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ABOUT THE ASTRONAUTS & COSMONAUTS:THE STARS OF SPACE STATION 3D
Leroy Chiao, Ph.D., NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Danville, CA
Education: BS-Chemical Engineering from the University of California-Berkeley; MS, PhD-Chemical Engineering from the University of California-Santa Barbara
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in January 1990, Dr. Chiao became an astronaut in July 1991. He is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. His technical assignments to date include: Space Shuttle flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); crew equipment, Spacelab, Spacehab and payloads issues for the Astronaut Office Mission Development Branch; Training and Flight Data File issues; EVA issues for the EVA Branch. A veteran of three space flights, he flew as a mission specialist on STS-65 in 1994, STS-72 in 1996 and STS-92 in 2000. Dr. Chiao has logged a total of 36 days, 12 hours, 36 minutes and 5 seconds in space, including over 26 EVA hours in four space walks. Dr. Chiao currently serves as Chief of the Astronaut Office EVA Branch, and is also assigned as back-up commander for ISS Expedition-8.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-65 Columbia (July 8-23, 1994) launched from and returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, setting a new flight duration record for the Space Shuttle program at that time. The STS-65 mission flew the second International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2). During the 15-day flight the seven-member crew conducted more than 80 experiments focusing on materials and life sciences research in microgravity. The STS-65 mission was accomplished in 236 orbits of the Earth, travelling 6.1 million miles in 353 hours and 55 minutes.
STS-72 Endeavour (January 11-20, 1996) was a 9-day mission during which the crew retrieved the Space Flyer Unit (launched from Japan 10 months earlier), and deployed and retrieved the OAST-Flyer. Dr. Chiao performed two spacewalks designed to demonstrate tools and hardware, and evaluate techniques to be used in the assembly of the International Space Station. In completing this mission, Dr. Chiao logged a total of 214 hours and 41 seconds in space, including just over 13 EVA hours, and travelled 3.7 million miles in 142 orbits of the Earth.
STS-92 Discovery (October 11-24, 2000) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the 13-day flight, the seven member crew attached the Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 to the International Space Station using Discoverys robotic arm and performed four space walks to configure these elements. This expansion of the ISS opened the door for future assembly missions and prepared the station for its first resident crew. Dr. Chiao totalled 13 hours and 16 minutes of EVA time in two space walks. The STS-92 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, travelling 5.3 million miles in 12 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds.
*Performed a space walk with Bill McArthur on STS-92 to construct the ISS. Now heads the Astronaut Office EVA Branch.
Kenneth D. Cockrell , NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience : From November 1987 to July 1990, Cockrell worked as an aerospace engineer and research pilot at Ellington Field, Houston. He was an instructor pilot and functional check pilot in NASA T-38 aircraft. He conducted air sampling and other high altitude research while piloting the WB-57 and was an aircraft commander in the Gulfstream I administrative transport aircraft.
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Cockrell became an astronaut in July 1991. His technical assignments to date include: duties in the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch, working on landing, rollout, tires and brakes issues; CAPCOM in Mission Control for ascent and entry; Astronaut Office representative for Flight Data File, the numerous books of procedures carried aboard Shuttle flights. He served as Assistant to the Chief of the Astronaut Office for Shuttle operations and hardware, and has served as Chief of the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch.
A veteran of four space flights, Cockrell has logged over 1,215 hours in space. He served as a mission specialist on STS-56 (April 9-17, 1993), was the pilot on STS-69 (September 7-18, 1995), and was the mission commander on STS-80 (November 19 to December 7, 1996) and STS-98 (February 7-20, 2001). Cockrell is assigned to command the crew of STS-111, scheduled to launch in 2002. The STS-111 mission will deliver a new ISS resident crew and a Canadian-built mobile base for the orbiting outposts robotic arm. It will be the second Space Shuttle mission dedicated to delivering research equipment to the space platform.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-56 Discovery (April 9-17, 1993). STS-56 carrying ATLAS-2 was a nine-day mission during which the crew conducted atmospheric and solar studies in order to better understand the effect of solar activity on the Earths climate and environment. Mission duration was 9 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, 21 seconds.
STS-69 Endeavour (September 7-18, 1995). The primary objective of STS-69 was the successful deployment and retrieval of a SPARTAN satellite and the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). The WSF was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a free-flying platform to grow semiconductors, high temperature superconductors and other materials using the ultra-high vacuum created behind the spacecraft. Mission duration was 10 days, 20 hours, 28 minutes.
STS-80 Columbia (November 19 to December 7, 1996). During STS-80 the crew deployed and retrieved the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) and the Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS) satellites. The ORFEUS instruments, mounted on the reusable Shuttle Pallet Satellite, studied the origin and makeup of stars. Mission duration was a record breaking 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes.
STS-98 Atlantis (February 9-20, 2001). The STS-98 crew continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The Shuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached and three spacewalks were conducted to complete its assembly. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.
Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. (Commander, USN) NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Education: BS-Aerospace Engineering from the US Naval Academy; MS-Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in December 1994, Curbeam reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. After completing a year of training and evaluation, he was assigned to the Computer Support Branch in the Astronaut Office. He is a veteran of two space flights, STS-85 in 1997 and STS-98 in 2001, and has logged over 593 hours in space, including over 19 EVA hours during three spacewalks. Between the two flights, Curbeam served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) responsible for relaying all voice communication between Mission Control and crews aboard the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. He now serves as the CAPCOM Branch Chief.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-85 (August 7-19, 1997) was a 12-day mission during which the crew deployed and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS payload, operated the Japanese Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm, studied changes in the Earths atmosphere and tested technology destined for use on the future International Space Station. The mission was accomplished in 189 Earth orbits, traveling 4.7 million miles in 284 hours and 27 minutes.
STS-98 (February 7-20, 2001) continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The Shuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached. In helping to complete its assembly Curbeam logged over 19 hours EVA hours in 3 space walks. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.
Nancy Currie official bio missing
Hometown: Troy, OH
Education: BA-Biological Science from Ohio State University; MS-Safety from the University of Southern California; PhD-Industrial Engineering from the University of Houston
NASA Astronaut. STS-88 (first ISS assembly mission). STS-109 in 2002.
*Currie contributes to the construction of the space station, as documented in the film. She operates the robotic arm to "grab" the Zarya module.
Brian Duffy (Colonel, USAF, Ret.), NASA Astronaut (former), VP / Assoc. Program Manager,
Lockheed Martin Space Operations.
Brian Duffy is currently Vice President and Associate Program Manager for Lockheed Martin Space Operations. He is responsible for the Consolidated Space Operations Contract (CSOC) activities at the Kennedy Space Center. These activities include the development and verification of software that is the heart of the new Checkout and Launch Control System, as well as the operation and maintenance of the communication systems and computer networks for the Center. Duffy joined Lockheed Martin in May 2001.
Prior to joining the Corporation, Duffy spent 16 years with NASA as an astronaut and in senior leadership positions. In October 2000, he commanded STS-92, an International Space Station assembly mission. He was also the commander of STS-72, and the pilot of STS-45 and STS-57. During his tenure at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), he served in management positions of increasing responsibility including the JSC Deputy Director (Acting) and Assistant Director (Technical).
Before joining NASA, Duffy served as a test pilot and was the Director of F-15 flight tests at Eglin AFB in Florida. There he managed a fleet of uniquely modified aircraft to increase the effectiveness of the F-15. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel in July 2001 after completing a 26-year career. During his career he logged over 5,000 flight hours in more than 25 different aircraft. He received many awards including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Duffy holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the United States Air Force Academy (1975) and a master of science degree in systems management (1982) from the University of Southern California. He is a distinguished graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School and the Air Forces Undergraduate Pilot Training program. Hometown: Boston, MA.
*Shown early in the film on his last space shuttle flight in the Space Shuttle Discovery flight deck, along with pilot Pamela Ann Melroy.
Michael L. Gernhardt, Ph.D., NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Mansfield, OH
Education: BS-Physics from Vanderbilt University; MS, PhD-Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania
NASA Experience : Dr. Gernhardt was selected by NASA in March 1992, and reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. Technical assignments to date include: flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); development of nitrox diving to support training for the Hubble Space Telescope repair and on a variety of Space Station EVA developments; member of the astronaut support team at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, responsible for Shuttle prelaunch vehicle checkout, crew ingress/egress; spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) at Mission Control Center, Houston, during various Shuttle missions; currently leading an international effort to develop new prebreathe procedures for future spacewalks from an International Space Station.
A four flight veteran, Dr. Gernhardt has logged over 43 days in space, including 4 spacewalks totaling 23 hours and 16 minutes. He was a mission specialist on STS-69 in 1995, STS-83 in 1997, STS-94 in 1997 and STS-104 in 2001.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-69 (September 7-18, 1995) whose prime objective was the successful deployment and retrieval of a SPARTAN satellite and the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). The WSF was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of using this free-flying experiment to grow semiconductors, high temperature superconductors and other materials using the ultra-high vacuum created behind the spacecraft near the experiment package. Dr. Gernhardt was one of two astronauts to perform a spacewalk to evaluate future Space Station tools and hardware, logging 6 hours and 46 minutes of EVA. Mission duration was 260 hours, 29 minutes, and 8 seconds, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits of the Earth.
STS-83 (April 4-8, 1997) the Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) Spacelab mission, was cut short because of problems with one of the Shuttles three fuel cell power generation units. Mission duration was 95 hours and 12 minutes, traveling 1.5 million miles in 63 orbits of the Earth.
STS-94 (July 1-17, 1997) was a re-flight of the Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) Spacelab mission, and focused on materials and combustion science research in microgravity. Mission duration was 376 hours and 45 minutes, traveling 6.3 million miles in 251 orbits of the Earth.
STS-104 (July 12-24, 2001) was the 10th mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During the 13-day flight the crew conducted joint operations with the Expedition-2 crew. Dr. Gernhardt was one of two astronauts to perform three spacewalks to install the joint airlock "Quest" and to outfit it with four high-pressure gas tanks. The mission was accomplished in 200 Earth orbits, traveling 5.3 million miles in 306 hours and 35 minutes.
*Shown exercising on the station to develop new pre-breathe procedures for future space walks on the ISS to prevent "the bends."
