1.
NASA
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President Dwight D. Eisenhower established NASA in 1958 with a distinctly civilian orientation encouraging peaceful applications in space science. The National Aeronautics and Space Act was passed on July 29,1958, disestablishing NASAs predecessor, the new agency became operational on October 1,1958. Since that time, most US space exploration efforts have led by NASA, including the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station. Currently, NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for unmanned NASA launches. NASA shares data with various national and international such as from the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite. Since 2011, NASA has been criticized for low cost efficiency, from 1946, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics had been experimenting with rocket planes such as the supersonic Bell X-1. In the early 1950s, there was challenge to launch a satellite for the International Geophysical Year. An effort for this was the American Project Vanguard, after the Soviet launch of the worlds first artificial satellite on October 4,1957, the attention of the United States turned toward its own fledgling space efforts. This led to an agreement that a new federal agency based on NACA was needed to conduct all non-military activity in space. The Advanced Research Projects Agency was created in February 1958 to develop technology for military application. On July 29,1958, Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, a NASA seal was approved by President Eisenhower in 1959. Elements of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency and the United States Naval Research Laboratory were incorporated into NASA, earlier research efforts within the US Air Force and many of ARPAs early space programs were also transferred to NASA. In December 1958, NASA gained control of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA has conducted many manned and unmanned spaceflight programs throughout its history. Some missions include both manned and unmanned aspects, such as the Galileo probe, which was deployed by astronauts in Earth orbit before being sent unmanned to Jupiter, the experimental rocket-powered aircraft programs started by NACA were extended by NASA as support for manned spaceflight. This was followed by a space capsule program, and in turn by a two-man capsule program. This goal was met in 1969 by the Apollo program, however, reduction of the perceived threat and changing political priorities almost immediately caused the termination of most of these plans. NASA turned its attention to an Apollo-derived temporary space laboratory, to date, NASA has launched a total of 166 manned space missions on rockets, and thirteen X-15 rocket flights above the USAF definition of spaceflight altitude,260,000 feet. The X-15 was an NACA experimental rocket-powered hypersonic research aircraft, developed in conjunction with the US Air Force, the design featured a slender fuselage with fairings along the side containing fuel and early computerized control systems
2.
Space Shuttle
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The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated by the U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System, taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development, the first of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights beginning in 1982. Five complete Shuttle systems were built and used on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, the Shuttle fleets total mission time was 1322 days,19 hours,21 minutes and 23 seconds. Shuttle components included the Orbiter Vehicle, a pair of solid rocket boosters. The Shuttle was launched vertically, like a rocket, with the two SRBs operating in parallel with the OVs three main engines, which were fueled from the ET. The SRBs were jettisoned before the vehicle reached orbit, and the ET was jettisoned just before orbit insertion, at the conclusion of the mission, the orbiter fired its OMS to de-orbit and re-enter the atmosphere. The orbiter then glided as a spaceplane to a landing, usually at the Shuttle Landing Facility of KSC or Rogers Dry Lake in Edwards Air Force Base. After landing at Edwards, the orbiter was back to the KSC on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The first orbiter, Enterprise, was built in 1976 for use in Approach, four fully operational orbiters were initially built, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis. Of these, two were lost in accidents, Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003, with a total of fourteen astronauts killed. A fifth operational orbiter, Endeavour, was built in 1991 to replace Challenger, the Space Shuttle was retired from service upon the conclusion of Atlantiss final flight on July 21,2011. Nixons post-Apollo NASA budgeting withdrew support of all components except the Shuttle. The vehicle consisted of a spaceplane for orbit and re-entry, fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks. The first of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights beginning in 1982, all launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The system was retired from service in 2011 after 135 missions, the program ended after Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center on July 21,2011. Major missions included launching numerous satellites and interplanetary probes, conducting space science experiments, the first orbiter vehicle, named Enterprise, was built for the initial Approach and Landing Tests phase and lacked engines, heat shielding, and other equipment necessary for orbital flight. A total of five operational orbiters were built, and of these and it was used for orbital space missions by NASA, the US Department of Defense, the European Space Agency, Japan, and Germany. The United States funded Shuttle development and operations except for the Spacelab modules used on D1, sL-J was partially funded by Japan
3.
