atmospheres.
DEF:
NONE
REAL TIME
Where the reporting on or recording of an event is simultaneous with the events occurring; essentially, "as it happens".
DEF:
NONE
RED FUMING NITRIC ACID (RFNA)
Concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) in which nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been dissolved for the purpose of using it as an oxidizer in liquid propellant rockets.
DEF:
NONE
RE-ENTRY
The return of a spacecraft, aerospace vehicle or other object to the sensible atmosphere after being rocketed to higher altitudes; the action involved in this event.
DEF:
NONE
RE-ENTRY WINDOW
An area at the limits of the Earth's atmosphere through which a spacecraft or aerospace vehicle in a specified trajectory can pass to accomplish successful reentry.
DEF:
NONE
REMOTE MANIPULATOR SYSTEM (RMS)
A 50-foot long (15.2 m.) arm that is remotely controlled from the aft flight deck of the Orbiter. Its articulating movements permit payloads to be grappled for deployment out of the cargo bay attach points or to be retrieved and secured for return to Earth. The RMS is operable from the shirtsleeve environment of the Orbiter cabin.
DEF:
NONE
RENDEZVOUS
Two or more spacecraft on the same orbit meeting at a preplanned location and time with essentially zero relative velocity. The spacecraft perform docking maneuvers for various reasons such as in the construction, servicing or resupply of a space station, or when the Space Shuttle Orbiter is required to perform on-orbit repair or servicing of a satellite.
DEF:
NONE
RESTART
The act of firing a stage of a rocket after a previous powered flight and a coast phase in parking orbit.
DEF:
NONE
RETRIEVAL
A process utilizing the remote manipulator system and/or other handling aids to return a captured payload to stowage or a berthed position. A payload is not considered retrieved until it is completely stowed for safe return or berthed for repair and maintenance.
DEF:
NONE
RETROROCKET
A small rocket engine on a satellite, spacecraft, or aerospace vehicle that is used to provide a retarding thrust or force opposing the object's forward motion. Such action reduces the system's velocity.
DEF:
NONE
RETROTHRUST
Thrust used for braking; a reverse thrust.
DEF:
NONE
RISE OFF
Denotes that a given event occurs only as a result of verticle vehicle motion from the launch pad.
DEF:
NONE
ROCKET ENGINE
Generally applied to a machine that burns liquid propellants, thereby requiring a complex system of tanks, ducts, pumps, flow-control devices, etc. The combustible materials (propellants) are supplied to a chamber and burned under specified conditions and the resulting thermal energy is converted to kinetic energy, or thrust, to propel the vehicle to which the engine is attached.
DEF:
NONE
ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURE (RSS)
An environmentally controlled facility located at the launch pad that is used for inserting payloads vertically into the Orbiter cargo bay.
DEF:
NONE
SABOT
A device fitting around or in the back of a projectile in a gun barrel or launching tube to support or protect the projectile or to prevent the escape of gas ahead of it. After launching the sabot separates from the projectile.
DEF:
NONE
SAFE/ARM SYSTEM (S/A)
The mechanism in a solid-propellant igniter that in the SAFE condition physically prevents the propellant from igniting prematurely, even if the standard initiators are inadvertently fired.
DEF:
NONE
SAFING
1. The act taken to retreat from an armed condition. 2. Procedures undertaken to eliminate or control hazards.
DEF:
NONE
SALYUT
A series of Soviet space stations, smaller than spacelab, that were placed in Earth orbit starting in April 1971.
DEF:
NONE
SATURN
Second largest planet in the Solar System and the sixth planet from the Sun. It has a diameter of 120,000 km., and is composed primarily of helium and hydrogen. Saturn is surrounded by a series of rings composed of countless low-density particles (mostly ice and frosted rock) orbiting individually around the equator at progressive distances from the cloud tops. Saturn has ten major satellites: Janus, Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Iapetus and Phoebe.
DEF:
NONE
SCREAMING
Instability in the combustion of a liquid-propellant rocket engine, characterized by a high-pitched noise.
DEF:
NONE
SCREECHING
Combustion instability in an afterburner, of fairly high frequency and characterized by a harsh, shrill noise.
DEF:
NONE
SCRUB
The cancellation of a scheduled rocket firing, either before or during countdown.
DEF:
NONE
SEALED CABIN
The manned space of an aircraft, aerospace vehicle or spacecraft with walls that do not allow any gaseous exchange between the cabin atmosphere and its surroundings. The sealed cabin has its own mechanisms for maintenance of the cabin (inner) atmosphere.
DEF:
NONE
SELENOGRAPHIC
Of or pertaining to the physical geography of the Moon, and specifically referring to positions on the Moon measured in latitude and longitude.
DEF:
NONE
SENSIBLE ATMOSPHERE
Portion of an atmosphere that lends significant resistance to a body passing through it.
DEF:
NONE
SHROUD LINE
Any one of the cords attaching a parachute's load to its canopy. Also known as "rigging line".
DEF:
NONE
SHUTDOWN
Process of decreasing rocket engine thrust to zero.
DEF:
NONE
SHUTTLE MISSION SIMULATOR (SMS)
A computer-controlled training device that includes fully functional Orbiter forward and aft crew stations.
DEF:
NONE
SIMULATOR
Computer-dependent training facility where flight hardware responses can be imitated and used for flight practice.
DEF:
NONE
SOLID PROPELLANT ROCKET
A rocket propelled by a compound or a chemical mixture that burns without the introduction of outside oxygen. The fuel and oxidizer within the compound or mixture burn to produce hot gasses at very high pressure.
DEF:
NONE
SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER (SRB)
Boosters that contain a large solid-propellant rocket motor and are used in parallel configuration to augment the thrust of the Space Shuttle Main Engines from the launch pad through the first two minutes of powered flight. The Solid Rocket Boosters also help guide the entire vehicle during its initial ascent. After separation they are recovered and refurbished for later use. As well as the solid rocket motor (SRM) each booster contains several subsystems: the structural, thrust vector control (TVC), separation, recovery, electrical and instrumentation.
DEF:
NONE
SOYUZ
Soviet-built craft in a series of over 30 manned spacecraft that were set in Earth orbit beginning in April 1967. Each craft was composed of three sections: an orbital module, a propulsion and instrumentation section, and a reentry module.
DEF:
NONE
SPACE CAPSULE
A container used to carry out an experiment or operation in space, generally presumed to carry a living organism or equipment.
DEF:
NONE
SPACECRAFT
Generally speaking, a manned or unmanned platform designed to be placed in an orbit around the Earth or into a trajectory to another celestial body. The spacecraft itself is comprised of all the hardware that forms a space platform, as well as providing structure, wiring, thermal control and subsystem functions such as attitude control, command, data handling and power.
DEF:
NONE
SPACELAB (SL)
A flexible laboratory system that can be interchanged in various configurations to meet the particular needs of a space flight. It includes a habitable module in which scientists can work in a shirt-sleeve environment, and platforms, known as pallets, which can be placed in the Shuttle cargo bay behind the module. The pallets hold instruments that require direct exposure to space. Some missions may only require the pallets to be sent into space without the habitable module, in which case it is still called Spacelab.
DEF:
NONE
SPACE NUCLEAR PROPULSION
Use of nuclear reactors to propel a space vehicle by generating electrical power for an electric propulsion unit or as a source of thermal energy to heat a propellant to very high temperatures for subsequent expulsion from a nozzle.
DEF:
NONE
SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER (SOC)
The earth-based command and control center for orbiting vehicles.
DEF:
NONE
SPACE TELESCOPE (ST)
Because the atmosphere diffuses any image of celestial objects viewed from the ground, astronomers have long preferred to maintain orbiting telescopes, of all types, whose vision of the stars is unaffected by the vacuum of space.
DEF:
NONE
SPIN ROCKET
A small rocket that gives spin to a larger rocket or spacecraft.
DEF:
NONE
SPIN STABILIZATION
The directional stability of a spacecraft obtained by the action of gyroscopic forces resulting from spinning the body around its axis of symmetry.
DEF:
NONE
SPUTNIK I
A Soviet-Union project that became the first man-made object to be placed in orbit around the Earth. It was launched on October 4th, 1957 and reentered the Earth's atmosphere and burned up on January 4th, 1958.
DEF:
NONE
STAGE-AND-A-HALF
A portion of the liquid rocket propulsion unit which falls away from the rocket vehicle during flight.
DEF:
NONE
STAGED COMBUSTION
The cycle of a rocket engine where propellants are partly burned in a preburner prior to being burned in the combustion chamber.
DEF:
NONE
SUPERIOR PLANETS
Planets in the solar system with orbits larger than Earth's: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
DEF:
NONE
SUPERSONIC
Of, pertaining to, or dealing with speeds greater than the acoustic velocity (the speed of sound).
DEF:
NONE
SURVEYOR
A project begun in 1960 consisting of seven unmanned spacecraft which were launched between May 1966 and January 1968. The Surveyor Project craft were used to develop lunar softlanding techniques, to survey potential Apollo landing sites and to gather scientific information about the Moon.
DEF:
NONE
SUSTAINER ENGINE
An auxiliary booster engine in a propulsion system that provides thrust after the main booster engines have stopped firing.
DEF:
NONE
SYSTEM
One of the main functional components making up the project hardware and related operational services within a project or flight mission. A system is usually the first major subdivision of a project, with a subsystem being a major functioning entity within a system.
DEF:
NONE
SYSTEMS TUNNEL
A tunnel inside each Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster that provides protection and mechanical support for the cables associated with the electrical and instrumentation subsystem, as well as the linear-shaped explosive charge of the range safety system.
DEF:
NONE
SZYGY
Point of orbit of a planet or satellite at which it is in conjunction or opposition, used chiefly in reference to the points occupied by the Moon at new and full phase.
DEF:
NONE
TAILOFF
The period of decay in rocket motor thrust after the propellant burning time has ended.
DEF:
NONE
TANDEM LAUNCH
The launching of two or more spacecraft or satellites by the use of a single launch vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
TERRESTRIAL PLANETS
The inner planets, which are similar to Earth in their general properties (i.e. small, relatively high-density bodies, made up of metals and silicates with shallow atmospheres). The terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
DEF:
NONE
TETHERED SATELLITE SYSTEM
Several space shuttle experiments plan to use a tethered satellite. Released from the payload bay of the shuttle and held to it by a long wire, or tether, researchers plan to discover whether an electrical current can be generated from the interaction of the tether and the earth's magnetic field.
DEF:
NONE
THROTTLING
Varying the thrust by a rocket engine during powered flight. Several methods may be employed to alter the thrust such as tightening of fuel lines, changing of thrust chamber pressure, pulsed thrust and variation of nozzle expansion.
DEF:
NONE
THRUST
Propulsive force developed by a rocket engine during firing.
DEF:
NONE
TOUCHDOWN
The actual moment of landing on the surface of a planet or moon.
DEF:
NONE
TRACKING AND DATA RELAY SATELLITE SYSTEM (TDRSS)
NASA's ground controllers maintain orbital information of flying shuttles via the TDRSS network of satellites. The satellites send radio signals back to earth-based tracking stations on the whereabouts of the orbiting craft.
DEF:
NONE
TRAJECTORY
The path made by any body moving as a result of an externally applied force, considered in three dimensions. A trajectory is not a closed path, as is an orbit.
DEF:
NONE
TRANSLUNAR
Pertaining to space outside of the Moon's orbit around the Earth.
DEF:
NONE
TRANSONIC
The range of speed in which flow patterns change from subsonic to supersonic or vice versa at about Mach 0.8 to 1.2.
DEF:
NONE
TUNNEL ADAPTER
A Space Transportation System flight kit that is used for attaching the Orbiter airlock to the Spacelab tunnel. It is a standard flight kit for Spacelab.
DEF:
NONE
TURBOPUMP SYSTEM
The assemblage of propellant pumps, turbine(s), power source, and other components designed to raise the pressure of the propellants received from the vehicle's tanks and deliver them to the main thrust chamber at specified pressures and flow rates.
DEF:
NONE
ULTRAHIGH FREQUENCY (UHF)
Radio frequencies between 0.3 gigahertz to 3 gigahertz.
DEF:
NONE
ULTRASONIC
Frequencies above the range of human hearing (more than 20,000 hertz).
DEF:
NONE
UMBILICAL
An electrical or fluid servicing line between the ground or tower and an upright rocket vehicle before launch.
DEF:
NONE
URANUS
The seventh major planet, with a diameter of 52,400 km. Its mass is 14.6 times that of Earth's, and has methane in its very clear and deep atmosphere. Uranus has five satellites: Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon.
DEF:
NONE
UNIVERSAL HATCHES
D-shaped hatches in the airlock that allow for the airlock to be mounted in the Orbiter cabin or in the cargo bay.
DEF:
NONE
UNIVERSAL TIME (UT)
Time determined by the rotation of the Earth and the apparent daily motions that reflect this rotation. Also called "Greenwich mean time."
DEF:
NONE
UPLINK DATA
Information passed from a ground station on Earth to a spacecraft, probe or space platform.
DEF:
NONE
UPPER ATMOSPHERE
The outer layers of the Earth's atmosphere, approx. above 18.6 miles (30 km). It includes a portion of the stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and the exosphere.
DEF:
NONE
VANGUARD PROJECT
A U.S. space program begun in 1958 to study the shape, surface and interior of the Earth. The Vanguard rocket was a 3-stage vehicle standing 70.8 ft (21.6m) high and weighing 20,000 lbs. (10,000 kg). First launched in March 1958, it eventually orbited three satellites.
DEF:
NONE
VEHICLE
Generally referring to an aerospace structure, machine or device (such as a rocket) that is designed to carry a payload through the atmosphere and/or space. Specifically a rocket vehicle.
DEF:
NONE
VENUS
The second major planet from the Sun, and closest to Earth. It has a diameter of 12,102 km. Its atmosphere is almost 100 times denser than Earth's, and is 97% carbon dioxide. The surface of Venus is extremely hot (up to 850 F, or 455 C), due to the greenhouse effect from carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere.
DEF:
NONE
VERTICAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING (VAB)
Where Shuttle elements are stacked onto the mobile launch platform near the Kennedy Space Center. The high-bay building is also used for the vertical stoarage of the External Tank.
DEF:
NONE
VERTICAL STABILIZER
The fin and rudder assembly of an aerodynamic vehicle. On the Space Shuttle Orbiter the vertical stabilizer consists of a structural fin, the rudder/speed-brake (the rudder splits in half for speed-brake control) and the systems for positioning the rudder/speed-brake control surface.
DEF:
NONE
VIKING
A project included a series of missions to explore Mars. Two identical Viking spacecraft were launched and were the first unmanned craft to operate on the surface of another planet for more than a few minutes. Viking I reached Mars orbit in June 1976, and Viking 2 started its Mars orbit in August 1976. The first landing on Mars occurred in July, 1976.
DEF:
NONE
VOSTOK
A series of Soviet manned spacecraft. The first of six was launched in April 1961.
DEF:
NONE
VOYAGER
A NASA mission for the exploration of outer planets. Voyagers 1 and 2 completed successful fly-bys of Jupiter in 1979 and Saturn in 1980 and 1981. Voyager 2 reached Uranus in January 1986 and Neptune in August 1989.
DEF:
NONE
WET EMPLACEMENT
A launch pad designed to produce a deluge of water for cooling the flame bucket, rocket engines, and other equipment during the launch of a missile.
DEF:
NONE
YAW
The angular motion of a vehicle around a vertical axis through its midpoint or center of gravity and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
DEF:
NONE
ZENITH
The point of the celestial sphere vertically overhead. The point at 180 degrees from the zenith is called the "nadir".
DEF:
NONE
ZERO-G
The condition of free fall and weightlessness. When no forces exist on objects in a spacecraft they are in "zero-g".
DEF:
NONE
Abrahamson, James Alan (Abe)
Lieutenant General, US Air Force (ret.)
Date of Birth: May 19, 1933
Place of Birth: Williston, ND, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Barbara Jean Northcott Abrahamson (deceased)
Children: Kelly Anne, James Alan III
As the associate administrator for NASA's space transportation systems, Abrahamson was responsible for the space shuttle from November 1981 to April 1984. Abrahamson, subsequent to his NASA post, became the director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO--"Star Wars") until January 1989.
DEF:
NONE
Acton, Loren Wilber
Ph.D., Astro-Geophysics
Date of Birth: March 7, 1936
Place of Birth: Lewiston, MO, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Evelyn Oldenburger Acton
Children: Cheryll Anne, Stanley Scott
Acton served as a payload specialist , along with John-David F. Bartoe, on STS-51F/Spacelab 2. Both specialists conducted 13 different experiments. The solar optical telescope that the men operated recorded more images of the sun than the telescopes of Skylab, which was in operation for 171 days.