Yuri Pavlovich Gidzenko (Lieutenant Colonel, Air Force Russia), Cosmonaut of the Y.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
Hometown: Star City, Russia
Education: Kharkov Military Aviation College of Pilots; Moscow State University of land-surveying and cartography
NASA Experience: Gidzenko was a member of the Expedition-1 crew, launching October 31, 2000 on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan, and successfully docking with the station on November 2, 2000. During their stay on the station they prepared the inside of the orbital outpost for future crews. They also saw the station grow in size with the installation of the U.S. solar array structure and the U.S. Destiny Laboratory Module. They left the station with the STS-102 crew, undocking from the station on March 18, and landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on March 21, 2001. In completing his first mission, Gidzenko logged over 141 days in space.
*The crews launch from Russia and first days in the ISS are documented in the film
Umberto Guidoni, Ph.D., Astronaut (European Space Agency)
Hometown: Rome, Italy
Education: BS-Physics from the University of Rome
NASA Experience: In 1994, Umberto Guidoni was assigned to serve as a payload specialist on the crew of STS-75/TSS-1R. Selected by ASI to attend NASA Astronaut Candidate Training, Dr. Guidoni reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. He completed two years of training and evaluation, and was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office, pending flight assignment as a mission specialist. In August 1998, Dr. Guidoni joined the Astronaut Corps of the European Space Agency (ESA) based at the European Astronauts Center (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. A veteran of two space flights, Dr. Guidoni has logged over 681 hours in space. He flew as a payload specialist on STS-75 (1996) and was a mission specialist on STS-100 (April 19 to May 1, 2001).
Spaceflight Experience: STS-75 Columbia (February 22 to March 9, 1996) was a 16-day mission whose principal payloads were the reflight of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) and the third flight of the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3). The TSS successfully demonstrated the ability of tethers to produce electricity. The TSS experiment produced a wealth of new information on the electrodynamics of tethers and plasma physics before the tether broke at 19.7 km, just shy of the 20.7 km goal. The crew also worked around the clock performing combustion experiments and research related to USMP-3 microgravity investigations. STS-75 was completed in 252 orbits covering 6.5 million miles in 377 hours and 40 minutes.
STS-100 Endeavour (April 19 to May 1, 2001) was the 9th mission to the International Space Station during which the crew successfully delivered and installed the Canadarm2 Robotic Arm supplied by the Canadian Space Agency. They also delivered more than 6,000 pounds of supplies and equipment from the Italian-built Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. The mission was accomplished in 186 Earth orbits, travelling 4.9 million miles in 283 hours and 30 minutes.
* Guidoni traveled to the ISS on an Endeavor mission with Astronaut Chris Hadfield (Canada) and Yuri Lonchakov (Russia). Guidoni is shown bringing a high tech moving van to the ISS with his crewmates. This segment of the film celebrates the varied cultures of the ISS.
Chris A. Hadfield (Colonel, CAF) Astronaut (Canadian Space Agency)
Hometown: Milton, Ontario
Education: BS-Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College; MS-Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee
NASA Experience: In November 1995, Colonel Hadfield served as Mission Specialist #1 on STS-74, NASAs second space shuttle mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. During the 8-day flight the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis attached a 5-tonne docking module to Mir and transferred over 1,000 kg of food, water and scientific supplies for use by the cosmonauts. Colonel Hadfield flew as the first Canadian mission specialist, the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit, and the only Canadian to ever be aboard Mir. The STS-74 Mission was accomplished in 129 orbits of the Earth, travelling 5.5 million kilometres in 196 hours, 30 minutes, 44 seconds.
In April 2001, Colonel Hadfield served as Mission Specialist #1 on STS-100, International Space Station assembly Flight 6A. The crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour delivered and installed the new Canadian-built Robot Arm, Canadarm2, as well as the Italian-made resupply module Raffaello. During the flight, Hadfield performed two spacewalks, which made him the first Canadian to ever leave a spacecraft, and float free in space. In total, Colonel Hadfield spent 14 hours, 54 minutes outside-10 times around the world. The entire STS-100 Mission was accomplished in 187 orbits of the Earth, travelling 7.9 million kilometres in 285 hours, 30 minutes.
Currently, Colonel Hadfield is living in Star City, Russia, as NASAs Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. As NASAs lead representative his work includes co-ordination and direction of all Space Station Crew activities in Russia, oversight of training and crew support staff, as well as policy negotiation with the Russian Space Program and other International Partners.
*Hadfield is part of two segments of the film. In the opening sequence, he is shown training in the virtual reality lab with another member of the space station construction team. Later during his mission to the ISS, Hadfield works with Yuri Lonchakov and Umberto Guidoni to deliver cargo to the station. He observes how the ISS crews view themselves as separate from Earth.