Space Shuttle Discovery
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Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the orbiters from NASAs Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built. Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5,1984, over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, gathering more spaceflights than any other spacecraft to date. Discovery became the third operational orbiter to enter service, preceded by Columbia and Challenger. It embarked on its last mission, STS-133, on February 24,2011 and touched down for the time at Kennedy Space Center on March 9. Discovery performed both research and International Space Station assembly missions and it also carried the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. Discovery was the first operational shuttle to be retired, followed by Endeavour, Discovery launched the Hubble Space Telescope and conducted the second and third Hubble service missions. It also launched the Ulysses probe and three TDRS satellites, project Mercury astronaut John Glenn, who was 77 at the time, flew with Discovery on STS-95 in 1998, making him the oldest person to go into space. Had plans to launch United States Department of Defense payloads from Vandenberg Air Force Base gone ahead and its first West Coast mission, STS-62-A, was scheduled for 1986, but canceled in the aftermath of Challenger. Discovery was retired after completing its mission, STS133 on March 9,2011. The spacecraft is now on display in Virginia at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Discovery weighed 6,870 pounds less than Columbia when it was brought into service due to optimizations determined during the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger. Beginning in late 1995, the orbiter underwent a nine-month Orbiter Maintenance Down Period in Palmdale and this included outfitting the vehicle with a 5th set of cryogenic tanks and an external airlock to support missions to the International Space Station. After STS-105, Discovery became the first of the fleet to undergo Orbiter Major Modification period at the Kennedy Space Center. Work began in September 2002 to prepare the vehicle for Return to Flight and this included scheduled upgrades and additional safety modifications. Discovery is 6 pounds heavier than Atlantis and 363 pounds heavier than Endeavour, Discovery was decommissioned on March 9,2011. Discovery replaced Enterprise in the Smithsonians display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia, Discovery was transported to Washington Dulles International Airport on April 17,2012, and was transferred to the Udvar-Hazy on April 19 where a welcome ceremony was held. Afterwards, at around 5,30 pm, Discovery was rolled to its final stop in the Udvar Hazy Center. By its last mission, Discovery had flown 149 million miles in 39 missions, completed 5,830 orbits, Discovery flew more flights than any other Orbiter Shuttle, including four in 1985 alone. Discovery flew all three return to flight missions after the Challenger and Columbia disasters, STS-26 in 1988, STS-114 in 2005, Discovery flew the ante-penultimate mission of the Space Shuttle program, STS-133, having launched on February 24,2011
4.
Jim Wetherbee
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James Donald Jim/Wxb Wetherbee, is an American former naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aerospace engineer, and NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of six Space Shuttle missions and is the only American to have commanded five spaceflight missions, Wetherbee was born on November 27,1952, in Flushing, New York, and raised in Huntington Station, New York. He enjoys tennis, skiing, softball, running, and music and he graduated from Holy Family Diocesan High School in South Huntington, New York, in 1970. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1974, following his graduation from the Notre Dame, he received his commission in the United States Navy in 1975. He was designated a Naval Aviator in December 1976, after training in the A-7E, he was assigned to Attack Squadron 72 from August 1977 to November 1980 aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy and logged 125 night carrier landings. After attending the U. S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, Maryland and he was a project officer and test pilot for the weapons delivery system and avionics integration for the F/A-18 aircraft. Subsequently, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 132, he flew operationally in the F/A-18 from January 1984 until his selection for the astronaut candidate program and he has logged over 7,000 hours flying time in 20 different types of aircraft, including 345 carrier landings. Wetherbee has been selected as a candidate in 1984. He piloted mission STS-32 in 1990 and commanded missions STS-52, STS-63, STS-86, STS-102, the final three missions were dockings with Mir and the International Space Station, STS-113 was the last Space Shuttle mission before the Columbia disaster. STS-32, Columbia included the deployment of the Syncom IV-F5 satellite. Mission duration was 173 orbits in 261 hours and 01 minute, STS-52, Columbia successfully deployed the Laser Geodynamic Satellite, a joint Italian-American project. The crew also operated the first U. S. Microgravity Payload with French and American experiments, mission duration was 236 hours and 56 minutes. STS-63, Discovery, was the first joint flight of the new Russian-American Space Program, mission highlights included the rendezvous with the Russian Space Station, Mir, operation of Spacehab, and the deployment and retrieval of Spartan 204. The mission was accomplished in 129 orbits in 198 hours and 29 minutes, STS-86, Atlantis was the seventh mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. Highlights included the delivery of a Mir attitude control computer, the exchange of U. S, mission duration was 169 orbits in 259 hours and 21 minutes. STS-102, Discovery was the eighth Space Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station, mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes. STS-113, Endeavour was the sixteenth Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station, the launch occurred on November 23,2002 to deliver the P1 Truss segment, which provides structural support for the Space Station radiators. Endeavour also delivered a new Expedition 6 crew to the Station, the total mission duration was 13 days,18 hours and 47 minutes
5.