DEF:
NONE
Adams, Michael James (Mike)
Major, US Air Force (deceased)
Date of Birth: May 5, 1930
Date of Death: November 15, 1967
Place of Birth: Sacramento, CA, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Freida Beard Adams
Children: Michael James jr., Brent S. and Liese F. Adams
Adams was chosen as one of the original eight Group 1 pilot astronauts for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). However, the program was repeatedly delayed, and the pilot transferred to the X-15 program, where he made a total of seven flights in the No. 1 and No. 3 aircraft. On his last, fatal flight, Adams achieved an altitude of 50 miles, logging over four minutes of spaceflight.
DEF:
NONE
Adamson, James Craig (Jim)
Colonel, US Army (active)
Date of Birth: March 3, 1946
Place of Birth: Warsaw, NY, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Susan Broman Adamson
Children: Erik David
Adamson has been a member of the Space Shuttle program since 1980. He has tested a variety of the shuttle systems and was chosen as a NASA leader in the rebuilding of the shuttle program after the Challenger accident. Later, Adamson was chosen as a mission specialist and served on STS-28 and STS-43.
DEF:
NONE
Afanasyev, Viktor Mikhailovich (Vitya)
Colonel, Russian Air Force (active)
Date of Birth: December 31, 1948
Place of Birth: Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast, Russia
Afanasyev served as backup commander for Soyuz flights TM-9 and TM-10. On Soyuz TM-11/Mir, the pilot was given command.
DEF:
NONE
Akbar, Taufic
Date of Birth: January 8, 1951
Place of Birth: Medan, Republic of Indonesia
Spouse: Mrs. Junaini Harun Akbar
Children: Zulhafiz Akbar, Naufal Mulya
Akbar was to be a payload specialist for STS-61-H which was cancelled after the Challenger accident.
DEF:
NONE
Akers, Thomas Dale (Tom)
Major, US Air Force (active)
Date of Birth: May 20, 1951
Place of Birth: St. Louis, MO, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Kaye Lynn Parker Akers
Children: David Allen, Jessica Marie
Akers served as a mission specialist on STS-41/Ulysses and STS-49, the maiden voyage of the Space Shuttle Endeavor.
DEF:
aks.bmp
Aksenov, Vladimir Viktorovich (Volodya)
Cand. Sc.
Date of Birth: February 1, 1935
Place of Birth: Gibilitskiy, Kasimov District, Ryazan Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Marina Vasilyevna Aksenov
Children: Valery, Sergei
Aksenov was launched aboard Soyuz 22 where he acted as flight engineer. Again, the cosmonaut participated as flight engineer on the Soyuz T-2/Salyut 6 mission. This last mission was the first test of a new on-board computer that malfunctioned causing Aksenov and Commander Yuri V. Malyshev to dock manually with Salyut 6.
284 hours, 11 minutes, 47 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Aldridge, Edward Cleveland jr. (Pete)
civilian
Date of Birth: August 18, 1938
Place of Birth: Houston, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Joanne Knotts Aldridge
Children: four, unreported
Aldridge was chosen as a payload specialist for STS 62-A, the first scheduled launch from Vandenburg AFB in California. After the Challenger Accident, the launch was delayed and finally cancelled. The astronaut, however, served in a variety of posts in the Reagan and Bush Administrations' space policy. Former Vice President Dan Quayle, in 1990, chose Aldridge to serve on the Advisory Committee on the Future of the US Space Program.
DEF:
ald.bmp
Aldrin, Edwin Eugene jr. (Buzz/Dr. Rendezvous)
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: January 20, 1930
Place of Birth: Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Joan Ann Archer (divorced), Mrs. Beverly Van Zile (divorced), Mrs. Lois Driggs Aldrin
Children: James Michael, Janice Ross, Andrew John
Aldrin served as Backup Pilot for Gemini GT-10 and GT-9A after Elliot M. See jr. and Charles A. Bassett II were killed in an aircraft accident. The astronaut piloted the last Gemini mission, GT-12, and performed the first extravehicular activity spending 5.5 hours outside the capsule. His next assignment was as Backup Senior Pilot for Apollo 8. The last mission Aldrin was to perform was as the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 11 and became the second person to walk on the moon.
289 hours, 53 minutes, 6 seconds space time logged including 8 hours, 18 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
aleks.bmp
Aleksandrov, Aleksander Pavlovich (Sashenka, Sasha)
civilian
Date of Birth: February 20, 1943
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Natalya Valentinovna Aleksandrov
Children: Sergei, Yrina
Aleksandrov served as Backup Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz T-8. His first flight assignment was aboard Soyuz T-9/Salyut 7 as Flight Engineer. On Soyuz T-13 and T-15, the cosmonaut served as Backup Flight Engineer. His last mission was as Flight Engineer for Soyuz TM-3/Mir.
7,433 hours, 3 minutes space time logged
DEF:
alex.bmp
Alexandrov, Alexander Panayotov (Sasha)
Major Engineer, Bulgarian Air Force
Date of Birth: December 1, 1951
Place of Birth: Omourtag, Bulgaria
Spouse: Mrs. Blagovesta Alexandrov
Children: Panayot
The cosmonaut served as Backup Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz 33. Alexandrov was launched aboard Soyuz TM-5/Mir/Soyuz where he worked as Cosmonaut-Researcher.
DEF:
NONE
Allen, Andrew Michael (Andy)
Major, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: August 4, 1955
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Juliet F. Allen
Children: Jessica Marie, Meredith Frances
The astronaut was Mission Specialist 1, then reassigned as Pilot, for STS-46/TSS-1. This shuttle mission featured the Tethered Satellite System, a satellite that was deployed from the payload on a 19.3km tether. The TSS was designed to collect data in the earth's upper atmosphere. Unfortunately, the tether failed to uncoil properly causing the entire experiment to fail.
DEF:
sts_5c.bmp
Allen, Joseph Percival IV (Joe)
Ph.D. Nuclear Physics
Date of Birth: June 27, 1937
Place of Birth: Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Bonnie Jo Allen
Children: David Christopher, Elizabeth Darling
Allen was a member of Apollo 15's Support Crew. His flight missions were STS-5, Mission Specialist 1, and STS 51-A, Mission Specialist 3. On STS 51-A, the astronaut participated in two spacewalks to retrieve the Palapa B-2 and Westar communications satellites.
313 hours, 59 minutes, 22 seconds space time logged including 10 hours, 43 minutes of EVA
activity
DEF:
alsa.bmp
al-Saud, H.R.H., Prince Sultan (ibn Salman ibn Abdulaziz)
Major, Royal Saudi Air Force
Date of Birth: June 27, 1956
Place of Birth: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Al-Saud was Payload Specialist 2 for STS 51-G becoming the first Arab to travel in space.
DEF:
and.bmp
Anders, William Alison (Bill)
Major General, US Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: October 17, 1933
Place of Birth: Hong Kong; His father was stationed there as a Naval officer.
Spouse: Mrs. Valerie Elizabeth Anders
Children: Alan Frank, Glen Thomas, Gayle Alison, Gregory Michael, Eric William, Diana Elizabeth
Anders served as Backup Pilot for Gemini GT-11. The astronaut, as Apollo 8's Pilot, became one of three of the first people to orbit the moon. For Apollo 11, Anders was the Backup Command Module Pilot.
147 hours, 42 seconds space time logged
DEF:
apt.bmp
Apt, Jerome III (Jay)
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: April 28, 1949
Place of Birth: Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Eleanor B. Emmons-Apt
Children: Sarah Bradlee
Apt served as Mission Specialist 3 aboard STS-37/GRO. Also, the astronaut participated in the joint NASA and Japanese space agency mission STS-47/Spacelab J as Mission Specialist 4.
143 hours, 33 minutes, 41 seconds space time logged including 10 hours, 39 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
arms.bmp
Armstrong, Neil Alden
civilian, former officer of the US Navy
Date of Birth: August 5, 1930
Place of Birth: Wapakoneta, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Janet Armstrong
Children: Eric, Mark, Karen (died as an infant)
The former X-15 pilot served as Backup Command Pilot for Gemini GT-5, Gemini GT-8 and Apollo 8.
His first launch was as Command Pilot for Gemini GT-11. Armstrong served as Commander of Apollo 11 where he became the first man to walk on the surface
of the moon.
3,290 flight hours logged including 2,500 hours in jet aircraft
206 hours, 1 second space time logged including 2 hours, 48 minutes of EVA activity
DEF:
NONE
Artsebarsky, Anatoly Pavlovich (Tolya)
Lieutenant Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: September 9, 1956
Place of Birth: Prosyanaya, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine
The cosmonaut served as Backup Commander for Soyuz TM-10 and Soyuz TM-11. His first flight was as Commander for Soyuz TM-12. Artsebarsky had to be rescued by fellow Cosmonaut Krikalev when his visor became fogged as he was atop a tower construction he had built outside the station.
DEF:
arty.bmp
Artyukin, Yuri Petrovich (Yura)
Colonel Engineer, Soviet Air Force Reserve; Cand. Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: July 22, 1930
Place of Birth: Lavrovo, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Nina Ivanovna Artyukin
Children: Sergei, Vladimir
The cosmonaut, on Soyuz 14/Salyut 3, participated as Flight Engineer.
377 hours, 30 minutes, 28 seconds space time logged.
DEF:
atk.bmp
Atkov, Oleg Yuryevich
Major, Soviet Air Force Reserve; Cand. Sc. Medicine
Date of Birth: May 9, 1949
Place of Birth: Khvorostyanka, Kuybyshev Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Yevgenia Atkov
Children: Katya
Soyuz T-10/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-11 was Atkov's first space flight where served as Cosmonaut-Researcher.
5,686 hours, 49 minutes, 4 seconds space time logged; the manned space flight endurance record
DEF:
NONE
Aubakirov, Toktar Ongarbyevich
civilian; Soviet Air Force Officer
Date of Birth: July 27, 1946
Place of Birth: Ersten-Mai-Kolchose, Karaganda Oblast, Kazakhstan
The cosmonaut served as Flight Engineer on Soyuz TM-13.
DEF:
bag.bmp
Bagian, James Philip (Jim)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force Reserve; M.D., P.E. (Professional Engineer)
Date of Birth: February 22, 1952
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Tandi M. Bagian
Children: Krista Rose, Kimberly Anne, Brian James
Bagian worked as Mission Specialist 3 aboard STS-29, and Mission Specialist 1 aboard STS-40/SLS-1.
337 hours, 54 minutes, 55 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Baker, Ellen Shulman
M.D.
Date of Birth: April 27, 1953
Place of Birth: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Mr. Kenneth J. Baker
Children: Karen Sarah
The astronaut was Mission Specialist 3 on the shuttle mission STS-34/Galileo. As well, Baker served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-50/USML-1.
DEF:
bak.bmp
Baker, Michael Allen (Mike)
Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: October 27, 1953
Place of Birth: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Spouse: Ms. Karen Ruth Love (divorced), Mrs. Deidra A. Baker
Children: Lesley Anne, Jane Ashley
Baker served as Pilot for both STS-43 and STS-52/LAGEOS II.
DEF:
NONE
Balandin, Aleksander Nicholaivich (Sasha)
civilian
Date of Birth: July 30, 1953
Place of Birth: Fryazino, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Lidia Vasilyevna Balandin
Children: Yulia, Alexei
The cosmonaut worked as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz TM-8. His first flight was as Flight Engineer for Soyuz TM-9/Mir.
4,297 hours, 19 minutes space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Bartoe, John-David Francis
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: November 17, 1944
Place of Birth: Abington, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Phyllis Ann Bartoe
Children: David Alan, Kevin John, Joelle Elizabeth
Bartoe served as Payload Specialist 2 aboard STS 51-F/Spacelab 2.
DEF:
bas.bmp
Bassett, Charles Arthur II (Charlie/Chuck)
Major, US Air Force
Date of Birth: December 30, 1931
Place of Birth: Dayton, Ohio, USA
Date of Death: February 28, 1966
Spouse: Mrs. Jean Marion Bassett
Children: Karen Elizabeth, Peter Martin
Bassett was chosen as a NASA pilot-astronaut (Group 3). While attempting to land, with co-pilot Elliot M. See jr., in heavy fog, Bassett accidentally struck the roof of the McDonnell Aircraft Corp. factory at Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport.
DEF:
bau.bmp
Baudry, Patrick (Pierre Roger)
Lieutenant Colonel, French Air Force
Date of Birth: March 6, 1946
Place of Birth: Douala, United Republic of Cameroons (parents French citizens)
Spouse: Mrs. Claude Baudry
Children: Melodie, Tatiana
Baudry served as Backup Research Pilot for the Soviet Soyuz T-6 mission. Also, the spationaute was Payload Specialist 1 for the US shuttle mission STS 51-G.
169 hours, 38 minutes, 52.4 seconds space time logged
DEF:
bean.bmp
Bean, Alan LaVern (Al)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: March 15, 1932
Place of Birth: Wheeler, Texas, USA
Spouse: Ms. Sue Ragsdale (divorced)
Children: Clay Arnold, Amy Sue
On Gemini GT-10, Bean served as Backup Command Pilot. For Apollo 9, he was Backup Lunar Module Pilot. His first flight was on Apollo 12 as Lunar Module Pilot. As well, Bean acted as Commander for Skylab SL-3/Skylab SL-1. Finally, the astronaut served as Backup Commander for Apollo 18 ASTP.
1,671 hours, 45 minutes, 29 seconds space time logged including 10 hours, 27 minutes of EVA
activity
DEF:
bely.bmp
Belyayev, Pavel Ivanovich (Pasha)
Colonel, Soviet Naval Air Force
Date of Birth: June 26, 1925
Place of Birth: Chelischevo, Vologda Oblast, Russia
Date of Death: January 10, 1970
Spouse: Mrs. Tatyana (Tanya) Filipovna Belyayev
Children: Irina, Lyudmilla
The cosmonaut was the Commander of Voshkod 2. He died of peritonitis caused by a severe bleeding ulcer in Moscow.
26 hours, 2 minutes, 17 seconds space time logged
DEF:
bere.bmp
Beregovoy, Georgei Timofeyevich (Zhora)
Lieutenant General, Soviet Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: April 15, 1921
Place of Birth: Fedorovka Karlovka, Poltava Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Lidiya Matveyevna Beregovoy
Children: Viktor, Lyudmilla
Beregovoy became Pilot of Soyuz 3 after the death of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. He became the first Soviet test pilot to fly in space.
94 hours, 50 minutes, 45 seconds space time logged
DEF:
berz.bmp
Berezovoy, Anatoli Nicholaivich (Tolya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: April 11, 1942
Place of Birth: Enem, Adygei Autonomous Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Lidia Berezovoy
Children: Sergei, Tatyana
Berezovoy participated as Backup Commander for Soyuz 21, Soyuz 23, Soyuz 24, Soyuz T-11 and Soyuz TM-6. The cosmonaut served as Commander for Soyuz T-5/Salyut 7/ Soyuz T-7.
5,073 hours, 4 minutes, 32 seconds space time logged
DEF:
blaha.bmp
Blaha, John Elmer
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: August 26, 1942
Place of Birth: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Brenda I. Blaha
Children: James H., Steven A., Carolyn A.
Blaha piloted STS-29, STS-40/SLS-1 and STS-33. He served as Commander for STS-43.
453 hours, 7 minutes, 52 seconds space time logged
DEF:
bluf.bmp
Bluford, Guion Stewart jr. (Guy/Bunny)
Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering; Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: November 22, 1942
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Linda M. Bluford
Children: Guion Stewart III, James Trevor
Bluford served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-8, STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1 and STS-53. His assignment for STS-39 was Mission Specialist 3.
DEF:
bobko.bmp
Bobko, Karol Joseph (Bo)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: December 23, 1937
Place of Birth: New York, New York, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Frances Diane Bobko
Children: Michelle Ann, Paul Joseph
Bobko's first assignment was as Support Crew for Apollo 18 ASTP. For STS-6, the astronaut served as Pilot. On the following missions, STS 51-D and STS 51-J, Bobko acted as Commander.
386 hours, 3 minutes, 43 seconds space time logged
DEF:
bolden.bmp
Bolden, Charles Frank jr (Charlie)
Colonel, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: August 19, 1946
Place of Birth: Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Alexis "Jackie" Bolden
Children: Anthony Che, Kelly M.
Bolden was Pilot for STS 61-C and STS-31, and Commander for STS-45.
DEF:
NONE
Bondar, Roberta Lynn
M.D.; Ph.D. Neurobiology
Date of Birth: December 4, 1945
Place of Birth: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Bondar served as Payload Specialist 2 for STS-42/IML-1.
DEF:
borman.bmp
Borman, Frank Frederick II
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: March 14, 1928
Place of Birth: Gary, Indiana, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Susan Borman
Children: Frederick Pierce, Edwin Sloan
Borman's first assignment was as Backup Command Pilot for Gemini GT-4. He was the Command Pilot on Gemini GT-7, and the Commander of Apollo 8.