Susan J. Helms (Colonel, USAF) NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Portland, OR
Education: BS-Aeronautical Engineering from the US Air Force Academy; MS-Aeronautics/Astronautics from Stanford University
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in January 1990, Helms became an astronaut in July 1991. A veteran of five space flights, Helms has logged over 206 days in space. She flew on STS-54 in 1993, STS-64 in 1994, STS-78 in 1996, STS-101 in 2000, and most recently served aboard the International Space Station and a member of the Expedition-2 crew.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-54 Endeavor, January 13-19, 1993. The primary objective of this mission was the deploy of a $200-million NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-F). A Diffuse X-Ray Spectrometer (DXS) carried in the payload bay, collected over 80,000 seconds of quality X-ray data that will enable investigators to answer questions about the origin of the Milky Way galaxy. The crew demonstrated the physics principles of everyday toys to an interactive audience of elementary school students across the United States. A highly successful Extravehicular Activity (EVA) resulted in many lessons learned that will benefit Space Station Freedom assembly. Mission duration was 5 days, 23 hours, 38 minutes, 17 seconds.
STS-64 Discovery, September 9-20, 1994. On this flight, Helms served as the flight engineer for orbiter operations and the primary RMS operator aboard Space Shuttle. The major objective of this flight was to validate the design and operating characteristics of Lidar in Space Technology Experiment (LITE) by gathering data about the Earths troposphere and stratosphere. Additional objectives included the deploy and retrieval of SPARTAN-201, a free-flying satellite that investigated the physics of the solar corona, and the testing of a new EVA maneuvering device. The Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment (SPIFEX) was used to collect extensive data on the effects of jet thruster impingement, in preparation for proximity tasks such as space station docking. Mission duration was 10 days, 22 hours, 51 minutes.
STS-78 Columbia, June 20 to July 7, 1996, Helms was the payload commander and flight engineer aboard Columbia, on the longest Space Shuttle mission to date. The mission included studies sponsored by 10 nations and five space agencies, and was the first mission to combine both a full microgravity studies agenda and a comprehensive life science investigation. The Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission served as a model for future studies on board the International Space Station. Mission duration was 16 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes.
STS-101 Atlantis, May 19-29, 2000, was a mission dedicated to the delivery and repair of critical hardware for the International Space Station. Helms prime responsibilities during this mission were to perform critical repairs to extend the life of the Functional Cargo Block (FGB). In addition, she had prime responsibility of the onboard computer network and served as the mission specialist for rendezvous with the ISS. Mission duration was 9 days, 20 hours and 9 minutes.
Helms lived and worked onboard the International Space Station as a member of the second crew to inhabit the International Space Station. The Expedition-2 crew (2 American astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut) launched on March 8, 2001 onboard STS-102 Discovery and successfully docked with the station on March 9, 2001. The Expedition-2 crew installed and conducted tests on the Canadian made Space Station Robotic arm (SSRMS), unloaded the Italian made Logistics module, conducted internal and external maintenance tasks, in addition to medical and science experiments. During her stay onboard the Space Station, the STS-104 brought up the Airlock that was added to the Space Station. Helms was the SSRMS operator taking the Airlock from the Shuttle and berthing it to the Space Station. Helms spent a total of 163 days aboard the Space Station. She returned to Earth with the STS-105 crew aboard Discovery on August 22, 2001.
*In the film, Helms described her feelings from the days before her launch to carryout her ISS mission. She joins her fellow crew members, James Voss and Yury Usachev for reflection on the beach before their space shuttle launch. During the film, Susan works with the MACE experiment project to study the movements of spacecraft using gyroscopes and masses
Charles Owen Hobaugh (Major, USMC)
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in April 1996, Hobaugh reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. He completed two years of training and evaluation, and is qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. Hobaugh was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems/Operations Branch. Most recently he was the pilot on STS-104 and has logged a total of 12 days, 18 hours and 35 minutes in space.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-104 (July 12-24, 2001) was the 10th mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During the 13-day flight the crew conducted joint operations with the Expedition-2 crew and performed three spacewalks to install the joint airlock "Quest" and to outfit it with four high-pressure gas tanks. The mission was accomplished in 200 Earth orbits, traveling 5.3 million miles in 306 hours and 35 minutes.
Marsha S. Ivins, NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Wallingford, PA
Education: BS-Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado
NASA Experience: Ms. Ivins has been employed at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center since July 1974, and until 1980, was assigned as an engineer, working on orbiter displays and controls and man machine engineering. Her major assignment in 1978 was to participate in development of the Orbiter Head-Up Display (HUD). In 1980 she was assigned as a flight engineer on the Shuttle Training Aircraft (Aircraft Operations) and a co-pilot in the NASA administrative aircraft (Gulfstream-1).
Ms. Ivins holds a multi-engine Airline Transport Pilot License with Gulfstream-1 type rating, single engine airplane, land, sea, and glider commercial licenses, and airplane, instrument, and glider flight instructor ratings. She has logged over 6,000 hours in civilian and NASA aircraft.
Ms. Ivins was selected in the NASA Astronaut Class of 1984 as a mission specialist. Her technical assignments to date include: review of Orbiter safety and reliability issues; avionics upgrades to the Orbiter cockpit; software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); Spacecraft Communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control; crew representative for Orbiter photographic system and procedures; crew representative for Orbiter flight crew equipment issues; Lead of Astronaut Support Personnel team at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, supporting Space Shuttle launches and landings; crew representative for Space Station stowage, habitability, logistics, and transfer issues.