James M. Kelly (astronaut)
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James McNeal Vegas Kelly is a NASA Astronaut and a retired Colonel of the United States Air Force. He twice served as pilot on Space Shuttle missions, born in Burlington, Iowa, James Kelly graduated from Burlington Community High School in 1982. He received a B. S. degree in engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1986. Kelly received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1986 and was designated an Air Force Pilot in October 1987 and he then reported to the 426th F-15 Replacement Training Unit at Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix, Arizona for initial F-15A Eagle training. After completion, he was assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron, during his tour in Japan, he was designated as an instructor pilot, evaluator pilot, and mission commander. He was reassigned in April 1992 to Otis Air National Guard Base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as part of Project TOTAL FORCE and he was selected for Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Edwards, California, where he graduated in June 1994. After graduation, he was assigned to the Air Force Flight Test Center detachment at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada and he was at Nellis when selected for the astronaut program. He has logged over 2,500 flight hours in more than 35 different aircraft, meritorious Service Medal Air Force Commendation Medals Outstanding Unit Awards Combat Readiness Medals Distinguished Graduate in the class of 1986 at the U. S. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for selection as a pilot on a Space Shuttle flight crew and he served as pilot on two shuttle missions. Initially, Kelly was assigned to the Astronaut Office Flight Support Branch where he served as a member of the Astronaut Support Personnel team responsible for launch preparation. STS-102 Discovery was the eighth Space Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station, mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes. Kelly was the pilot on this mission, STS-114 Discovery was NASAs Return to Flight mission after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. The mission saw Kelly return to the International Space Station, during the time docked there were three spacewalks made which aimed to test procedures for thermal protection system repair. The mission was extended by a day due to bad weather at the Kennedy Space Center, when this continued for a second day the shuttle was diverted and Kelly landed with Discovery at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Mission duration was 333 hours,33 minutes, Kelly was the pilot on this mission. He was married to Dawn Renee Kelly, they have four children, official NASA Bio STS-114 James Kelly Crew Profile Spacefacts biography of James M. Kelly
6.
Andy Thomas
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Andrew Andy Sydney Withiel Thomas, AO is an Australian-born American aerospace engineer and a NASA astronaut. He became a U. S. citizen in December 1986 and he is married to fellow NASA astronaut Shannon Walker. He appears in the 1972 edition of the Adelaide University Engineering Societys annual publication, as a child, Thomas was fascinated by space. His father has described how he started building model rockets from cardboard, after completing his studies, Thomas accepted an offer from Lockheed in Atlanta. By 1990 he was the organizations principal aerodynamic scientist and his career continued in the field, steering towards more senior research positions. Thomas was selected by NASA in March 1992 and reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. In August 1993, following one year of training, he was appointed a member of the NASA Astronaut Corps and was qualified for an assignment as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flight crews. While awaiting space flight assignment, Thomas supported shuttle launch and landing operations as an Astronaut Support Person at the Kennedy Space Center. He also provided support to the Space Shuttle Main Engine project, the Solid Rocket Motor project. In June 1995, Thomas was named as commander for STS-77. Although Paul D. Scully-Power had entered orbit as an oceanographer in 1985 and he next trained at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia in preparation for a long-duration flight. In 1998, he served as Board Engineer 2 aboard the Russian Space Station Mir for 130 days, from August 2001 to November 2003, Thomas served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. Thomas completed his fourth flight on STS-114 and has logged over 177 days in space. He was working with issues for the Exploration Branch of the Astronaut Office until his retirement from NASA in February,2014, NASA officially announced Thomas retirement on 20 June 2014, which took effect on 1 March 2014, after 22 years with the space agency. On 22 January 1998, Thomas launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour as part of the STS-89 crew to dock with the Mir Space Station. He served aboard Mir as Flight Engineer 2 and returned to earth with the crew of STS-91 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on 12 June 1998, sTS-102 Discovery was the eighth Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station and Thomass third flight. Mission accomplishments included the delivery of the Expedition 2 crew and logistics resupply with the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, during the mission, Thomas performed an EVA of 6.5 hours to install components to the outside of the space station. Mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes, STS-114 Discovery was the Return to Flight mission following the Columbia accident during which the crew continued the assembly of the International Space Station
7.