477 hours, 35 minutes, 43 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Bowersox, Kenneth Dwane (Ken)
Lieutenant Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: November 14, 1956
Place of Birth: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Ann C. Bowersox
The astronaut served as Pilot for STS-50/USML-1.
DEF:
brand.bmp
Brand, Vance DeVoe
civilian; US Marine Corps (retired)
Date of Birth: May 9, 1931
Place of Birth: Longmont, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Ms. Joan Virginia Weninger (divorced); Mrs. Beverly Ann Brand
Children: Susan Nancy, Stephanie, Patrick Richard, Kevin Stephen, Erik Ryan, Dane Vance
For Apollo 8 and Apollo 13, Brand served as Support Crew. The astronaut was the Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo 15. As well, he acted as Backup Commander for Skylab SL-3 and Skylab SL-4, and as Command Module Pilot for Apollo 18 ASTP. On the shuttle program, Brand served as Commander for STS-5, STS 41-B and STS-35/Astro 1.
746 hours, 3 minutes, 53 seconds space time logged
DEF:
brndst.bmp
Brandenstein, Daniel Charles (Dan)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: January 17, 1943
Place of Birth: Watertown, Wisconsin, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Jane A. Brandenstein
Children: Adelle
The astronaut acted as Pilot for STS-8, and Commander for STS 51-G, STS-32 and STS-49.
575 hours, 49 minutes, 13.4 seconds space time logged
DEF:
bridge.bmp
Bridges, Roy Dubard jr.
Brigadier General, US Air Force
Date of Birth: July 19, 1943
Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Benita Louise Bridges
Children: Tanya M., Brian N.
Bridges served as Pilot for STS 51-F.
190 hours, 45 minutes, 26 seconds space time logged
DEF:
brown.bmp
Brown, Curtis Lee jr. (Curt)
Major, US Air Force
Date of Birth: March 11, 1956
Place of Birth: Elizabethtown, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Ms. Rebecca Melvin (divorced)
Children: Gregory Scott
Brown acted as Pilot for STS-47/Spacelab J.
DEF:
buchli.bmp
Buchli, James Frederick (Jim)
Colonel, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: June 20, 1945
Place of Birth: New Rockford, North Dakota, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Jean Buchli
Children:James C., Jennifer C.
Buchli performed duties as Mission Specialist 2 for STS 51-C, STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1 and STS-48/UARS, and served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-29.
DEF:
bykv.bmp
Bykovsky, Valeri Fedorovich (Valera)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force Reserve; Cand. Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: August 2, 1934
Place of Birth: Pavlovsky Posad, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Valentina Michailovna Bykovsky
Children: Valeri (deceased), Sergei
The cosmonaut served as Backup Pilot for Vostok 2 and Vostok 3, and as Pilot for Vostok 5. Bykovsky acted as Commander for Soyuz 2 (canceled), Soyuz 22, Soyuz 31/Salyut6/Soyuz 29. Finally, he served as Backup Commander for Soyuz 37.
497 hours, 48 minutes, 23 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Cabana, Robert Donald (Bob)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: January 23, 1949
Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Nancy Joan Cabana
Children: Jeffrey David, Christopher Robert, Sarah Anne
Cabana acted as Pilot for STS-41/Ulysses and STS-53.
DEF:
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Cameron, Kenneth Donald (Ken)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: November 29, 1949
Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Michele Renee Cameron
Children: Robert Ian, Edward Ellison
On STS-37/GRO, Cameron worked as Pilot.
143 hours, 33 minutes, 41 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Carpenter, Malcolm Scott
Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: May 1, 1925
Place of Birth: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Ms. Rene Louise Price (divorced); Mrs. Maria Roach Carpenter
Children: Marc Scott, Kristen Elaine, Candace Noxon, Robyn Jay, Matthew Scott, Nicholas Andre
The astronaut served as Backup Pilot for Mercury MA-6, and piloted Mercury MA-7.
4 hours, 56 minutes, 5 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Carr, Gerald Paul (Jerry)
Colonel, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: August 22, 1932
Place of Birth: Denver, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Ms. JoAnn Ruth Petrie (divorced); Mrs. Patricia L. Carr
Children: Jennifer Anne, Jamee Adele, Jeffrey Ernest, John Christian, Jessica Louise, Joshua Lee
For Apollo 8 and Apollo 12, Carr served as Support Crew. The astronaut acted as Commander for Skylab SL-4/Skylab SL-1.
2,017 hours, 15 minutes, 30.8 seconds space time logged including 15 hours EVA activity
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Casper, John Howard
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: July 9, 1943
Place of Birth: Greenville, South Carolina, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Christine Gardner Casper
Children: Robert Cann, Stephanie Elizabeth
The astronaut served as Pilot for STS-36, and Commander for STS-54.
DEF:
NONE
Cenker, Robert Joseph (Bob)
civilian
Date of Birth: November 5, 1948
Place of Birth: Uniontown, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Barbara Ann Cenker
Children: Daniel Joseph, Brian Joseph, Laura Ann
Cenker acted as Payload Specialist 1 for STS 61-C.
146 hours, 3 minutes, 51 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Cernan, Eugene Andrew (Gene)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: March 14, 1934
Place of BIrth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Spouse: Ms. Barbara Jean Atchley; Mrs. Jan Cernan
Children: Teresa Dawn
Cernan worked as Backup Pilot for Gemini GT-9, Gemini GT-12 and Apollo 7. He piloted Gemini GT-9A, and was the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 10. For Apollo 14, Cernan acted as Backup Commander, and finally served as Commander on Apollo 17.
566 hours, 16 minutes, 10 seconds space time logged including 24 hours, 11 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Chaffee, Roger Bruce
Lieutenant Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: February 15, 1935
Place of Birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Date of Death: January 27, 1967
Spouse: Mrs. Martha Louise Chaffee
Children: Sheryl Lyn, Stephen Bruce
Chaffee served as Pilot for Apollo 1 which was not an actual spaceflight. The astronaut was killed during training in the Apollo 1 (Apollo 204) simulator.
DEF:
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Chang-Diaz, Franklin Ramon
Sc.D. Apllied Plasma Physics
Date of Birth: April 5, 1950
Place of Birth: San Jose, Republic of Costa Rica (naturalized US citizen)
Spouse: unspecified first wife; Mrs. Peggy Marguerite Chang-Diaz
Children: Jean E., Sonia R., Lidia A.
Astronaut Chang served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS 61-C. As well, the man acted as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-34/Galileo and STS-46/TSS-1.
DEF:
NONE
Chilton, Kevin Patrick
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: November 3, 1954
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Cathy Chilton
Children: Madison Marie
For STS-49, Chilton served as Pilot.
DEF:
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Chretien, Jean-Loup (Jacques Marie)
Brigadier General, French Air Force
Date of Birth: August 20, 1938
Place of Birth: La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime Department, French Republic
The spationaute was Research Pilot for Soyuz T-6/Salyut 7. For the US space shuttle, Chretien served as Backup Payload Specialist 1 on STS 51-G. As well, he worked as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz TM-7/Mir/Soyuz TM-6.
759 hours, 57 minutes, 52 seconds space time logged
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Cleave, Mary Louise
Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering
Date of Birth: February 5, 1947
Place of Birth: Southampton, New York, USA
Spouse: unmarried
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 2 for flights STS 61-B and STS-30/Magellan.
262 hours, 2 minutes, 9 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Clifford, Michael Richard Uram (Rich)
Major, US Army
Date of Birth: October 13, 1952
Place of Birth: Norton Air Force Base, California, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Nancy Elizabeth Clifford
Children: Richard Benjamin, Brandon Brunson
Clifford served as Mission Specialist 3 for STS-53.
DEF:
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Coats, Michael Loyd (Mike)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: January 16, 1946
Place of Birth: Sacramento, California, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Diane Eileen Coats
Children: Laura M., Paul M.
The astronaut acted as Pilot for STS 41-D, and Commander for STS-29 and STS-39.
463 hours, 58 minutes, 10 seconds space tiime logged
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Collins, Michael (Mike)
Major General, US Air Force Reserve (retired)
Date of Birth: October 31, 1930
Place of Birth: Rome, Italian Republic (parents US citizens)
Spouse: Mrs. Patricia Mary Collins
Children: Kathleen, Ann Stewart, Michael Lawton
For Gemini GT-7, Collins served as Backup Pilot, and Pilot for Gemini GT-10. On Apollo 11, the astronaut was Command Module Pilot.
266 hours, 5 minutes, 14 seconds space time logged including 27 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Conrad, Charles jr. (Pete/Tweety Bird)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: June 2, 1930
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Jane Conrad
Children: Peter, Thomas, Andrew, Christopher
Gemini GT-5 was Conrad's first service as Pilot. On Gemini GT-8, the astronaut served as Backup Command Pilot. As well, Conrad was Command Pilot for Gemini GT-11. For Apollo 9, he performed duties as Backup Commander, and for Apollo 12 and Skylab SL-2/Skylab SL-1, Conrad was Commander.
1,179 hours, 38 minutes, 36 seconds space time logged including 7 hours, 46 minutes EVA activity and 7 hours, 46 minutes nonterrestrial planetary exploration
DEF:
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Cooper, Leroy Gordon jr. (Gordo)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired); service in US Army, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: March 6, 1927
Place of Birth: Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
Spouse: Ms. Trudy B. Olson (divorced); Mrs. Susan Cooper
Children: Camala Keoki Thorpe, Janita Lee Stone, Elizabeth Jo, Colleen Taylor
The astronaut served as Backup Pilot for Mercury MA-8, and Pilot for Mercury MA-9. For Gemini GT-5, Cooper acted as Command Pilot, then Backup Command Pilot for Gemini GT-12. Finally, on Apollo 10, Cooper served as Backup Commander.
255 hours, 15 minutes, 3 seconds space time logged
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Covey, Richard Oswalt (Dick)
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: August 1, 1946
Place of Birth: Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Kathleen Covey
Children: Sarah Suzanne, Amy Kathleen
Covey acted as Pilot for STS 51-I and STS-26. For STS-38, the astronaut served as Commander.
385 hours, 12 minutes, 18 seconds space time logged
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Creighton, John Oliver
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: April 28, 1943
Place of Birth: Orange, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Terry Creighton
On STS 51-G, Creighton served as Pilot. He was Commander for STS-36 and STS-48/UARS.
DEF:
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Crippen, Robert Laurel (Bob/Crip)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: September 11, 1937
Place of Birth: Beaumont, Texas, USA
Spouse: Ms. Virginia E. Hill (divorced); Mrs. Pandora Lee Crippen
Children: Ellen Marie, Susan Lynn, Linda Ruth
Crippen worked as Support Crew for Skylab SL-2, Skylab SL-3, Skylab SL-4 and Apollo 18 ASTP. He served as Pilot for STS-1 (OFT). For mission STS-7, STS 41-C and STS 41-G, the astronaut acted as Commander.
565 hours, 48 minutes, 26 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Culbertson, Frank Lee jr.
Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: May 15, 1949
Place of BIrth: Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Spouse: Ms. Deborah Ann Follette (divorced); Mrs. Rebecca Ellen Culbertson
Children: Wendy Nicole, Amanda Walters, Ashley Elizabeth, Frank Lee III
The astronaut worked as Pilot for STS-38.
117 hours, 54 minutes, 28 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Cunningham, Ronnie Walter (Walt)
Colonel, US Marine Corps Reserve (retired)
Date of Birth: March 16, 1932
Place of Birth: Creston, Iowa, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Lo Ella Cunningham
Children: Brian Keith, Kimberly Ann
For Apollo 1, Cunningham acted as Backup Pilot, and as Pilot for Apollo 7.
260 hours, 8 minutes, 58 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Davis, Nancy Jan
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering
Date of Birth: November 1, 1953
Place of Birth: Patrick Air Force Base, Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA
Spouse: divorced once; Mr. Mark Charles Lee
Davis served as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-47/Spacelab J.
DEF:
NONE
DeLucas, Lawrence James
O.D. Optometry; Ph.D. Biochemistry
Date of Birth: July 11, 1950
Place of Birth: Syracuse, New York, USA
The astronaut worked as Payload Specialist for STS-50/USML-1.
DEF:
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Demin, Lev Stepanovich (Leva)
Colonel Engineer, Soviet Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: January 11, 1926
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Zinayda Aleksandrovna Demin
Children: Sergei, Natalia
Grandchildren: Vladimir
The cosmonaut served as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 14, and Flight Engineer for Soyuz 15/Salyut 3 (an aborted mission).
48 hours, 12 minutes, 11 seconds space time logged
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Dobrovolski, Georgei Timofeyevich (Zhora)
Colonel, Soviet Naval Air Force
Date of Birth: June 1, 1928
Date of Death: June 30, 1971
Place of Birth: Odessa, Odessa Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Lyudmila Timofeyevna Dobrovolski
Children: Maria, Natasha
The cosmonaut served as Backup Commander for Soyuz 10 and Soyuz 11. His final flight was as Commander for Soyuz 11/Salyut 1. He, Vladimir N. Volkov and Viktor I. Patsayev died during the initial phase of re-entry of the mission.
570 hours, 21 minutes, 43 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Duffy, Brian
Major, US Air Force
Date of Birth: June 20, 1953
Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Janet M. Duffy
Children: Shaun Patrick, Shannon Marie
Duffy served as Pilot for STS-45.
DEF:
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Duke, Charles Moss jr. (Chuck)
Brigadier General, US Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: October 3, 1935
Place of Birth: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Dorothy M. Duke
Children: Charles Moss III, Thomas Claiborne
The astronaut acted as Support Crew for Apollo 10, and Backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 13. On Apollo 16, Duke was Lunar Module Pilot. Again, on Apollo 17, he worked as Backup Lunar Module Pilot.
265 hours, 51 minutes, 5 seconds space time logged including 21 hours, 38 minutes EVA activity of which 20 hours, 14 minutes, 54 seconds non-terrestrial planetary exploration
DEF:
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Dunbar, Bonnie Jeanne
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering
Date of Birth: March 3, 1949
Place of Birth: Sunnyside, Washington, USA
Spouse: unspecified divorce; Mr. Ronald Michael Sega
Dunbar served as Mission Specialist 3 for STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1, Mission Specialist 1 for STS-32, and Mission Specialist 2 for STS-50/USML-1.
DEF:
NONE
Durrance, Samuel Thornton (Sam)
Ph.D. Astro-Geophysics
Date of Birth: September 17, 1943
Place of Birth: Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Rebecca Durrance
Children: Benjamin
The astronaut worked as Payload Specialist 1 for STS-35/Astro 1.
215 hours, 5 minutes, 8 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Dzhanibekov, Vladimir Aleksandrov (Volodya)
Major General, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: May 13, 1942
Place of Birth: Iksandr, Tashkent Oblast, Uzbekistan
Spouse: Mrs. Lilia Munirovna Dzhanibekov
Children: Inna, Olga
The cosmonaut acted as Backup Commander for Soyuz 16, Soyuz 19 ASTP, and Soyuz 36. Dzhanibekov served as Commander for Soyuz 27/Salyut6/Soyuz 26, Soyuz 39/Salyut 6, Soyuz T-6/Salyut 7, Soyuz T-12/Salyut 7, and Soyuz T-13/Salyut 7.
3,485 hours, 58 minutes, 29 seconds space time logged including 6 hours, 30 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Eisele, Donn Fulton
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: June 23, 1930
Date of Death: December 2, 1987
Place of Birth: Columbus, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Ms. Harriet Elaine Hamilton (divorced); Mrs. Susan H. Eisele
Children: Melinda Sue Germe, Donn Hamilton, Matthew Reed, Jon J., Kristin, Andrew
Eisele served as Backup Senior Pilot for Apollo 1, and Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo 10. For Apollo 7, the astronaut worked as Senior Pilot.
Eisele died of a heart attack in Tokyo, Japan while promoting a space camp run by Nippon Steel. He was accompanied by fellow astronaut Alan B. Shepard jr.
DEF:
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England, Anthony Wayne (Tony)
Ph.D. Geophysics
Date of Birth: May 15, 1942
Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Kathleen Ann England
Children: Heidi Lynd, Heather Anne
England served as Support Crew for both Apollo 13 and Apollo 16. His first flight was as Mission Specialist 2 on STS 51-F/Spacelab 2.
190 hours, 45 minutes, 26 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Engle, Joe Henry
Brigadier General, US Air National Guard
Date of Birth: August 26, 1932
Place of Birth: Dickinson County, Kansas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Mary Catherine Engle
Children: Laurie Jo, Jon Lawrence
Engle served as Support Crew for Apollo 10. For Apollo 14, the astronaut was Backup Lunar Module Pilot, and for STS-1, he was Backup Commander. On STS-2 and STS 51-I, Engle acted as Commander.