A veteran of five space flights, (STS-32 in 1990, STS-46 in 1992, STS-62 in 1994, STS-81 in 1997, and STS-98 in 2001), Ms. Ivins has logged over 1,318 hours in space.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-32 (January 9-20, 1990) launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on an eleven-day flight, during which crew members on board the Orbiter Columbia successfully deployed a Syncom satellite, and retrieved the 21,400 pound Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). Mission duration was 261 hours, 1 minute, and 38 seconds. Following 173 orbits of the Earth and 4.5 million miles, Columbia returned with a night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
STS-46 (July 31-August 8, 1992) was an 8-day mission, during which crew members deployed the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) satellite, and conducted the first Tethered Satellite System (TSS) test flight. Mission duration was 191 hours, 16 minutes, and 7 seconds. Space Shuttle Atlantis and her crew launched and landed at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, completing 126 orbits of the Earth in 3.35 million miles.
STS-62 (March 4-18, 1994) was a 14-day mission for the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP) 2 and Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST) 2 payloads. These payloads studied the effects of microgravity on materials sciences and other space flight technologies. Other experiments on board included demonstration of advanced teleoperator tasks using the remote manipulator system, protein crystal growth, and dynamic behavior of space structures. Mission duration was 312 hours, 23 minutes, and 16 seconds. Space Shuttle Columbia launched and landed at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, completing 224 orbits in 5.82 million miles.
STS-81 Atlantis (January 12-22, 1997) was a 10-day mission, the fifth to dock with Russia's Space Station Mir, and the second to exchange U.S. astronauts. The mission also carried the Spacehab double module providing additional middeck locker space for secondary experiments. In five days of docked operations more than three tons of food, water, experiment equipment and samples were moved back and forth between the two spacecraft. Following 160 orbits of the Earth the STS-81 mission concluded with a landing on Kennedy Space Center's Runway 33 ending a 3.9 million mile journey. Mission duration was 244 hours, 56 minutes.
STS-98 Atlantis February 7-20, 2001) continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The Shuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached and three spacewalks were conducted to complete its assembly. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. Space Shuttle Atlantis returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.
*Ivins is seen in the film floating through the modules, posing as a package that is being unloaded from the shuttle into the space station. The scene serves as comic relief onboard the station and in the film.
Thomas D. Jones, Ph.D., NASA Astronaut
Experience: A Distinguished Graduate of the USAF Academy, Dr. Jones served on active duty as an Air Force officer for 6 years. After pilot training in Oklahoma, he flew strategic bombers at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. As pilot and aircraft commander of a B-52D Stratofortress, he led a combat crew of six, accumulating over 2,000 hours of jet experience before resigning as a captain in 1983.
From 1983 to 1988 he worked toward a Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in Tucson. His research interests included the remote sensing of asteroids, meteorite spectroscopy, and applications of space resources. From 1989 to 1990, he was a program management engineer in Washington, D.C., at the CIA's Office of Development and Engineering. In 1990 he joined Science Applications International Corporation in Washington, D.C. as a senior scientist. Dr. Jones performed advanced program planning for NASA's Solar System Exploration Division, investigating future robotic missions to Mars, asteroids, and the outer solar system.
After a year of training following his selection by NASA in January 1990, Dr. Jones became an astronaut in July 1991. In 1994 he flew as a mission specialist on successive flights of space shuttle Endeavour. First, in April 1994, he ran science operations on the "night shift" during STS-59, the first flight of the Space Radar Laboratory (SRL-1). Then, in October 1994, he was the payload commander on the SRL-2 mission, STS-68. Dr. Jones next flew in late 1996 on Columbia. Mission STS-80 successfully deployed and retrieved 2 science satellites, ORFEUS/SPAS and the Wake Shield Facility. While helping set a Shuttle endurance record of nearly 18 days in orbit, Dr. Jones used Columbia's robot arm to release the Wake Shield satellite and later grapple it from orbit. His latest space flight was aboard Atlantis on STS-98, in February 2001. Dr. Jones and his crew delivered the U.S. Destiny Laboratory Module to the Space Station, and he helped install the Lab in a series of 3 space walks lasting over 19 hours. The successful addition of Destiny gave the first Expedition Crew the largest space outpost in history and marked the start of onboard scientific research at the ISS. A veteran of four space flights, Dr. Jones has logged over 52 days (1,272 hours) in space, including 3 space walks totaling over 19 hours.
Janet Lynn Kavandi, Ph.D., NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience: Dr. Kavandi was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in December 1994 and reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. Following an initial year of training, she was assigned to the Payloads and Habitability Branch where she supported payload integration for the International Space Station. Dr. Kavandi served as a mission specialist on STS-91 (June 2-12, 1998) the 9th and final Shuttle-Mir docking mission, concluding the joint U.S./Russian Phase 1 program. Following the mission she worked as a CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator) in NASAs Mission Control Center. On her second mission, she served aboard STS-99 (February 11-22, 2000), the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, which mapped more than 47 million miles of the Earths land surface to provide data for a highly accurate three-dimensional topographical map. Dr. Kavandi subsequently worked in the Robotics Branch where she trained on both the shuttle and space station robotic manipulator systems. Most recently, she served aboard STS-104/ISS Assembly Flight 7A (July 12 - 24, 2001) on the 10th mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle crew installed the joint airlock "Quest" and conducted joint operations with the Expedition-2 crew. A three flight veteran, Dr. Kavandi has logged over 33 days in space, traveling over 13.1 million miles in 535 Earth orbits.