Paul W. Richards
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Paul William Richards is an American engineer and a former NASA Astronaut. He flew aboard one Space Shuttle mission in 2001, Richards graduated from Dunmore High School, Dunmore, Pennsylvania, in 1982. He received a bachelor of degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University. He was awarded a master of science degree in engineering from the University of Maryland. Department of the Navy, Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station, 1983-1987, transferred to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in 1987. Worked in the Verification Office, Electromechanical Branch, Robotics Branch, Guidance and Controls Branch, senior EVA Tool Development Engineer for the Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Project. Project Manager for HST EVA crew aids and tools, program Manager for HST EVA Hardware. Responsibilities included the budget, schedule, design, analysis, fabrication, test, and integration for breadboard, WETF/NBS, engineering, and flight hardware, documentation, additional duties included systems engineering support for the HST WETF/NBS Servicing Mission Simulations as a utility diver and EMU suited subject. Selected by NASA in April 1996, Richards reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996, having completed two years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. Richards was initially assigned to the Computer Branch working on software for the Space Shuttle and he next served in the Astronaut Office Shuttle Operations Branch assigned to support Payload and General Support Computers and the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory. Richards flew on STS-102 and has logged over 307 hours in space and he was assigned as a back-up crewmember for ISS Expedition-7. Richards retired from NASA in February 2002 to pursue private interests, in 2004 Richards returned to NASA GSFC as the Observatory Manager for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. The GOES-R series is the next-generation of advanced weather satellites being developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with NASA, STS-102 Discovery was the eighth Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. Richards performed an EVA totaling 6 hours and 21 minutes, Mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes
8.
Yury Usachov
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Yury Vladimirovich Usachov is a former cosmonaut who resides in Star City, Moscow. Usachov is a veteran of four spaceflights, including two long duration missions on board the Mir Space Station and another on board the International Space Station, during his career, he also conducted seven spacewalks before his retirement on April 5,2004. Married to Vera Sergeevna Usachova from the Kaliningrad and his mother, Anna Grigorevna Usachova resides in Donetsk. He has a brother, five years older, and a twin sister and he enjoys photography and video production. Usachov graduated from the Donetsk Public School in 1975, in 1985, he graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute with an engineering diploma. Upon graduation from the Aviation Institute, he went to work for Energia, participating in working with EVA training, future construction in space, public relations. In 1989, he was appointed to the position of cosmonaut candidate at the Cosmonaut Training Center, from 1989 to 1992, he underwent a course of general space training. He was a member of the crew for the Mir-13,14 and 19 missions. From January 8,1994 to July 9,1994, he served as Board Engineer on Space Station Mir, Usachov made his first trip into space on January 8,1994. The Soyuz TM-18 spacecraft carrying Usachov with cosmonauts Viktor Afanasyev and Valeri Polyakov lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 10,05,34 UTC, Usachov served as the Flight Engineer. After two days of flight, Soyuz TM-18 docked at the Kvant-1 module of the Mir space station on January 10 at 11,15 UTC. The three cosmonauts became the 15th resident crew of the Mir, Usachov joined as a Flight Engineer. He was on board the Mir on January 14, when the departing Soyuz TM-17 spacecraft struck Kristall module two glancing blows during the customary inspection fly-around prior to the deorbit burn, after the incident, the EO-15 crew on Mir checked over Kristall and found no damage. During Usachovs stay three Progress spacecraft arrived at Mir, on 30 January, on March 24 and on May 24, Progress M-21, Progress M-22 and Progress M-23 spacecraft arrived at Mir. The Progress spacecraft delivered food, water, fuel, spare parts and equipment for the maintenance of Mirs systems and additional equipment for medical experiments. Usachov and Afanasyev uneventfully returned to Earth on board the Soyuz TM-18 descent module which landed 110 km north of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan at 10,32,35 GMT on July 9,1994, Usachov flew on the Mir space station for 182 days. From February 21 to September 2,1996, Usachov served as a Board Engineer of the Mir EO-21 expedition, the Soyuz TM-23 spacecraft carrying Usachov with cosmonaut Yuri Onufriyenko lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on February 21,1996 at 12,34,05 UTC. After two days of flight, the Soyuz spacecraft docked with the Mir space stations forward-facing port on February 23 at 14,20 UTC
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