225 hours, 36.88 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Evans, Ronald Ellwin (Ron)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: November 10, 1933
Date of Death: April 7, 1990
Place of Birth: St. Francis, Kansas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Janet Merle Evans
Children: Jaime Dayle, Jon Pollom
Evans served as Support Crew for Apollo 7 and Apollo 11. He was Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo 14, and Command Module Pilot for Apollo 17. Again, Evans acted as Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo 18 ASTP.
The astronaut died of a heart attack while sleeping in his Scottsdale, Arizona home.
301 hours, 51 minutes, 57 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Fabian, John McCreary
Colonel, US Air Force; Ph.D. Aeronautics and Astronautics
Date of Birth: January 28, 1939
Place of Birth: Goosecreek, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Donna Kay Fabian
Children: Michael Kenneth, Amy Louise
Fabian served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-7, and Mission Specialist 3 for STS 51-G.
316 hours, 2 minutes, 51.4 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Faris, Mohammed Ahmad
Lieutenant Colonel, Syrian Air Force
Date of Birth: May 26, 1951
Place of Birth: Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic
Spouse: Mrs. Gind Akil
Children: Gadil, Kutaib
Faris acted as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz TM-3/Mir/Soyuz TM-2.
191 hours, 4 minutes, 5 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Farkas, Bertalan (Bertsi)
Lieutenant Colonel, Hungarian Air Force
Date of Birth: August 2, 1949
Place of Birth: Gyulahaza, Szabolcs-Szatmar, Hungary
Spouse: Mrs. Anniko Farkas
Children: Gabor, Aida
The cosmonaut served as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz 36/Salyut 6/Soyuz 35.
188 hours, 45 minutes, 44 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Filipchenko, Anatoli Vasilyevich (Filip/Tolya)
Major General, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: February 26, 1928
Place of Birth: Davydovka, Voronezh Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Elizabeta, Aleksandrovna Filipchenko
Children: Aleksandr, Igor
He worked as Backup Commander for Soyuz 5, Soyuz 9, and Soyuz 19 ASTP. As well, the cosmonaut served as Commander for Soyuz 7 and Soyuz 16.
261 hours, 3 minutes, 58 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Fisher, Anna Lee
M.D.
Date of Birth: August 24, 1949
Place of Birth: St. Albans, New York, USA
Spouse: unspecified divorce; Dr. William Frederick Fisher
Children: Kristin Anne, Kara Lynne
The astronaut worked as Mission Specialist 1 for STS 51-A.
191 hours, 44 minutes, 56 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Fisher, William Frederick (Bill/Fish)
M.D.
Date of Birth: April 1, 1946
Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA
Spouse: unspecified divorce; Mrs. Anna Lee Fisher
Children: Kristin Anne, Kara Lynne
On STS 51-I, Fisher served as Mission Specialist 3.
170 hours, 17 minutes, 42 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Foale, Colin Michael (Mike)
Ph.D. Laboratory Astrophysics
Date of Birth: January 6, 1957
Place of Birth: Louth, Lincolnshire, England (US citizen)
Spouse: Mrs. Rhonda R. Foale
The astronaut acted as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-45/ATLAS 1.
DEF:
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Fullerton, Charles Gordon (Gordon/Gordo)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: October 11, 1936
Place of Birth: Rochester, New York, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Marie Jeanette Fullerton
Children: Molly Marie, Andrew Alexander
He served as Support Crew for Apollo 14 and Apollo 17. For STS-3 (OFT), Fullerton acted as Pilot. As well, the astronaut served as Commander for STS 51-F/Spacelab 2.
382 hours, 50 minutes, 10.9 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Furrer, Reinhold Alfred
Dr.rer.nat. Physics
Date of Birth: November 25, 1940
Place of Birth: Worgl/Kufstein, Republic of Austria (German citizen)
Furrer acted as Payload Specialist 1 for STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1.
DEF:
NONE
Gaffney, Francis Andrew (Drew)
M.D.
Date of Birth: June 9, 1946
Place of Birth: Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Sheila Gaffney
Children: Andrea Elaine, Lauren Michelle
The astronaut worked as Payload Specialist 1 for STS-40/SLS-1.
218 hours, 15 minutes, 14 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Gagarin, Yuri Alekseyevich (Yura)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: March 9, 1934
Date of Death: March 27, 1968
Place of Birth: Klushino, Smolensk Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Valentina Ivanovna Gagarin
Children: Yelena, Galina
The first man in space was the Pilot for Vostok 1, and Backup Pilot for Soyuz 1.
Gagarin , and fellow pilot Vladimir S. Seregin, died when they lost control of their MiG-15 jet trainer near Kirzhach, Vladimir Oblast, Russia.
1 hour, 48 minutes space time logged
DEF:
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Gardner, Dale Alan
Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: November 8, 1948
Place of Birth: Fairmont, Minnesota, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Sue Grace Gardner
Children: Lisa Amanda, Todd Allan
Gardner served as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-8 and STS 51-A.
336 hours, 53 minutes, 39 seconds space time logged including 10 hours, 43 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Gardner, Guy Spence
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: January 6, 1948
Place of Birth: Altavista, Virginia, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Linda A. Gardner
Children: Jennifer, Sarah, Jason
The astronaut acted as Pilot for STS-27 and STS-35/Astro 1.
320 hours, 11 minutes, 27 seconds space time logged
Children: Jacob Wayne, Susan Rhae Horne, Ellen Marie, Jeffrey Paul, Christopher Brook Bingham, Matthew Spencer, Jennifer Kathleen
For STS 51-D, Garn served as Payload Specialist 2.
167 hours, 55 minutes, 23 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Garneau, Joseph Jean-Pierre Marc
Captain, Canadian Navy (retired); Ph.D. Electrical Engineering
Date of Birth: February 23, 1949
Place of Birth: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Spouse: Ms. Jacqueline Brown (divorced)
Children: Yves, Simone
The astronaut served as Payload Specialist 2 on STS 41-G.
197 hours, 23 minutes, 33 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Garriott, Owen Kay jr.
US Navy (retired); Ph.D. Electrical Engineering
Date of Birth: November 22, 1930
Place of Birth: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Helen Mary Garriott
Children: Randall O., Robert K., Richard A., Linda S.
Garriott acted as Science Pilot for Skylab SL-3/Skylab SL-1. As well, he served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-9/Spacelab 1.
1,674 hours, 56 minutes, 28 seconds space time logged including 13 hours, 42 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Gemar, Charles Donald (Sam)
Major, US Army
Date of Birth: August 4, 1955
Place of Birth: Yankton, South Dakota, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Charlene Gemar
Children: Grant Leighton
Gemar served as Mission Specialist 3 for STS-38, and Mission Specialist 1 for STS-48/UARS.
117 hours, 54 minutes, 28 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Gibson, Edward George (Ed)
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering and Physics
Date of Birth: November 8, 1936
Place of Birth: Buffalo, New York, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Julie Anne Gibson
Children: Jannet Lynn, John Edward, Julie Ann, Joseph Michael
The astronaut worked as Support Crew for Apollo 12, and Science Pilot for Skylab SL-4/Skylab SL-1.
2,017 hours, 15 minutes, 30.8 seconds space time logged including 15 hours, 22 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Gibson, Robert Lee (Hoot)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: October 30, 1946
Place of Birth: Cooperstown, New York, USA
Spouse: Ms. Cathy Marie Von Epps (divorced); Mrs. Margaret Rhea Seddon
Children: Julie Christie, Paul Seddon, Edward Dann
For STS 41-B, Gibson served as Pilot, and for STS 61-C, STS-27, STS-47/Spacelab J, he acted as Commander.
DEF:
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Glazkov, Yuri Nicholaievich (Yura)
Major General, Soviet Air Force; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: October 2, 1939
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: unspecified
Children: unspecific, two daughters
The cosmonaut served as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 21 and Soyuz 23. As well, he acted as Flight Engineer for Soyuz 24/Salyut 5.
425 hours, 25 minutes, 58 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Glenn, John Herschel jr. (Bud)
Colonel, US Marine Corps (retired); US Senator
Date of Birth: July 18, 1921
Place of Birth: Cambridge, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Anna Margaret Glenn
Children: John David, Carolyn Ann Freedman
Glenn served as Backup Pilot for Mercury MR-3 and Mercury MR-4, and Pilot for Mercury MA-6.
4 hours, 55 minutes, 23 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Goddard, Robert Hutchings
Ph.D. Engineering
Date of Birth: 1882
Date of Death: 1945
At age 17, after reading a serialization of H.G. Welles' The War of the Worlds, Robert Goddard envisioned a machine that would enable men to fly to Mars and beyond. Through years of research and development, the scientist would produce the first controlled rocket craft. He became the father of modern rocketry.
DEF:
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Godwin, Linda Maxine
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: July 2, 1952
Place of Birth: Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA
Spouse: unspecified divorce
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-37/GRO and STS-60/SRL-1.
DEF:
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Gorbatko, Viktor Vasileivich (Vitya)
Major General, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: December 3, 1934
Place of Birth: Ventsy-Zarya, Krasnodar Kray, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Valentina Pavlovna Gorbatko
Children: Irina, Marina
Gorbatko served as Backup Commander for Voshkod 2, Soyuz 21, Soyuz 23 and Soyuz 31. As well, the cosmonaut acted as Backup Research Engineer for Soyuz 2 and Soyuz 5. For Soyuz 7, he worked as Research Engineer, and on Soyuz 24/Salyut 5, Soyuz 37/Salyut 6/Soyuz 36, the man was Commander.
732 hours, 48 minutes, 21 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Gordon, Richard Francis jr. (Dick)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: October 5, 1929
Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington, USA
Spouse: Ms. Barbara Jean Field (divorced); Mrs. Linda A. Gordon
Children: Carleen Elizabeth, Richard Francis III, Lawrence Joseph, Thomas Alan, James Edward, Diane Marie
For Gemini GT-8, the astronaut served as Backup Pilot. On Gemini GT-11, Gordon worked as Pilot; however, he served as Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo 9. Gordon acted as Command Module Pilot for Apollo 12, and Backup Commander for Apollo 15.
315 hours, 53 minutes, 33 seconds space time logged including 2 hours, 44 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Grabe, Ronald John (Ron)
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: June 13, 1945
Place of Birth: New York, New York, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Marijo A. Grabe
Children: Hilary, Alison
Grabe acted as Pilot for STS 51-J and STS-30/Magellan, and Commander for STS-42/IML-1.
DEF:
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Grechko, Georgei Michailovich (Zhora)
Dr.Sc. Physics and Mathematics; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: May 25, 1931
Place of Birth: Leningrad, Leningrad Oblast, Russia
Children: Alexei, Mikhail, unspecified third child
Grechko served as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 9, Soyuz 12 and Soyuz T-11, and Flight Engineer for Soyuz 17/Salyut 4, Soyuz 26/Salyut 6/Soyuz 27 and Soyuz T-14/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-13.
3,236 hours, 32 minutes, 52 seconds space time logged including 1 hour, 28 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Gregory, Frederick Drew (Fred)
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: January 7, 1941
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., USA
Spouse: Mrs. Barbara Ann Gregory
Children: Frederick Drew jr., Heather Lynn
The astronaut served as Pilot for STS 51-B/Spacelab 3, and Commander for STS-33 and STS-44.
288 hours, 15 minutes, 32 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Griggs, Stanley David (Dave)
Rear Admiral, US Naval Reserve
Date of Birth: September 7, 1939
Date of Death: June 17, 1989
Place of Birth: Portland, Oregon, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Karen Frances Griggs
Children: Alison Marie, Carre Anne
The astronaut worked as Mission Specialist 2 for STS 51-D.
Griggs lost control of a WWII vintage aircraft, near Earle, Arkansas, and died in the subsequent crash.
167 hours, 55 minutes, 23 seconds space time logged including 3 hours EVA activity
DEF:
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Grissom, Virgil Ivan (Gus)
Lieutanant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: April 3, 1926
Date of Death: January 27, 1967
Place of Birth: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Betty L. Grissom
Children: Allan Scott, Gary Mark
Grissom served as Pilot for Mercury MR-4, and Command Pilot for Gemini GT-3. He was Backup Command Pilot for Gemini GT-6A, and Commander for Apollo 1.
The astronaut, Edward H. White and Rodger B. Chaffee died in the catastrophic explosion inside the Apollo 1 capsule.
5 hours, 8 minutes, 8 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Gubarev, Alexei
Major General, Soviet Naval Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: March 29, 1931
Place of Birth: Gvardeytski, Kuybyshev Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Nadezhda Gubarev
Children: Vladimir, Olga
The cosmonaut acted as Backup Commander for Soyuz 12, and Commander for Soyuz 17/Salyut 4 and Soyuz 28/Salyut 6.
899 hours, 35 minutes, 45 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Gurragcha, Jugderdemidyn (Gurr)
Major General, Mongolian People's Army
Date of Birth: December 5, 1947
Place of Birth: Rashant, Bulgan, Mongolian People's Republic
Spouse: Mrs. Batmunkh Gurragcha
Children: unspecified son
Gurragcha worked as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz 39/Salyut 6.
188 hours, 42 minutes, 3 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Gutierrez, Sidney McNeill (Sid)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: June 27, 1951
Place of Birth: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Marianne Sue Gutierrez
Children: Jennifer Anne, David McNeill, Katherine Elizabeth
The astronaut served as Pilot for STS-40/SLS-1.
218 hours, 15 minutes, 14 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Haise, Fred Wallace jr.
civilian
Date of Birth: November 14, 1933
Place of Birth: Biloxi, Mississippi, USA
Spouse: Ms. Mary Griffin Grant (divorced); Mrs. F. Patt Haise
Children: Mary Margaret, Frederick Thomas, Stephen William, Thomas Jesse
Haise acted as Support Crew for Apollo 9, Backup Pilot for Apollo 8, Backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 11, Backup Commander for Apollo 16 and Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 13.
142 hours, 54 minutes, 41 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Hammond, Lloyd Blaine jr.
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: January 16, 1952
Place of Birth: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Spouse: Ms. Terry Lee White (divorced); Mrs. Lela Ann Hammond
Children: Vanessa Ann, Michael Blaine
Hammond worked as Pilot for STS-39.
199 hours, 22 minutes, 25 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Harbaugh, Gregory Jordan (Greg)
civilian
Date of Birth: April 15, 1956
Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Carol Ann Harbaugh
Children: Kelly Allison, Dana Claire
Harbaugh served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-39 and STS-54.
DEF:
NONE
Harris, Bernard Anthony jr.
M.D.
Date of Birth: June 26, 1956
Place of Birth: Temple, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Sandra Faye Harris
The astronaut worked as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-55/Spacelab D-2.
DEF:
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Hart, Terry Jonathan (TJ)
Lieutenant Colonel, Texas Air National Guard
Date of Birth: October 27, 1946
Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Wendy Marie Hart
Children: Amy, Lori
Hart was Mission Specialist 2 for STS 41-C.
167 hours, 40 minutes, 7 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Hartsfield, Henry Warren jr. (Hank)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: November 21, 1933
Place of Birth: Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Judy Frances Hartsfield
Children: Judy Lynn, Keely Warren
Astronaut Hartsfield worked as Support Crew for Apollo 16, Skylab SL-2, Skylab SL-3 and Skylab SL-4. He was Backup Pilot for STS-2 (OFT) and STS-3 (OFT). For STS-4, Hartsfield acted as Pilot, and Commander for STS 41-D and STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1.
482 hours, 50 minutes, 35.1 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Hauck, Frederick Hamilton (Rick)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: April 11, 1941
Place of Birth: Long Beach, California, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Dolly Hauck
Children: Whitney Irene, Stephen Christopher
He served as Pilot for STS-7, and Commander for STS 51-A and STS-26.
435 hours, 9 minutes, 3 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Hawley, Steven Alan (Steve)
Ph.D. Astronomy and Astrophysics
Date of Birth: December 12, 1951
Place of Birth: Ottawa, Kansas, USA
Spouse: Ms. Sally Kristen Ride (divorced); Mrs. Ellen M. Hawley
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 2 for STS 41-D, STS 61-C and STS-31.
412 hours, 16 minutes, 1 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Helms, Susan Jane
Major, US Air Force
Date of Birth: February 26, 1958
Place of Birth: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Helms was Mission Specialist 3 for STS-54.
DEF:
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Henize, Karl Gordon
Lieutenant Commander, US Naval Reserve (retired)
Date of Birth: October 17, 1926
Place of Birth: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Caroline Rose Henize
Children: Karl Gordon, Marcia Lynn, Skye Karen, Vance Karl
The astronaut worked as Support Creew for Apollo 15, Skylab SL-2, Skylab SL-3 and Skylab SL-4, and Mission Specialist 3 for STS 51-F/Spacelab 2.
190 hours, 45 minutes, 26 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Hennen, Thomas John (Tom)
Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-3), US Army
Date of Birth: August 17, 1952
Place of Birth: Albany, Georgia, USA
Spouse: unspecified divorce
Children: Kristopher James, Jessie Nicole, Karl Scott
Hennen worked as Payload Specialist for STS-44.