James L. Kelly (Lt. Colonel, USAF) NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in April 1996, Kelly reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for selection as a pilot on a Space Shuttle flight crew. 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 shuttle launch preparation. Kelly was the pilot on STS-102 and has logged over 307 hours in space. Currently, he is assigned as pilot on STS-114 scheduled to launch in late 2002.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-102 Discovery (March 8-21, 2001) was the eighth Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. Mission accomplishments included the delivery of the Expedition-2 crew and the contents of the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, the completion of two successful space walks, the return to Earth of the Expedition-1 crew, as well as the return of Leonardo, the reusable cargo carrier built by the Italian Space Agency. Mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes.
Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, Russian Cosmonaut
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Russia
Education: Mechanical Engineering degree from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute (now the St. Petersburg Technical University)
NASA Experience: In October 1992, NASA announced that an experienced cosmonaut would fly aboard a future Space Shuttle mission. Krikalev was one of two candidates named by the Russian Space Agency for mission specialist training with the crew of STS-60. In April 1993, he was assigned as prime mission specialist. In September 1993, Vladimir Titov was selected to fly on STS-63 with Krikalev training as his back up.
Krikalev flew on STS-60, the first joint U.S./Russian Space Shuttle Mission. Launched on February 3, 1994, STS-60 was the second flight of the Space Habitation Module-2 (Spacehab-2), and the first flight of the Wake Shield Facility (WSF-1). During the 8-day flight, the crew of Discovery conducted a wide variety of materials science experiments, both on the Wake Shield Facility and in the Spacehab, Earth observation, and life science experiments. Krikalev conducted significant portions of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) operations during the flight. Following 130 orbits of the Earth in 3,439,705 miles, STS-60 landed at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on February 11, 1994. With the completion of this flight, Krikalev logged an additional 8 days, 7 hours, 9 minutes in space.
Krikalev returned to duty in Russia following his American experience on STS-60. Periodically he returned to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to work with CAPCOM in Mission Control and ground controllers in Russia supporting joint U.S./Russian Missions. To date he has supported STS-63, STS-71, STS-74 and STS-76.
Krikalev flew on STS-88 Endeavour (December 4-15, 1998), the first International Space Station assembly mission. During the 12-day mission the Unity module was mated with Zarya module. Two crew members performed three space walks to connect umbilicals and attach tools/hardware for use in future EVAs. The crew also performed IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC) operations, and deployed two satellites, Mighty Sat 1 and SAC-A. The mission was accomplished in 185 orbits of the Earth in 283 hours and 18 minutes.
Krikalev was a member of the Expedition-1 crew. They launched October 31, 2000 on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan, successfully docking with the station on November 2, 2000. During their stay on the station they prepared the inside of the orbital outpost for future crews. They also saw the station grow in size with the installation of the U.S. solar array structure and the U.S. Destiny Laboratory Module. They left the station with the STS-102 crew, undocking from the station on March 18, with landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on March 21, 2001. In completing his fifth space flight, Krikalev logged more than 1 year, 5 months and 10 days in space, including seven EVAs.
*Krilalevs Expedition-1 crew, with Yuri Gidzenko and Bill Shepherd, is documented in the film. Shepherd and Krikalev work together in the film to repair a Zvezda A/C module.
Steven W. Lindsey (Lt. Colonel, USAF) NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience : Selected by NASA in December 1994, Lindsey became an astronaut in May 1996, qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. Initially assigned to flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), Lindsey also served as the Astronaut Office representative working on the Multifunction Electronic Display System (MEDS) program, a glass cockpit Space Shuttle upgrade program, as well as a number of other advanced upgrade projects. Lindsey also served as Deputy for Shuttle Operations and Co-Chairman of the Space Shuttle Cockpit Council, responsible for designing and implementing an advanced Shuttle cockpit. In between flights he worked as the Shuttle Landing and Rollout representative responsible for training flight crews and testing orbiter landing techniques and flying qualities. A veteran of three space flights, Lindsey has logged over 896 hours in space. He flew as pilot on STS-87 in 1997 and STS-95 in 1998, and was mission commander on STS-104 in 2001.
Spaceflight Experience : STS-87 (November 19 to December 5, 1997) was the fourth U.S Microgravity Payload flight and focused on experiments designed to study how the weightless environment of space affects various physical processes, and on observations of the Suns outer atmospheric layers. Two members of the crew performed an EVA (spacewalk) which featured the manual capture of a Spartan satellite, and tested EVA tools and procedures for future Space Station assembly. During the EVA, Lindsey piloted the first flight of the AERCam Sprint, a free-flying robotic camera. The mission was accomplished in 252 orbits of the Earth, traveling 6.5 million miles in 376 hours and 34 minutes.