DEF:
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Henricks, Terence Thomas (Tom)
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: July 5, 1952
Place of Birth: Bryan, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Ms. Kathy S. Gilbert (divorced)
Children: Katherine Ann, Terence Thomas jr., Heather Kimberly
Henricks served as Pilot for STS-44.
DEF:
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Hermaszewski, Miroslaw
Colonel, Polish Air Force
Date of Birth: September 15, 1941
Place of Birth: Lipnicki, Polish People's Republic
Spouse: Mrs. Emilia Hermaszewski
Children: Miroslaw, Emilia
For Soyuz 30/Salyut 6, the cosmonaut served as Cosmonaut-Researcher.
190 hours, 2 minutes, 59 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Hieb, Richard James (Rick)
civilian
Date of Birth: September 21, 1955
Place of Birth: Jamestown, North Dakota, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Jeannie Hiebs
Children: Lindsey Michelle, Jonathan Michael
On STS-39, Hieb served as Mission Specialist 5, and as Mission Specialist 3 for STS-49.
DEF:
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Hilmer, David Carl (Dave)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: January 28, 1950
Place of Birth: Clinton, Iowa, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Teresa Lynn Hilmers
Children: Matthew David, Daniel James
The astronaut worked as Mission Specialist1 for STS 51-J and STS-42/IML-1, and Mission Specialist 2 for STS-26 and STS-36.
DEF:
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Hoffman, Jeffrey Alan (Jeff)
Ph.D. Astrophysics
Date of Birth: November 2, 1944
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Barbara Catherine Hoffman
Children: Samuel L., Orin P.F.
Hoffman acted as Mission Specialist 3 for STS 51-D and STS-46/TSS-1, and Mission Specialist 1 for STS-35/Astro 1.
DEF:
NONE
Hughes-Fulford, Millie
Captain, Army Medical Service Corps, US Army; Ph.D. Biochemistry
Date of Birth: December 21, 1945
Place of Birth: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mr. George Anthony Fulford
Children: Victoria Lynne
Astronaut Hughes-Fulford served as Payload Specialist 2 on STS-40/SLS-1.
218 hours, 15 minutes, 14 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Irwin, James Benson (Jim)
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: March 17, 1930
Date of Death: August 8, 1991
Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Mary Ellen Irwin
Children: Joy Carmel, Jill Cherie, James Benson jr., Jan Caron, Joe Chau
Irwin served as Support Crew for Apollo 10, and Backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 12 and Apollo 17. For Apollo 15, Irwin was Lunar Module Pilot.
295 hours, 11 minutes, 53 seconds space time logged including 19 hours, 13 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Ivanchenkov, Aleksandr Sergeivich (Sasha)
civilian
Date of Birth: September 28, 1940
Place of Birth: Ivanteyevka, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Rimma Ivanchenkov
Children: Tatiana
Ivanchenkov served as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 16, Soyuz 19 ASTP, Soyuz 25, Soyuz 26 and Soyuz 27. For Soyuz 29/Salyut 6/Soyuz 31 and Soyuz T-6/Salyut 7, the cosmonaut acted as Flight Engineer.
3,450 hours, 38 minutes, 24 seconds space time logged including 2 hours, 5 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Ivanov, Georgei (Gosho)
Colonel-Engineer, Bulgarian Air Force
Date of Birth: July 2, 1940
Place of Birth: Lovech, Bulgaria
Spouse: Mrs. Natalia Ivanov
Children: Ani, unspecified son
Aboard Soyuz 33/Salyut 6, Ivanov served as Cosmonaut-Researcher.
DEF:
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Ivins, Marsha Sue
civilian
Date of BIrth: April 15, 1951
Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Spouse: unsepcified divorce
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-32, and Mission Specialist 1 for STS-45/TSS-1.
DEF:
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Jaehn, Sigmund
Major General, East German Air Force (disbanded)
Date of Birth: February 13, 1937
Place of Birth: Rautenkranz, Germany
Spouse: Mrs. Erika Jaehn
Children: Marina, Grit
For Soyuz 31/Salyut 6/Soyuz 29, Jaehn worked as Cosmonaut-Researcher.
188 hours, 49 minutes, 4 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Jarvis, Gregory Bruce (Greg)
civilian
Date of Birth: August 24, 1944
Date of Death: January 28, 1986
Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Marcia G. Jarvis
Jarvis served as Payload Specialist 1 aboard STS 51-L.
The astronaut, along with the entire crew, died in the explosion of the shuttle Challenger.
DEF:
NONE
Jemison, Mae Carol
M.D.
Date of Birth: October 17, 1956
Place of Birth: Decatur, Alabama, USA
Spouse: unspecified divorce
Astronaut Jemison worked as Payload Specialist 1 for STS-47/Spacelab J.
DEF:
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Jernigan, Tamar Elizabeth (Tammy)
Ph.D. Space Physics and Astronomy
Date of Birth: May 7, 1959
Place of Birth: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Spouse: unspecified divorce
She served as Mission Specialist 2 on STS-40/SLS-1 and STS-52/LAGEOS II.
DEF:
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Kerwin, Joseph Peter (Joe)
Captain, Medical Corps, US Navy (retired); M.D.
Date of Birth: February 19, 1932
Place of Birth: Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Shirley Ann Kerwin
Children: Sharon, Joanna, Kristina
Kerwin served as Science Pilot for Skylab SL-2/Skylab SL-1.
672 hours, 49 minutes, 49 seconds space time logged including 3 hours, 23 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Khrunov, Yevgeny Vasilyeivich (Zhenya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: September 10, 1933
Place of Birth: Prudy, Tula Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Svetlana Anatolyevna Khrunov
Children: Valeri
The cosmonaut acted as Backup Second Pilot for Voshkod 2, Research Engineer for Soyuz 5/Soyuz 4 and Backup Commander for Soyuz 38.
47 hours, 45 minutes, 50 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Kizim, Leonid Denisovich (Lenya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: August 5, 1941
Place of Birth: Krasny Liman, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Galina Kizim
Children: Leonid, Tatiana
For Soyuz T-2, Soyuz T-6 and Soyuz T-10-1, Kizim served as Backup Commander, but, for Soyuz T-3/Salyut 6, Soyuz T-10/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-11 and Soyuz T-15/Mir/Salyut 7/Mir, the cosmonaut worked as Commander.
8,993 hours, 57 minutes, 46 seconds space time logged including an unspecified amount of EVA activity
DEF:
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Klimuk, Petr Ilyich (Petya)
Major General, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: July 10, 1942
Place of Birth: Komarovka, Brest Oblast, Byelorus
Spouse: Mrs. Lilia Klimuk
Children: Mikhail, Natalia
As Commander, he served on Soyuz 13, Soyuz 18/Salyut 4 and Soyuz 30/Salyut 6. For Soyuz 17 and Soyuz 18-1, Klimuk acted as Backup Commander.
1,890 hours, 18 minutes, 42 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Komarov, Vladimir Mikhailovich (Volodya)
Colonel Engineer, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: March 16, 1927
Date of Death: April 24, 1967
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Valentina Yakovlevna Komarov
Children: Yevgeni, Irina
For Vostok 4 and Vostok 5, Komarov worked as Backup Pilot, and for Voshkod 1, he served as Commander. As well, Komarov acted as Pilot for Soyuz 1.
The parachute lines of his Soyuz spacecraft tangled disabling the parachute during re-entry. Komarov died when his craft crashed at enormous speed into the earth.
51 hours, 4 minutes, 55 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Kovalenok, Vladimir Vasilyeivich (Volodya)
Major General, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: March 3, 1942
Place of Birth: Beloye, Minsk Oblast, Byelorus
Spouse: Mrs. Natalia Kovalenok
Children: Inessa, Vladimir
For Soyuz 18, Soyuz 26 and Soyuz 27, Kovalenok acted as Backup Commander, and Commander for Soyuz 25/Salyut 6, Soyuz 29/Salyut 6/Soyuz 31 and Soyuz T-4/Salyut 6.
5,193 hours, 9 minutes, 40 seconds space time logged including 2 hours, 5 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
NONE
Krikalev, Sergei Konstantinovich (Serezha)
Senior Lieutenant, Soviet Army Reserve
Date of Birth: August 27, 1958
Place of Birth: Leningrad, Leningrad Oblast, Russia
Spouse: unspecified marriage
On Soyuz TM-7/Mir and Soyuz TM-12, Krikalev served as Flight Engineer, and Backup Flight Engineer on Soyuz TM-10 and Soyuz TM-11.
DEF:
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Kubasov, Valeri Nikolaivich (Valera/the Brain)
Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: January 7, 1935
Place of Birth: Vyazniki, Vladimir Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Lyudmila Kubasov
Children: Yekaterina, Dmitri
The cosmonaut served as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 2, Soyuz 5, Soyuz 10 and Soyuz 11, and Backup Commander for Soyuz 30. As well, the man acted as Flight Engineer for Soyuz 6 and Soyuz 19 ASTP, and Commander for Soyuz 36/Salyut 6/Soyuz 35.
449 hours, 59 minutes, 22 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Lampton, Michael Logan
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: March 1, 1941
Place of Birth: Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Susan Lampton
Children: Jennifer
The man was Backup Payload Specialist 1 for STS-9/Spacelab 1, and Payload Specialist 1 for STS-45/ATLAS-1.
DEF:
NONE
Laveykin, Aleksandr Ivanovich (Sasha)
civilian
Date of Birth: April 21, 1951
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Natalia Laveykin
Children: Kirill
The cosmonaut was Flight Engineer for Soyuz TM-2/Mir.
4,179 hours, 26 minutes space time logged including 8 hours, 48 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Lazarev, Vasili, Grigoryevich (Vasya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: February 23, 1928
Date of Death: December 31, 1990
Place of Birth: Poroshino, Altay Kray, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Luiza Lazarev
Children: Aleksandr
For Voshkod 1, Lazarev served as Backup Physiologist, and Backup Commander for Soyuz 9, Soyuz 17 and Soyuz T-3. As well, the cosmonaut acted as Commander for Soyuz 12 and Soyuz 18-1/Salyut 4.
Lazarev died of alcohol poisoning from spoiled homemade vodka given to him by friends.
47 hours, 36 minutes, 59 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Lebedev, Valentin Vitalyeivich (Valya)
Dr.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: April 14, 1942
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Lyudmilla Lebedev
Children: Vitali
The cosmonaut served as Flight Engineer for Soyuz 13 and Soyuz T-5/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-7, and as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 32.
5,262 hours, 7 seconds space time logged including 2 hours, 33 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Lee, Mark Charles
Major, US Air Force
Date of Birth: August 14, 1952
Place of Birth: Viroqua, Wisconsin, USA
Spouse: Ms. Deidre Ann O'Brien (divorced); Mrs. Nancy Jan Lee
The astronaut acted as Mission Specialist 3 for STS-30/Magellan, and as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-47/Spacelab J.
DEF:
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Leestma, David Cornell (Dave)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: May 6, 1949
Place of Birth: Muskegon, Michigan, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Patti Kay Leestma
Children: Benjamin David, Katie JoAnn, Emily Marie, Peter Opp, Mary Elizabeth, Caleb William
For STS 41-G and STS-28, Leestma worked as Mission Specialist 1, and Mission Specialist 3 for STS-45/ATLAS-1.
DEF:
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Lenoir, William Benjamin (Bill)
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering
Date of Birth: March 14, 1939
Place of Birth: Miami, Florida, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Elizabeth May Lenoir
Children: William Benjamin jr., Samantha Ellen
He was Backup Science Pilot for Skylab SL-3 and Skylab SL-4, and Mission Specialist 2 for STS-5.
122 hours, 14 minutes, 26 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Leonov, Alexei Arkhipovich (Lyosha)
Major General, Soviet Air Force; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: May 30, 1934
Place of Birth: Listvyanka, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Svetlana Leonov
Children: Viktoria, Oksana
Leonov served as Backup Pilot for Vostok 5, Seconds Pilot for Voshkod 2 and Backup Commander for Soyuz 10 and Soyuz 11. As well, he acted as Commander for Soyuz 19 ASTP.
168 hours, 33 minutes, 8 seconds space time logged including 24 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
NONE
Levchenko, Anatoli Semenovich (Tolya)
civilian
Date of Birth: May 21, 1941
Date of Death: August 6, 1988
Place of Birth: Krasnokutsk, Kharkov Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Lyudmilla Levchenko
Children: Kirill
The man worked as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz TM-4/Mir/Soyuz TM-3.
Levchenko died of a brain tumor that could not be excised by physicians.
189 hours, 58 minutes space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Lichtenberg, Byron Kurt
Lieutenant Colonel, Massachusetts Air National Guard; Sc.D. Biomedical Engineering
Date of Birth: February 19, 1948
Place of Birth: East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Ms. Lee Lombard (divorced)
Children: Kristin, Kimberly
The astronaut served as Payload Specialist 1 for STS-9/Spacelab 1, and as Payload Specialist 2 for STS-45/ATLAS-1.
DEF:
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Lind, Don Leslie
Commander US Naval Reserve (retired); Ph.D. High Energy Nuclear Physics
Date of Birth: May 18, 1930
Place of Birth: Midvale, Utah, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Kathleen Lind
Children: Carol Ann, David M., Dawna, Douglas M., Kimberly, Lisa Christine, Daniel Leslie
Lind acted as Backup Pilot for Skylab SL-3 and Skylab SL-4, and Mission Specialist 3 for STS 51-B/Spacelab 3.
168 hours, 8 minutes, 46 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Lounge, John Michael (Mike)
Lieutenant Colonel, Texas Air National Guard
Date of Birth: June 28, 1946
Place of Birth: Denver, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Ms. Jeannie Burgess (divorced); Mrs. Kathryn Anne Lounge
Children: Shannon, Kenneth, Kathy
For STS 51-I and STS-35/Astro 1, Lounge served as Mission Specialist 2, and as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-26.
482 hours, 22 minutes, 58 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Lousma, Jack Robert
Colonel, US Marine Corps (retired)
Date of Birth: February 29, 1936
Place of Birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Gratia Kay Lousma
Children: Timothy J., Matthew O., Mary T., Joseph L.
For Apollo 9, Apollo 10 and Apollo 13, Lousma served as Support Crew, and for Skylab SL-3/Skylab SL-1, he was Pilot. As well, the astronaut acted as Backup Docking Module Pilot for Apollo 18 ASTP, and Commander of STS-3 (OFT).
1,619 hours, 13 minutes, 48.9 seconds space time logged including 11 hours, 2 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Lovell, James Arthur jr. (Jim)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: March 25, 1928
Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Marilyn Lillie Lovell
Children: Barbara Lynn, James Arthur, Susan Kay, Jeffrey C.
Lovell served as Backup Pilot for Gemini GT-4, and then Pilot for Gemini GT-7. As well, for Gemini GT-9A and Gemini GT-10, he was Backup Command Pilot, and Command Pilot for Gemini GT-12. The astronaut worked as Senior Pilot for Apollo 8, Backup Commander for Apollo11 and Commander for Apollo 13.
715 hours, 4 minutes, 55 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Low, George David
civilian
Date of Birth: February 19, 1956
Place of Birth: Berea, Ohio, USA
Low served as Mission Specialist 3 for STS-32 and Mission Specialist 2 for STS-43.
474 hours, 23 minutes, 3 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Lucid, Shannon Wells
Ph.D. Biochemistry
Date of Birth: January 14, 1943
Place of Birth: Kiangsu, People's Republic of China (parents US citizens)
Spouse: Mr. Michael F. Lucid
Children: Kawai Dawn, Shandara Michelle, Michael Kermit
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS 51-G, STS-34/Galileo and STS-43.
502 hours, 41 minutes, 18.3 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Lyakhov, Vladimir Afanaseivich (Volodya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: July 20, 1941
Place of Birth: Antratsit, Voroshilovgrad Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Zinaida Lyakhov
Children: Yuri, Olga
For Soyuz 29, Soyuz 39, Soyuz T-8 and Soyuz TM-5, the cosmonaut served as Backup Commander, and Commander for Soyuz 32/Salyut 6/Soyuz 34, Soyuz T-9/Salyut 7 and Soyuz TM-6/Mir/Soyuz TM-5.
7,998 hours, 48 minutes, 37 seconds space time logged including 7 hours, 8 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Makarov, Oleg Grigoryevich
Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: January 6, 1933
Place of Birth: Udomlya, Kalinin Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Valentina Makarov
Children: Konstantin, Leonid
The cosmonaut worked as Flight Engineer for Soyuz 12, Soyuz 18-1/Salyut 4, Soyuz 27/Salyut 6/Soyuz 26 and Soyuz T-3/Salyut 6, and Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 17 and Soyuz T-2.
497 hours, 43 minutes, 39 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Malerba, Franco
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: October 10, 1946
Place of Birth: Busalla, Genoa, Italy
He served as Payload Specialist for STS-46/TSS-1.