STS-95 (October 29 to November 7, 1998) was a 9-day mission during which the crew supported a variety of research payloads including deployment and retrieval of the Spartan solar-observing spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, and investigations on space flight and the aging process. The mission was accomplished in 134 Earth orbits, traveling 3.6 million miles in 213 hours and 44 minutes.
STS-104 (July 12-24, 2001), designated assembly mission 7A, was the 10th mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During the 13-day flight the crew conducted joint operations with the Expedition-2 crew and performed three spacewalks to install the ISS joint airlock Quest and to outfit it with four high-pressure gas tanks. In addition to installing and activating the joint airlock, the crew also performed the first spacewalk from Quest. The mission was accomplished in 200 Earth orbits, traveling 5.3 million miles in 306 hours and 35 minutes.
Yuri Valentinovich Lonchakov (Lieutenant Colonel, Russian Air Force) Test -Cosmonaut Candidate of Y.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
Experience: After graduation from the pilot school Lonchakov served as a second crew commander, crew commander, squadron senior pilot, aviation brigade commander in the Air Force. He flew L-29, Tu-134 and Tu-16 aircraft. Lonchakov has logged over 1400 hours of flight time. He is a Class 1 Air Force pilot and a paratroop training instructor. Lonchakov was selected as a test-cosmonaut candidate of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center Cosmonaut Office in December of 1997.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-100 Endeavour (April 19 to May 1, 2001) was the 9th mission to the International Space Station during which the crew successfully delivered and installed the Canadarm2 Robotic Arm supplied by the Canadian Space Agency. They also delivered more than 6,000 pounds of supplies and equipment from the Italian-built Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. In completing his first space flight, Lonchakov travelled 4.9 million miles in 186 Earth orbits, logging 283 hours and 30 minutes in space.
Michael E. Lopez-Alegria (Commander, USN) NASA Astronaut
Education: BS-Systems Engineering from the US Naval Academy; MS-Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in March 1992, Lopez-Alegria reported for training to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. Following one year of training and designation as an astronaut, he was assigned as the Astronaut Office technical point of contact to the Space Shuttle Orbiter, Main Engine, Solid Rocket Booster and External Tank projects. He was subsequently assigned to the Kennedy Space Center where he provided crew representation on orbiter processing issues and provided direct crew support during launches and landings. Following his first space flight he served as NASA Director of Operations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia. A veteran of two space flights, STS-73 in 1995 and STS92 in 2000, Lopez-Alegria has logged a total of 27 days, 43 hours, 32 minutes and 46 seconds in space, including 14 hours and 3 minutes in two space walks. Currently, he is assigned to STS-113 scheduled to launch in 2002.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-73 Columbia (October 20 to November 5, 1995) was launched from and returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. STS-73 was the second United States Microgravity Laboratory mission and focused on materials science, biotechnology, combustion science, the physics of fluids, and numerous scientific experiments housed in the pressurized Spacelab module. Lopez-Alegria served as the flight engineer during the ascent and entry phases of flight, and was responsible for all operations of the "blue" shift on orbit. The STS-73 mission was completed in 15 days, 21 hours, 52 minutes and 21 seconds and travelled over 6 million miles in 256 Earth orbits.
STS-92 Discovery (October 11-24, 2000) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the 13-day flight, the seven member crew attached the Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 to the International Space Station using Discoverys robotic arm and performed four space walks to configure these elements. This expansion of the ISS opened the door for future assembly missions and prepared the station for its first resident crew. Lopez-Alegria totalled 14 hours and 3 minutes of EVA time in two space walks. The STS-92 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, travelling 5.3 million miles in 12 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds.
* Michael Lopez-Alagria performed a space walk with Jeff Wisoff on STS-92 to construct the ISS. Has logged 14 hours and 3 minutes in EVA time. Tested a new emergency EVA device, during STS-92.
William Surles "Bill" McArthur, Jr. (Colonel, USA, Ret.) NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Wakulla, NC
Education: BS-Applied Science and Engineering from the US Military Academy; MS-Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology
NASA Experience: McArthur was assigned to NASA at the Johnson Space Center in August 1987 as a Space Shuttle vehicle integration test engineer. Duties involved engineering liaison for launch and landing operations of the Space Shuttle. He was actively involved in the integrated test of the flight control system for each Orbiter for its return to flight and was a member of the Emergency Escape and Rescue Working Group. Selected by NASA in January 1990, McArthur became an astronaut in July 1991. Since then, McArthur has held various assignments within the Astronaut Office including: working issues relating to the solid rocket booster, redesigned solid rocket motor, and the advanced solid rocket motor. He served as Chief of the Astronaut Office Flight Support Branch, supervising astronaut support of the Mission Control Center, prelaunch Space Shuttle processing, and launch and landing operations. McArthur also served as Director of Operations, Russia, overseeing training activities for astronauts in Star City. A veteran of three space flights, McArthur has logged 35 days, 2 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds in space, including 13 hours and 16 minutes of EVA time in two space walks. McArthur is currently assigned to the Expedition-8 crew, a long duration flight to the International Space Station, to take place during the spring and summer of 2003.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-58 Columbia (October 18 - November 1, 1993) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the mission the crew performed neurovestibular, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and musculoskeletal medical experiments on themselves and 48 rats, expanding our knowledge of human and animal physiology both on Earth and in space flight. In addition, the crew performed 16 engineering tests aboard the Orbiter Columbia and 20 Extended Duration Orbiter Medical Project experiments. Additionally, the crew made extensive contacts with school children and amateur radio operators around the world through the Shuttle Amateur Radio experiment. The STS-58 mission was accomplished in 225 orbits of the Earth in 336 hours, 13 minutes, 01 second.