DEF:
maly.bmp
Malyshev, Yuri Vasilievich (Yura)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: August 27, 1941
Place of Birth: Nikolayevsk, Volgograd Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Nadezhda Malyshev
Children: unspecified daughter and son
For Soyuz 22, Malyshev served as Backup Commander, and Commander for Soyuz T-2/Salyut 6 and Soyuz T-11/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-10.
284 hours, 30 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Manakov, Gennadi Mikhailovich (Gena)
Lieutenant Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: June 1, 1950
Place of Birth: Yefimovka, Orenburg Oblast, Russia
Spouse: unspecified marriage
Children: two unspecified children
Manakov acted as Backup Commander for Soyuz TM-8 and Soyuz TM-9, and Commander for Soyuz TM-10/Mir.
3,140 hours, 36 minutes space time logged including 3 hours, 45 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
NONE
Manarov, Musa Khiramanovich
Major, Soviet Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: March 22, 1951
Place of Birth: Baku, Azerbaijian
Spouse: Mrs. Nailya Manarov
Children: Naida, Zaur
Manarov worked as Flight Engineer for Soyuz TM-4/Mir/Soyuz TM-6 and Soyuz TM-11/Mir, and Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz TM-10.
12,983 hours, 31 minutes, 47 seconds space time logged including 34 hours, 20 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Mattingly, Thomas Kenneth II (Ken/TK/Tom)
Rear Admiral, US Navy
Date of Birth: March 17, 1936
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Spouse: unspecified first marriage (divorced); Mrs. Elizabeth Mattingly
Children: Thomas Kenneth III
He served as Support Crew for Apollo 8 and Apollo11. For Apollo 16, Mattingly worked as Command Module Pilot, and Backup Commander for STS-2 (OFT) and STS-3 (OFT), and Commander for STS-4 (OFT) and STS 51-C.
508 hours, 34 minutes, 12.1 seconds space time logged including 1 hour, 24 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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McAuliffe, Sharon Christa (Chris)
civilian; teacher
Date of Birth: September 2, 1948
Date of Death:January 28, 1986
Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Spouse: Mr. Steven James McAuliffe
Children: Scott Corrigan, Caroline Corrigan
The astronaut served as Payload Specialist 2 for STS 51-L
McAuliffe died in the explosion of the shuttle Challenger.
DEF:
mcbri.bmp
McBride, Jon Andrew (Big Jon)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: August 14, 1943
Place of Birth: Charleston, West Virginia, USA
Spouse: Ms. Brenda Lou Stewart (divorced); Mrs. Sharon Lynne McBride
Children: Richard Michael, Melissa L., Jon Andrew II, Stephen Michael
McBride acted as Pilot for STS 41-G.
197 hours, 23 minutes, 33 seconds space time logged
DEF:
mccan.bmp
McCandless, Bruce II
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: June 8, 1937
Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Alfreda Bernice McCandless
Children: Bruce III, Tracy
The astronaut worked as Supprt Crew for Apollo 14, Backup Pilot for Skylab SL-2, Mission Specialist 3 for STS 41-B and Mission Specialist 1 for STS-31.
312 hours, 32 minutes, 1 second space time logged including 12 hours EVA activity
DEF:
mccul.bmp
McCulley, Michael James (Mike)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: August 4, 1943
Place of Birth: San Diego, California, USA
Spouse: Ms. Sally Louise Hellings (divorced); Mrs. Jane Emalie McCulley
119 hours, 41 minutes, .9 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
McMonagle, Donald Ray (Don)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: May 14, 1952
Place of Birth: Flint, Michigan, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Janyce Beye McMonagle
Children: Heather Nicole
As Mission Specialist 2, McMonagle worked on STS-39, and worked as Pilot for STS-54.
199 hours, 22 minutes, 25 seconds space time logged
DEF:
mcn.bmp
McNair, Ronald Erwin (Ron)
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: October 21, 1950
Date of Death: January 28, 1986
Place of Birth: Lake City, South Carolina, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Cheryl McNair
Children: Reginald Ervin, Joy Cheray
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS 41-B and Mission Specialist 3 for STS 51-L.
McNair died in the explosion of the shuttle Challenger.
191 hours, 15 minutes, 55 seconds space time logged
DEF:
mead.bmp
Meade, Carl Joseph
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: November 16, 1950
Place of Birth: Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Cheryl Ann Meade
Children: David James
On STS-38, Meade worked as Mission Specialist 2 and Mission Specialist 3 for STS-50/USML-1.
117 hours, 54 mnutes, 28 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Melnick, Bruce Edward (Mel)
Commander, US Coast Guard
Date of Birth: December 5, 1949
Place of Birth: New York, New York, USA
Spouse: unspecified first marriage (divorced); Mrs. Frieda Kaye Melnick
Children: James Edward, Anna Louise
For STS-41/Ulysses, Melnick served as Mission Specialist 1 and Mission Specialist 5 for STS-49.
DEF:
NONE
Merbold, Ulf D.
Dr.rer.nat. Science
Date of Birth: June 20, 1941
Place of Birth: Greiz, Gera, Germany
Spouse: Mrs. Birgit Merbold
Children: Susanette, Hannes
The astronaut served as Payload Specialist 2 for STS-9/Spacelab 1, Backup Payload Specialist 3 for STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1 and Payload Specialist 1 for STS-42/IML-1.
247 hours, 47 minutes, 24 seconds space time logged
DEF:
mess.bmp
Messerschmid, Ernst Willi
Dr.rer.nat. Physics
Date of Birth: May 21, 1945
Place of Birth: Reutlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Spouse: unspecified marriage
On STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1, the man worked as Payload Specialist 2.
168 hours, 44 minutes, 51 seconds space time logged
DEF:
mitc.bmp
Mitchell, Edgar Dean (Ed)
Captain, US Navy (retired); Sc.D. Aeronautics and Astronautics
Date of Birth: September 17, 1930
Place of Birth: Hereford, Texas, USA
Spouse: Ms. Louise Randall (divorced); Mrs. Anita Kaye Mitchell
Children: Karlyn Louise, Elizabeth Randall, Kimberly, Paul, Mary Beth
Mitchell worked as Suport Crew for Apollo 9, Backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 14 and Apollo 16 and Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 14.
216 hours, 1 minute, 57 seconds space time logged including 9 hours, 23 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
NONE
Mohmand (Sarvar), Abdul Ahad
Colonel, Afghan AIr Force
Date of Birth: January 1, 1959
Place of Birth: Sarda, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Spouse: Mrs. Bibigul Mohmand
Children: Hila
The man served as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz TM-6/Mir/Soyuz TM-5.
212 hours, 27 minutes space time logged
DEF:
mohri.bmp
Mohri, Mamoru Mark
Ph.D. Physical Science
Date of Birth: January 29, 1948
Place of Birth: Yoichi-Machi, Hokkaido, Japan
Spouse: Mrs. Akiko Mohri
Children: Ken, Taku, Yu-u
He served as Payload Specialist for STS-47/Spacelab J.
DEF:
mull.bmp
Mullane, Richard Michael (Mike)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: September 10, 1945
Place of Birth: Wichita Falls, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Donna Marie Mullane
Children: Patrick Joseph, Amy Michele, Laura Ann
As Mission Specialist 1, Mullane worked aboard STS 41-D, STS-27 and STS-36.
356 hours, 22 minutes, 6 seconds space time logged
DEF:
musg.bmp
Musgrave, Franklin Story
M.D.
Date of Birth: August 19, 1935
Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Spouse: Ms. Patricia Van Kirk (divorced); Mrs. Carol Elaine Musgrave
Children: Lorelei Lisa, Bradley Scott, Holly Kay, Christopher Todd, Jeffrey Paul, Lane Linwood
Musgrave was Backup Science Pilot for Skylab SL-2, Mission Specialist 1 for STS-6 and STS-44, Mission Specialist 2 for STS 51-F/Spacelab 2 and STS-33.
DEF:
nag.bmp
Nagel, Steven Ray (Steve)
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: October 27, 1946
Place of Birth: Canton, Illinois, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Linda Diane Nagel
Children: Whitney
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 2 for STS 51-G, Pilot for STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1 and Commander for STS-37/GRO.
481 hours, 57 minutes, 24.4 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Nelson, Clarence William J.D. (Bill)
Lawyer
Date of Birth: September 29, 1942
Place of Birth: Miami, Florida, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Grace H. Nelson
Children: Clarence William III, Nan Ellen
Nelson worked as Payload Specialist 2 for STS 61-C.
146 hours, 3 minutes, 51 seconds space time logged
DEF:
nelso.bmp
Nelson, George Driver (Pinky)
Ph.D. Astronomy
Date of Birth: July 13, 1950
Place of Birth: Charles City, Iowa, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Susan Lynn Nelson
Children: Aimee Tess, Marti Ann
The astronaut acted as Mission Specialist 1 for STS 41-C and Mission Specialist 3 for STS 61-C and STS-26.
410 hours, 44 minutes, 6 seconds space time logged including 10 hours, 30 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
neri.bmp
Neri Vela, Rodolfo
Ph.D. Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Date of Birth: February 19, 1952
Place of Birth: Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico
Neri Vela worked as Payload Specialist 2 for STS 61-B.
165 hours, 4 minutes, 49 seconds space time logged
DEF:
nic.bmp
Nicollier, Claude
Captain, Swiss Air Force
Date of Birth: September 2, 1944
Place of Birth: Vevey, Vaud, Swiss Confederation
Spouse: Mrs. Susana Nicollier
Children: Maya, Marina
The astronaut, on STS-46/TSS-1, worked as Mission Specialist 4.
DEF:
nik.bmp
Nikolayev, Andriyan Grigorievich (Andrey)
Major General, Soviet Air Force; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: September 5, 1929
Place of Birth: Shorshely, Chuvash A.S.S.R., Russia
For Vostok 2, Nikolayev served as Backup Pilot, and Pilot for Vostok 3. As well, the cosmonaut worked on Soyuz 8 as Backup Commander and Soyuz 9 as Commander.
519 hours, 23 minutes, 50 seconds space time logged
DEF:
ock.bmp
Ockels, Wubbo Johannes
D.Sc. Physics and Mathematics
Date of Birth: March 28, 1946
Place of Birth: Almelo, Overijssel, Netherlands
Spouse: Mrs. Joos Ockels
Children: Geanneke, Martin
On STS-9/Spacelab 1, Ockels served as Backup Payload Specialist 2, and as Payload Specialist 3 for STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1.
168 hours, 44 minutes, 51 seconds space time logged
DEF:
ocon.bmp
O'Connor, Bryan Daniel (OC)
Colonel, US Marine Corps
Date of Birth: September 6, 1946
Place of Birth: Orange, California, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Susan A. O'Connor
Children: Thomas Reid, Kevin Daniel
O'Connor worked as Pilot for STS 61-B, and Commander for STS-40/SLS-1.
383 hours, 20 minutes, 3 seconds space time logged
DEF:
oni.bmp
Onizuka, Ellison Shoji (El)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: June 24, 1946
Date of Death: January 28, 1986
Place of Birth: Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Lorno Leiko Onizuka
Children: Janelle Mitsue, Darien Lei Shizue
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS 51-C and STS 51-L.
Onizuka died in the explosion of the shuttle Challenger.
73 hours, 34 minutes, 40.621 seconds space time logged
DEF:
osw.bmp
Oswald, Stephen Scot (Steve)
Commander, US Naval Reserve
Date of Birth: June 30, 1951
Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Diane Kay Oswald
Children: Monique Marie, Janna May, Scott Andrew
The astronaut acted as Pilot for STS-42/IML-1.
DEF:
over.bmp
Overmyer, Robert Franklyn (Bob)
Colonel, US Marine Corps (retired)
Date of Birth: July 14, 1936
Place of Birth: Lorain, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Katherine Ellen Overmyer
Children: Carolyn Marie, Patricia Ann, Robert Rolandus
Overmyer acted as Support Crew for Apollo 17 and Apollo 18 ASTP. For STS-5, the astronaut served as Pilot, and Commander for STS 51-B/Spacelab 3.
290 hours, 23 minutes, 12 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Pailes, William Arthur (Bill)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: June 26, 1952
Place of Birth: Hackensack, New Jersey, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Brenda Sue Pailes
Children: Lacey Alexandra
Pailes worked as Payload Specialist for STS 51-J.
97 hours, 44 minutes, 38 seconds space time logged
DEF:
pari.bmp
Parise, Ronald Anthony
Ph.D. Astronomy
Date of Birth: May 24, 1951
Place of Birth: Warren, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Cecilia M. Parise
Children: Nicholas, Katherine
He was Payload Specialist 2 for STS-35/Astro 1.
215 hours, 5 minutes, 8 seconds space time logged
DEF:
park.bmp
Parker, Robert Allan Ridley
Ph.D. Astronomy
Date of Birth: December 14, 1936
Place of Birth: New York, New York, USA
Spouse: Ms. Joan Audrey Capers (divorced); Mrs. Judith S. Woodruff
Children: Mark Woodruff, Jennifer Woodruff, Jon Woodruff, Kimberly Ellen Parker, Brian David Capers Parker
Parker worked as Support Crew for Apollo 15 and Apollo 17, Mission Specialist 2 for STS-9/Spacelab 1 and Mission Specialist 3 for STS-35/Astro 1.
462 hours, 52 hours, 32 seconds space time logged
DEF:
pats.bmp
Patsayev, Viktor Ivanovich (Vitya)
Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: June 19, 1933
Date of Death: June 30, 1971
Place of Birth: Artyubinsk, Artyubinsk Oblast, Kazakstan
Spouse: Mrs. Vera Patsayev
Children: Dmitri, Svetlana
The cosmonaut served as Backup Research Engineer for Soyuz 10, and Research Engineer for Soyuz 11/Salyut 1.
Patsayev died when the Soyuz 11 capsule pressure equalization valve opened during orbital-module separation releasing all the air.
570 hours, 21 minutes, 43 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Payton, Gary Eugene
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: June 20, 1948
Place of Birth: Rock Island, Illinois, USA
Spouse: Sue C. Payton
Children: Courtney
Payton worked on STS 51-C as Payload Specialist.
73 hours, 33 minutes, 27 seconds space time logged
DEF:
peter.bmp
Peterson, Donald Herod sr. (Pete/Don)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: October 22, 1933
Place of Birth: Winona, Mississippi, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Bonnie R. Peterson
Children: Donald Herod jr., Jeanne M., Shari L.
For Apollo 16, Peterson worked as Support Crew, and Mission Specialist 2 for STS-6.
120 hours, 23 minutes, 42 seconds space time logged including 4 hours, 17 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
pham.bmp
Pham, Tuan
Major General, Vietnamese Air Force
Date of Birth: February 15, 1947
Place of Birth: Quoc Tuan Commune, Kien Xuong District, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Spouse: Mrs. Tien Pham
Children: Tkhu
Pham served as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz 37/Salyut 6/Soyuz 36.
188 hours, 42 minutes space time logged
DEF:
pog.bmp
Pogue, William Reid (Bill)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: January 23, 1930
Place of Birth: Okemah, Oklahoma, USA
Spouse: Ms. Helen Juanita Dittmar (divorced); Mrs. Jean Ann Pogue
Children: William Richard, Layna Sue, Thomas Reid
The astronaut served as Support Crew for Apollo 7, Apollo 11, Apollo 13 and Apollo 14. For Skylab SL-4/Skylab SL-1, Pogue acted as Pilot.
2,017 hours, 15 minutes, 30.8 seconds space time logged including 13 hours, 37 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
NONE
Polyakov, Valeri Vladimirovich (Valera)
Cand.Sc. Medicine
Date of Birth: April 27, 1942
Place of Birth: Tula, Tula Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Nelli Polyakov
Children: Elena
Grandchildren: Valeria, Aleksandr
The man acted as Backup Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz T-3 and Soyuz T-10. On Soyuz TM-6/Mir/Soyuz TM-7, Polyakov served as Physician-Researcher.
5,782 hours, 35 minutes space time logged
DEF:
popv.bmp
Popov, Leonid Ivanovich (Lenya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: August 31, 1945
Place of Birth: Aleksandria, Kirovograd Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Valentina Popov
Children: Elena, Alexei
As Backup Commander, he worked on Soyuz 22, Soyuz 32 and Soyuz T-13, and Commander for Soyuz 35/Salyut 6/Soyuz 37, Soyuz 40/Salyut 6 and Soyuz T-7/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-5.
4,814 hours, 45 minutes, 51 seconds space time logged
DEF:
popo.bmp
Popovich, Pavel Romanovich (Pasha)
Major General, Soviet Air Force; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: October 5, 1930
Place of Birth: Uzin, Kiev Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Ms. Marina Lavrentyevna Vasilevna (divorced); unspecified second marriage
Children: Natalia, Oksana
For Vostok 4, Popovich worked as Pilot, and Commander for Soyuz 14/Salyut 3.
448 hours, 29 minutes, 28 seconds space time logged
DEF:
prun.bmp
Prunariu, Dumitru Dorin
Major-Engineer, Romanian Army Air Force
Date of Birth: September 27, 1952
Place of Birth: Brasov, Romania
Spouse: Mrs. Ursu Rodiche Prunariu
Children: Radu-Kadelin, Daniel Ovidiu
Prunariu worked as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz 40/Salyut 6.
188 hours, 41 minutes, 52 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Readdy, William Francis (Bill)
Commander, US Naval Reserve
Date of Birth: January 24, 1952
Place of Birth: Quonset Point, Rhode Island, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Colleen Readdy
The astronaut acted as Mission Specialist 3 for STS-42/IML-1.
DEF:
NONE
Reightler, Kenneth Stanley jr. (Ken)
Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: March 24, 1951
Place of Birth: Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Maureen Ellen Reightler
Children: Katherine McHenry, Emily Harrison
For STS-48/UARS, the astronaut served as Pilot.
DEF:
rem.bmp
Remek, Vladimir (Volodya)
Colonel-Engineer, Czechoslovak Air Force
Date of Birth: September 26, 1948
Place of Birth: Ceske Budejovice, Czechoslovakia
Spouse: Mrs. Hana Remek
Children: Anna
Remek served as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz 28/Salyut 6.
190 hours, 16 minutes space time logged
DEF:
res.bmp
Resnik, Judith Arlene (Judy/JR)
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering
Date of Birth: April 5, 1949
Date of Death: January 28, 1986
Place of Birth: Akron, Ohio, USA
Spouse: Mr. Michael D. Oldak (divorced)
Resnik worked as Mission Specialist 3 for STS 41-D and Mission Specialist 2 for STS 51-L.
The astronaut died in the explosion of the shuttle Challenger.
144 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds space time logged
DEF:
rich.bmp
Richards, Richard Noel (Dick)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: August 24, 1946
Place of Birth: Key West, Florida, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Lois Richards
He was Pilot for STS-28 and Commander for STS-41/Ulysses and STS-50/USML-1.
DEF:
ride.bmp
Ride, Sally Kristen
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: May 26, 1951
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
Spouse: Mr. Steven Alan Hawley (divorced)
As Mission Specialist 2, Ride has worked on STS-7 and STS 41-G.
343 hours, 47 minutes, 32 seconds space time logged
DEF:
roman.bmp
Romanenko, Yuri Viktorovich (Yura)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: August 1, 1944
Place of Birth: Koltubanka, Orenburg Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Alevtina Romanenko
Children: Roman, Artem
The cosmonaut acted as Backup Commander for Soyuz 16, Soyuz 19 ASTP, Soyuz 25, Soyuz 33 and Soyuz 40. As well, he served as Commander for Soyuz 26/Salyut 6/Soyuz 27, Soyuz 38/Salyut 6 and Soyuz TM-2/Mir/Soyuz TM-3.
10,338 hours, 21 minutes, 30 seconds space time logged
DEF:
roos.bmp
Roosa, Stuart Allen (Stu/Smokey)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: August 16, 1933
Place of Birth: Durango, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Joan C. Roosa
Children: Christopher A., John D., Stuart Allen jr., Rosemary D.
He worked as Support Crew for Apollo 9, Command Module Pilot for Apollo 14, Backup Command Pilot for Apollo 16 and Apollo 17.
216 hours, 1 minute, 57 seconds space time logged
DEF:
ross.bmp
Ross, Jerry Lynn
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: January 20, 1948
Place of Birth: Crown Point, Indiana, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Karen S. Ross
Children: Amy J., Scott L.
Ross worked as Mission Specialist 1 for STS 61-B and STS-55/Spacelab D-2, and as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-27 and STS-37/GRO.
DEF:
rozh.bmp
Rozhdestvenski, Valeri Ilyich (Valera)
Colonel Engineer, Soviet Naval Air Force
Date of Birth: February 13, 1939
Place of Birth: Leningrad, Leningrad Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Svetlana Rozhdestvenski
Children: Tatiana
The cosmonaut served as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 14, Soyuz 15, Soyuz 21, and as Flight Engineer for Soyuz 23/Salyut 5.
48 hours, 6 minutes, 35 seconds space time logged
DEF:
ruka.bmp
Rukavishnikov, Nikolai Nikolaivich (Kolya)
Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: September 18, 1932
Place of Birth: Tomsk, Tomsk Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Nina Rukavishnikov
Children: Vladimir
The cosmonaut served as Research Engineer for Soyuz 10/Salyut 1, Flight Engineer for Soyuz 16, Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 19 ASTP, Backup Commander for Soyuz 28 and Commander for Soyuz 33/Salyut 6.
237 hours, 10 minutes, 35 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Runco, Mario jr. (Trooper)
Lieutenant Comamnder, US Navy
Date of Birth: January 26, 1952
Place of Birth: Bronx, New York, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Susan Kay Runco
Children: Maria Margaret, Carl Christopher
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-44 and STS-54.
DEF:
ryu.bmp
Ryumin, Valeri Viktorovich (Valera)
civilian
Date of Birth: August 16, 1939
Place of Birth: Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Khabarovsk Kray, Russia
Spouse: Ms. Natalia Ryumin (divorced); Mrs. Elena Vladimirovna Ryumin
Children: Viktoria, Vadim, Yevgeni
The cosmonaut acted as Flight Engineer for Soyuz 25/Salyut 6, Soyuz 32/Salyut 6/Soyuz 34 and Soyuz 35/Salyut 6/Soyuz 37, and Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 29.
8,685 hours, 31 minutes, 57 seconds space time logged including 1 hour, 23 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
sara.bmp
Sarafanov, Genadi Vasileivich (Gena)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force Reserve; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: January 1, 1942
Place of Birth: Sinenkia, Saratov Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Tamara Sarafanov
Children: Alexei, Yekatarina
He worked as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 14 and Commander for Soyuz 15/Salyut 3.
48 hours, 12 minutes, 11 seconds space time logged
DEF:
sav.bmp
Savinykh, Viktor Petrovich (Vitya/the Green Computer)
Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: March 7, 1940
Place of Birth: Berezkhiny, Kirov Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Lilia Savinykh
Children: Valentina
The cosmonaut served as Backup Research Engineer for Soyuz T-3, Flight Engineer for Soyuz T-4/Salyut 6, Soyuz T-13/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-14, Soyuz TM-5/Mir/Soyuz TM-4 and Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz T-7, Soyuz T-8, Soyuz T-10, Soyuz T-12 and Soyuz TM-3.
6,065 hours, 38 minutes, 23 seconds space time logged including 5 hours EVA activity
For Soyuz T-7/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-5, she worked as Cosmonaut-Researcher, and Flight Engineer for Soyuz T-12/Salyut 7.
473 hours, 7 minutes space time logged including 3 hours, 35 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
schi.bmp
Schirra, Walter Marty (Wally/Walt/Rah-rah/Mr. Cool)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: March 12, 1923
Place of Birth: Hackensack, New Jersey, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Josephine Cook Schirra
Children: Walter Marty III, Suzanne Karen
Schirra served as Backup Pilot for Mercury MA-7, Pilot for Mercury MA-8, Backup Command Pilot for Gemini GT-3, Command Pilot for Gemini GT-6A, Backup Commander for Apollo 1 and Commander for Apollo 7.
DEF:
schm.bmp
Schmitt, Harrison Hagan (Jack)
Ph.D. Geology
Date of Birth: July 3, 1935
Place of Birth: Santa Rita, New Mexico, USA
Spouse: unspecified marriage
The astronaut worked as Backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 15 and Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 17.
301 hours, 51 minutes, 57 seconds space time logged including 23 hours, 10 minutes EVA activity of which 22 hours, 4 minutes non-terrestrial planetary exploration
The astronaut served as Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 9 and Backup Commander for Skylab SL-2.
241 hours, 54 seconds space time logged including 1 hour, 7 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
sco.bmp
Scobee, Francis Richard (Dick)
Major, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: May 19, 1939
Date of Death: January 28, 1986
Place of Birth: Cle Elum, Washington, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Virginia June Scobee
Children: Kathie R. Scobee-Krause, Richard William
For STS 41-C, Scobee served as Pilot, and Commander for STS 51-L.
Scobee died in the explosion of the shuttle Challenger.
167 hours, 40 minutes, 7 seconds space time logged
DEF:
scott.bmp
Scott, David Randolph (Dave)
Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: June 6, 1932
Place of Birth: Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Ann Lurton Scott
Children: Tracy Lee, Douglas William
The astronaut worked as Pilot for Gemini GT-8, Backup Senior Pilot for Apollo1, Command Module Pilot for Apollo 9, Backup Commander for Apollo 12 and Commander for Apollo 15.
546 hours, 54 minutes, 13 seconds space time logged including 20 hours, 46 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
scu.bmp
Scully-Power, Paul Desmond
civilian
Date of Birth: May 28, 1944
Place of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (naturalized US citizen)
Spouse: Mrs. Frances Anne Scully-Power
Children: Adam Paul, Lincoln Paul, Holly Louise, Victoria Clarissa, William Paul, Tara Elizabeth
On STS 41-G, the astronaut acted as Payload Specialist 1.
197 hours, 23 minutes, 33 seconds space time logged
DEF:
sedd.bmp
Seddon, Margaret Rhea
M.D.
Date of Birth: November 8, 1947
Place of Birth: Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
Spouse: Mr. Robert Lee Gibson
Children: Paul Seddon, Edward Dann
Seddon worked as Mission Specialist 1 for STS 51-D and Mission Specialist 3 for STS-40/SLS-1.
386 hours, 10 minutes, 37 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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See, Elliot McKay jr.
Lieutenant Commander, US Naval Reserve
Date of Birth: July 23, 1927
Date of Death: February 28, 1966
Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Marilyn Jane See
Children: Sally, Carolyn, David McKay
See served as Backup Pilot for Gemini GT-5 and Command Pilot for Gemini GT-9.
However, See, along with Charles A. Bassett II, died in an aircraft accident before he could fly in Gemini GT-9.
DEF:
sere.bmp
Serebrov, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich (Sasha)
Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: February 15, 1944
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Yekatarina Serebrov
Children: Kirill, unspecified child
Serebrov worked as Flight Engineer for Soyuz T-7/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-5 and Soyuz TM-8/Mir, Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz T-14, Soyuz TM-2, Soyuz TM-5 and Soyuz TM-7, and Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz T-8/Salyut 7.
4,229 hours, 8 minutes, 12 seconds space time logged including 17 hours, 36 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
seva.bmp
Sevastyanov, Vitali Ivanovich (Vitalya)
Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: July 8, 1935
Place of Birth: Krasnouralsk, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Alevtina Sevastyanova
Children: Natalia
The cosmonaut served as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 8, Soyuz 18-1, Soyuz TM-8 and Soyuz TM-9 and Flight Engineer for Soyuz 9 and Soyuz 18/Salyut 4.
1, 936 hours, 18 minutes, 58 seconds space time logged
DEF:
shar.bmp
Sharma, Rakesh (Rikki)
Lieutenant Colonel and Squadron Leader, Indian Air Force
Date of Birth: January 13, 1949
Place of Birth: Patiala, Punjab State, India
Spouse: Mrs. Madhu Sharma
Children: Kapil, Mansi (deceased)
Sharma acted as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz T-11/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-10.
189 hours, 41 minutes space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Sharman, Helen Patricia (Lenochka)
civilian
Date of Birth: May 30, 1963
Place of Birth: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
The woman served as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz TM-12/Mir/Soyuz TM-11.
189 hours, 14 minutes, 20 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Shatalov, Vladimir Aleksandrovich (Volodya)
Lieutenant General, Soviet Air Force; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: December 8, 1927
Place of Birth: Petropavlovsk, Severo-Kazakhstan Oblast, Kazakhstan
Spouse: Mrs. Muza Shatalov
Children: Igor
For Voshkod 1, he was Backup Commander, Backup Pilot for Soyuz 3 and Pilot for Soyuz 4/Soyuz 5. The cosmonaut served as Backup Commander for Soyuz 6 and Soyuz 7 and Commander for Soyuz 8 and Soyuz 10/Salyut 1.
237 hours, 57 minutes, 30 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Shaw, Brewster Hopkinson jr.
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: May 16, 1945
Place of Birth: Cas City, Michigan, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Kathleen Ann Shaw
Children: Brewster Hopkinson III, Jessica Hollis, Brandon Robert
The astronaut acted as Pilot for STS-9/Spacelab 1 and Commander for STS 61-B and STS-28.
533 hours, 52 minutes, 23 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Shepard, Alan Bartlett jr. (Al/Jose)
Rear Admiral, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: November 18, 1923
Place of Birth: East Derry, New Hampshire, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Louise Shepard
Children: Laura Shepard Snyder, Juliana Coleman
Shepard served as Pilot for Mercury MR-3, Backup Pilot for Mercury MA-9 and Commander for Apollo 14.
216 hours, 17 minutes, 25 seconds space time logged including 9 hours, 12 minutes, 27 seconds EVA activity all non-terrestrial planetary exploration
DEF:
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Shepherd, William McMichael (Bill)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: July 26, 1949
Place of Birth: Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
The astronaut worked as Mission Specialist 3 for STS-27, Mission Specialist 2 for STS-41/Ulysses and STS-52.LAGEOS II.
DEF:
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Shonin, Georgei Stepanovich (Zhora)
Lieutenant General, Soviet Naval Air Force; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: August 3, 1935
Place of Birth: Rovenki, Vososhilovgrad Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Lidia Federovna Shonin
Children: Andrey, Nina, Olga
The man acted as Backup Pilot for Soyuz 4 and Commander for Soyuz 6.
118 hours, 42 minutes, 47 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Shriver, Loren James
Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: September 23, 1944
Place of Birth: Jefferson, Iowa, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Susan Diane Shriver
Children: Camilla Marie, Melinda Sue, Jered Loren, Rebecca Hane
For STS 51-C, Shriver worked as Pilot, and for STS-31 and STS-46/TSS-1 as Commander.
194 hours, 49 minutes, 33 seconds space time logged
Slayton served as Docking Module Pilot for Apollo 18 ASTP, and initially as Pilot for Mercury MA-7 but was withdrawn for a heart fibrillation.
217 hours, 28 minutes, 24 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Smith, Michael John (Mike)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: April 30, 1945
Date of Death: January 28, 1986
Place of Birth: Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Jane Anne Smith
Children: Michael Scott, Alison Taylor, Erin Kennedy
Smith served as Pilot for STS 51-L.
The astronaut died in the explosion of the shuttle Challenger.
DEF:
NONE
Solovyev, Anatoli Yakovlevich (Tolya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: January 16, 1948
Place of Birth: Riga, Latvia
Spouse: Mrs. Natalia Solovyev
Children: two unspecified sons
The cosmonaut served as Backup Commander for Soyuz T-14, Soyuz TM-3 and Soyuz TM-8, and Commander for Soyuz TM-5/Mir/Soyuz TM-4 and Soyuz TM-9/Mir.
4,533 hours, 29 minutes space time logged
DEF:
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Solovyev, Vladimir Alekseivich (Volodya)
civilian
Date of Birth: November 11, 1946
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Yelena Solovyev
Children: Sergei, Maria
As Backup Flight Engineer, Solovyev worked on Soyuz T-6, Soyuz T-8, Soyuz T-9, Soyuz T-10-1 and Flight Engineer for Soyuz T-10/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-11 and Soyuz T-15/Mir/Salyut 7/MIr.
8,686 hours, 50 minutes, 4 seconds space time logged including 31 hours, 38 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Spring, Sherwood Clark (Woody)
Colonel, US Army
Date of Birth: September 3, 1944
Place of Birth: Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Collette Deborah Spring
Chidren: Sarah Elizabeth, Justin Edward
The astroanut worked as Mission Specialist 3 for STS 61-B.
165 hours, 4 minutes, 49 seconds space time logged including 12 hours, 12 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Springer, Robert Clyde (Bob)
Colonel, US Marine Corps (retired)
Date of Birth: May 21, 1942
Place of Birth: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Mary M. Springer
Children: Chad, Kira, Derek
He served as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-29 and Mission Specialist 1 for STS-38.
237 hours, 34 minutes, 9 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Stafford, Thomas Pattern (Tom/Mumbles)
Lieutenant General, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: September 17, 1930
Place of Birth: Weatherford, Oklahoma, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Faye Laverne Stafford
Children: Dionne Kay, Karen Elaine
Stafford served as Backup Pilot for Gemini GT-3, Pilot for Gemini GT-6A, Command Pilot for Gemini GT-9A, Backup Commander for Apollo 7, Commander for Apollo 10 and Commander for Apollo 18 ASTP.
507 hours, 44 minutes, 31 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Stewart, Robert Lee (Bob)
Brigadier General, US Army
Date of Birth: August 13, 1942
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., USA
Spouse: Mrs. Mary Jane Stewart
Children: Ragon Annette, Jennifer Lee
Grandchildren: Sarah Jane
The astronaut served as Mission Specialist 2 for STS 41-B and STS 51-J.
289 hours, 33 seconds space time logged including 11 hours, 30 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Strekalov, Gennadi Mikhailovich (Gena)
civilian
Date of Birth: October 28, 1940
Place of Birth: Mytischi, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Lidia Strekalov
Children: Tatiana, unspecified daughter
For Soyuz 22, Soyuz T-5, Soyuz T-9, Soyuz T-14, Soyuz TM-8 and Soyuz TM-9, he worked as Backup Flight Engineer. As Research Engineer, Strekalov acted on Soyuz T-3/Salyut 6, and on Soyuz T-8/Salyut 7, Soyuz T-10-1/Salyut 7, Soyuz T-11/Salyut 7/Soyuz T-10 and Soyuz T-10/Mir, the cosmonaut served as Flight Engineer.
3,685 hours, 48 minutes space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Sullivan, Kathryn Dwyer (Kathy)
Lieutenant Commander, US Naval Reserve
Date of Birth: October 3, 1951
Place of Birth: Paterson, New Jersey, USA
The astronaut worked as Mission Specialist 3 for STS 41-G and STS-31, and Mission Specialist 1 for STS-45/ATLAS-1.
318 hours, 39 minutes, 39 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Swigert, John Leonard jr. (Jack/Rusty)
US Representative
Date of Birth: August 30, 1931
Date of Death: December 27, 1982
Place of Birth: Denver, Colorado, USA
Swigert acted as Support Crew for Apollo 7 and Apollo 11, and Command Module Pilot for Apollo 13.
142 hours, 54 minutes, 41 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Tamayo-Mendez, Arnaldo (Guasso)
Colonel, Cuban Air Force
Date of Birth: January 29, 1942
Place of Birth: Guantanamo, Oriente, Cuba
Spouse: Mrs. Maria Tamayo-Mendez
Children: Arnaldo, Orlando
He worked as Research Pilot for Soyuz 38/Salyut 6.
188 hours, 43 minutes, 24 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Tereshkova, Valentina Vladimirovna (Valya/Nina)
Colonel Engineer, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: March 6, 1937
Place of Birth: Maslennikovo, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mr. Andriyan Nikolayev (divorced)
Children: Yelena Andriyanovna
The woman acted as Pilot for Vostok 6.
70 hours, 50 minutes, 8 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Thagard, Norman Earl (Norm)
M.D.
Date of Birth: July 3, 1943
Place of Birth: Marianna, Florida, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Rex Kirby Thagard
Children: Normon Gordon, James Robert, Daniel Cary
The astronaut worked as Mission Specialist 3 for STS-7 and STS-42/IML-1, Mission Specialist 2 for STS 51-B/Spacelab 3, and Mission Specialist 1 for STS-30/Magellan.
DEF:
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Thornton, Kathryn Cordell (Kathy)
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: August 17, 1952
Place of Birth: Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Spouse: Mr. Stephen Thomas Thornton
Children: Kenneth, Michael, Carol Elizabeth, Laura Lee, Susan Annette
She acted as Mission Specialist 2 for STS-33 and STS-49.
120 hours, 6 minutes, 46 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Thornton, William Edgar (Bill)
M.D.
Date of Birth: April 14, 1929
Place of Birth: Faison, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Elizabeth Jennifer Thornton
Children: William Simon, James Fallon
Thornton worked as Support Crew for Skylab SL-2, Skylab SL-3, Skylab SL-4, Mission Specialist 3 for STS-8 and Mission Specialist 1 for STS 51-B/Spacelab 3.
313 hours, 17 minutes, 29 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Thuot, Pierre Joseph
Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: May 19, 1955
Place of Birth: Groton, Connecticutt, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Cheryl Ann Thuot
For STS-36, Thuot worked as Mission Specialist 3, and for STS-49, he acted as Mission Specialist 1.
106 hours, 19 minutes, 43 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Titov, German Stepanovich (Gera)
Colonel General, Soviet Air Force; Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: September 11, 1935
Place of Birth: Verkhneye Zhilino, Altay Kray, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Tamara Vasilyevna Titov
Children: Igor (deceased), Tatiana, Galina
The cosmonaut was Backup Pilot for Vostol 1, and Pilot for Vostok 2.
25 hours, 18 minutes space time logged
DEF:
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Titov, Vladimir Georgeivich (Volodya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: January 1, 1947
Place of Birth: Sretensk, Chita Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Aleksandra Titov
Children: Marina, Yuri
As Backup Commander, Titov worked on Soyuz T-5, Soyuz T-9 and Soyuz TM-9, and as Commander, the cosmonaut acted on Soyuz T-8/Salyut 7, Soyuz T-10-1 and Soyuz TM-4/Mir/Soyuz TM-6.
8,831 hours, 3 minutes, 5 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Trinh, Eugene Huu-Chau
Ph.D. Applied Physics
Date of Birth: September 14, 1950
Place of Birth: Saigon, South Vietnam (naturalized US citizen)
Spouse: Mrs. Yvette Trinh
Trinh served as Backup Payload Specialist 2 for STS 51-B/Spacelab 3 and Payload Specialist for STS-50/USML-1.
DEF:
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Truly, Richard Harrison (Dick)
Vice Admiral, US Navy
Date of Birth: November 12, 1937
Place of Birth: Fayette, Mississippi, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Colleen Truly
Children: Richard Michael, Daniel Bennett, Lee Margaret
Truly worked as Support Crew for Skylab SL-2, Skylab SL-3, Skylab SL-4 and Apollo 18 ASTP. As well, the astronaut served as Backup Pilot for STS-1 (OFT), Pilot for STS-2 (OFT) and Commander for STS-8.
199 hours, 21 minutes, 56.08 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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van den Berg, Lodewijk
Ph.D. Applied Science
Date of Birth: March 4, 1932
Place of Birth: Sluiskil, Netherlands (naturalized US citizen)
Spouse: unspecified marriage
Children: two unspecified children
The astronaut served as Payload Specialist 1 for STS 51-B/Spacelab 3.
168 hours, 8 minutes, 46 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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van Hoften, James Dougal Adrianus (Jim/Ox)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force Reserve; Ph.D. Hydraulic Engineering/Fluid Mechanics)
Date of Birth: June 11, 1944
Place of Birth: Fresno, California, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Vallarie van Hoften
Children: Jennifer Lyn, Jamie Juliana, Victoria Jane
Van Hoften acted as Mission Specialist 3 for STS 41-C and Mission Specialist 1 for STS 51-I.
337 hours, 57 minutes, 49 seconds space time logged including 22 hours, 8 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Vasyutin, Vladimir Vladimirovich (Volodya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: March 8, 1952
Place of Birth: Kharkov, Kharkov Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Galina Vasyutin
Children: Elena, Valeria
The cosmonaut worked as Backup Commander for Soyuz T-7, Soyuz T-10 and Soyuz T-12, and Commander for Soyuz T-14/Salyut 7.
1,557 hours, 52 minutes space time logged
DEF:
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Veach, Charles Lacy
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: September 18, 1944
Place of Birth; Chicago, Illinois, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Alice Meigs Veach
Children: Marshall Scott, Katherine Maile
He served as Mission Specialist 4 for STS-39 and Mission Specialist 3 for STS-52/LAGEOS II.
199 hours, 22 minutes, 25 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
Viktorenko, Aleksandr Stepanovich (Sasha)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: March 29, 1947
Place of Birth: Olginka, Severo-Kazakhstan Oblast, Kazakhstan
Spouse: Mrs. Raisa Viktorenko
Children: Oksana, Aleksei
The cosmonaut worked as Backup Commander for Soyuz T-14, Soyuz T-15, Soyuz TM-2, Soyuz TM-7 and Soyuz TM-12. As well, he served as Commander for Soyuz TM-3/Mir/Soyuz TM-2 and Soyuz TM-8.
4,182 hours, 2 minutes, 5 seconds space time logged including 17 hours, 36 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Volk, Igor Petrovich
civilian
Date of Birth: April 12, 1937
Place of Birth: Gotvald, Kharkov Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Valentina Volk
Children: Marina, Irina
As Cosmonaut-Researcher, Volk served on Soyuz T-12/Salyut 7.
283 hours, 14 minutes, 36 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Volkov, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich (Sasha)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: April 27, 1948
Place of Birth: Gorlovka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Anna Volkob
Children: Dmitri, Sergei
The cosmonaut served as Cosmonaut-Researcher for Soyuz T-14/Salyut 7, Backup Commander for Soyuz TM-4, Soyuz TM-11 and Soyuz TM-12, and Commander for Soyuz TM-7/Mir.
5,169 hours space time logged including 5 hours, 57 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Volkov, Vladislav Nikolaivich (Vadim/Vladik)
civilian
Date of Birth: November 23, 1935
Date of Death: June 30, 1971
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Lyudmilla Volkov
Children: Vladimir, Konstantin, two unspecified sons
As Backup Flight Engineer, the cosmonaut worked on Soyuz 5 and Soyuz 10. As well, he served as Flight Engineer for Soyuz 7 and Soyuz 11/Salyut 1.
Volkov and fellow cosmonauts, Georgei Dobrovolski and Viktor Patsayev, died when the Soyuz capsule pressure equalization valve opened during orbital-module separation releasing all the air in the capsule.
689 hours, 2 minutes, 6 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Volynov, Boris Valentinovich (Borya)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: December 18, 1934
Place of Birth: Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Tamara Volynov
Children: Andrei, Tatiana
As Backup Pilot, the cosmonaut served on Vostok 3, Vostok 4, Vostok 5 and Soyuz 3. He acted as Backup Commander for Voshkod 1, Soyuz 14 and Soyuz 15, and Commander for Soyuz 5/Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 21/Salyut 5.
1,255 hours, 17 minutes, 47 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Von Braun, Werner
Ph.D. Engineering
Place of Birth: Germany
Spirited from the ashes of NAZI Germany by the US Army, Dr. Von Braun would become the US' shining star in rocket technology. He and his group of German scientists would improve upon the V-2 rocket design they had developed for Hitler and place America into space with Explorer-1. Soon after, Von Braun would take the helm of the Saturn rocket program in an effort to place a man on the Moon. His work would create the largest, most powerful rocket in history.
DEF:
NONE
Voss, James Shelton (Jim)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army
Date of Birth: March 3, 1949
Place of Birth: Cordova, Alabama, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Susan Voss
Children: Kristie
For STS-44, he served as Mission Specialist 3 and Mission Specialist 2 for STS-53.
DEF:
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Walker, Charles David (Charlie)
civilian
Date of Birth: August 29, 1948
Place of Birth; Bedford, Indiana, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Melissa L. Walker
The astronaut worked as Payload Specialist for STS 41-D, Payload Specialist 1 for STS 51-D and STS 61-B.
DEF:
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Walker, David Mathieson (Dave)
Captain, US Navy
Date of Birth: May 20, 1944
Place of Birth: Columbus, Georgia, USA
Spouse: Ms. Patricia A. Shea (divorced); Ms. Stacy Randal Hall (divorce)
Children: Michael, Matt
The man acted as Pilot for STS 51-A, Commander for STS-30/Magellan and STS-53.
DEF:
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Wang, Taylor Gun-Jin
Ph.D. Physics
Date of Birth: June 16, 1940
Place of Birth: Shanghai, China (naturalized US citizen)
Spouse: Mrs. Beverly Wang
Children: Kenneth, Eric
As Payload Specialist 2, he served on STS 51-B/Spacelab 3.
168 hours, 8 minutes, 46 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Weitz, Paul Joseph
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: July 25, 1932
Place of Birth: Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Suzanne Margaret Weitz
Children: Matthew J., Cynthia A.
The astronaut acted as Support Crew for Apollo 12, Pilot for Skylab SL-2/Skylab SL-1 and Commander for STS-6.
793 hours, 13 minutes, 31 seconds space time logged including 2 hours, 11 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Wetherbee, James Donald (Jim)
Commander, US Navy
Date of Birth: November 27, 1952
Place of Birth: Flushing, New York, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Robin DeVore Wetherbee
Children: Kelly DeVore, Jennifer Marie
Wetherbee served as Pilot for STS-32 and Commander for STS-52/LAGEOS II.
DEF:
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White, Edward Higgins II (Ed/Red)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Date of Birth: November 14, 1930
Date of Death: January 27, 1967
Place of Birth: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Patricia Eileen White
Children: Edward Higgins III, Bonnie Lynn
The astronaut served as Pilot for Gemini GT-4, Backup Command Pilot for Gemini GT-7 and Senior Pilot for Apollo 1.
White, Roger B. Chaffee and Virgil I. Grissom, asphyxiated in the fire that engulfed the inside if their Apollo 1 capsule.
97 hours, 56 minutes, 12 seconds space time logged including 36 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Williams, Donald Edward (Don)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: February 13, 1942
Place of Birth: Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Spouse: Mrs. Linda Jo Williams
Children: Jonathan Edward, Barbara Jane
Williams worked as Pilot for STS 51-D and Commander for STS-34/Galilieo.
287 hours, 36 minutes, 23.9 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Worden, Alfred Merill (Al)
Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force (retired)
Date of Birth: February 7, 1932
Place of Birth: Jackson, Michigan, USA
Spouse: Ms. Pamela Ellen Vander (divorced); Ms. Sandra Lee Wilder (divorced); Mrs. Jill Lee Worden
Children: Merrill Ellen, Alison Pamela, Stephanie, Tamara Lynn
The astronaut served as Support Crew for Apollo 9, Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo 12 and Command Module Pilot for Apollo 15.
295 hours, 11 minutes, 53 seconds space time logged including 38 minutes EVA activity
DEF:
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Yegorov, Boris Borisovich (Borya)
Captain, Medical Corps, Soviet Air Force; Dr.med. Dr.S. Cand.Sc. Medicine
The cosmonaut served as Physiologist for Voshkod 1.
24 hours, 17 minutes, 3 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Yeliseyev, Alexei Stanislavovich (Lesha)
Dr.Sc Cand.Sc. Technology
Date of Birth: July 13, 1934
Place of Birth: Zhizdra, Kaluga Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Larisa Ivanovna Yeliseyev
Children: Elena
As Flight Engineer, the cosmonaut served on Soyuz 5/Soyuz 4, Soyuz 8 and Soyuz 10/Salyut 1. For Soyuz 6, he was Backup Flight Engineer, and for Soyuz 7 was Backup Research Engineer.
214 hours, 22 minutes, 33 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Young, John Watts (Jose)
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Date of Birth: September 24, 1930
Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, USA
Spouse: Ms. Barbara Vincent White (divorced); Mrs. Susy Young
Children: Sandy, John
The astronaut served as Pilot for Gemini GT-3, Backup Pilot for Gemini GT-6A, Command Pilot for Gemini GT-10, Backup Senior Pilot for Apollo 7, Command Module Pilot for Apollo 10, Backup Commander for Apollo 13, Commander for Apollo 16, Backup Commander for Apollo 17 and Commander for STS-1 (OFT) and STS-9/Spacelab 1.
835 hours, 41 minutes, 49 seconds space time logged including 20 hours, 14 minutes EVA activity all non-terrestrial planetary exploration
DEF:
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Zholobov, Vitali Mikhailovich (Vitalya)
Colonel Engineer, Soviet Air Force Reserve
Date of Birth: June 18, 1937
Place of Birth: Zburyevka, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine
Spouse: Mrs. Lilia Ivanovna Zholobov
Children: Yelena
The cosmonaut served as Backup Flight Engineer for Soyuz 14 and Soyuz 15, and Flight Engineer for Soyuz 21/Salyut 5.
1,182 hours, 23 minutes, 32 seconds space time logged
DEF:
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Zudov, Vyacheslav Dmitrievich (Slava)
Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Date of Birth: January 8, 1942
Place of Birth: Bor, Gorky Oblast, Russia
Spouse: Mrs. Nina Zudov
Children: Elena, Natalia
As Backup Commander, Zudov served on Soyuz 14, Soyuz 15, Soyuz 21, Soyuz 35 and Soyuz T-4. He also served as Commander for Soyuz 23/Salyut 5.
48 hours, 6 minutes, 35 seconds space time logged
DEF:
NONE
PERIGEE
The point closest to the Earth in a geocentric orbit. At perigee, the orbiting body's velocity is at maximum. In order to close the orbit, to bring it to a close, a spacecraft's thruster is turned on at perigee to give the vehicle and its payload increased velocity. Perigee is the opposite of apogee.
DEF:
NONE
PERIOD
The interval of time needed for the completion of a periodic motion. An orbiting body's period would be the amount of time it need to complete one full revolution of the Earth.
DEF:
NONE
INCLINATION
The angle determined by the orbit and equator. An orbiting body's inclination is calculated by locating the body's line of orbit across the equator. Thus, the angle created by the intersection of the lines is the inclination.