STS-74 Atlantis (November 12-20, 1995) was NASAs second Space Shuttle mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. STS-74 was launched from and returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the 8-day flight the crew successfully attached a permanent docking module to Mir, conducted experiments on a number of secondary payloads, and transferred one and a half tons of supplies between Atlantis and Mir. The STS-74 mission was accomplished in 129 orbits of the Earth, travelling 3.4 million miles in 196 hours, 30 minutes, 44 seconds.
STS-92 Discovery (October 11-24, 2000) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the 13-day flight, the seven-member crew attached the Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 to the International Space Station using Discoverys robotic arm and performed four space walks to configure these elements. This expansion of the ISS opened the door for future assembly missions and prepared the station for its first resident crew. McArthurs EVA time totalled 13 hours and 16 minutes. The STS-92 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, travelling 5.3 million miles in 12 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds.
*Performed a space walk with Leroy Chiao on STS-92 to construct the ISS. He has logged 13 hours and 16 minutes of EVA time in two space walks.
Pamela Ann Melroy (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF) NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience: Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in December 1994, Melroy reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. She completed a year of training and evaluation and is qualified for flight assignment as a shuttle pilot. Initially assigned to astronaut support duties for launch and landing, she has also worked Advanced Projects for the Astronaut Office. She was the pilot on STS-92 in 2000 and has logged over 309 hours in space. Melroy is assigned as pilot on STS-112 scheduled to launch in 2002.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-92 Discovery (October 11-24, 2000) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the 13-day flight, the seven member crew attached the Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 to the International Space Station using Discoverys robotic arm and performed four space walks to configure these elements. This expansion of the ISS opened the door for future assembly missions and prepared the station for its first resident crew. The STS-92 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, travelling 5.3 million miles in 12 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds. Hometown: Rochester, NY. Education: BS-Physics and Astronomy from Wellesley College; MS-Earth and Planetary Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
*Melroy appears early in the film on the flight deck of the Shuttle Discovery with Commander Brian Duffy.
Scott E. Parazynski, MD, NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience : Selected by NASA in March 1992, Dr. Parazynski reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. He completed one year of training and evaluation, and was qualified as a mission specialist. Dr. Parazynski initially served as one of the crew representatives for extravehicular activity (EVA) in the Astronaut Office Mission Development Branch. Following his first flight he was assigned as a backup for the third American long-duration stay aboard Russias Space Station Mir, and was expected to serve as a prime crew member on a subsequent mission. He spent 5-months in training at the Gargarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia. In October 1995, when sitting-height parameters raised concerns about his fitting safely in the Soyuz vehicle in the event of an emergency on-board the Mir station, he was deemed too tall for the mission and was withdrawn from Mir training. He served as the Astronaut Office Operations Planning Branch crew representative for Space Shuttle, Space Station and Soyuz training, was assigned to the Astronaut Office EVA Branch, helping to develop tools and procedures for the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS), and also served as Deputy (Operations and Training) of the Astronaut Office ISS Branch. A veteran of four space flights, STS-66 (1994), STS-86 (1997), STS-95 (1998) and STS-100 (2001), Dr. Parazynski has logged over 1,019 hours (6 weeks) in space, including 20 hours of EVA, and traveled over 17 million miles.
Spaceflight Experience : The STS-66 Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science-3 (ATLAS-3) mission was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 3, 1994, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on November 14, 1994. ATLAS-3 was part of an on-going program to determine the Earth's energy balance and atmospheric change over an 11-year solar cycle, particularly with respect to humanitys impact on global-ozone distribution. Dr. Parazynski had responsibility for a number of on-orbit activities including operation of the ATLAS experiments and Spacelab Pallet, as well as several secondary experiments in the crew cabin. He and his crewmates also successfully evaluated the Interlimb Resistance Device, a free-floating exercise he developed to prevent musculoskeletal atrophy in microgravity. The Space Shuttle Atlantis circled the Earth 175 times and traveled over 4.5 million miles during its 262 hour and 34 minute flight.
STS-86 Atlantis (September 25 to October 6, 1997) was the seventh mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. Highlights of the mission included the exchange of U.S. crew members Mike Foale and David Wolf, the transfer of 10,400 pounds of science and logistics, and the first Shuttle-based joint American-Russian spacewalk. Dr. Parazynski served as the flight engineer (MS2) during the flight, and was also the navigator during the Mir rendezvous. Dr. Parazynski (EV1) and Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Titov performed a 5 hour, 1 minute spacewalk during which they retrieved four experiment packages first deployed during the STS-76 Shuttle-Mir docking mission. They also deployed the Spektr Solar Array Cap, which was designed to be used in a future Mir spacewalk to seal a leak in the Spektr modules damaged hull. Other objectives of EVA included the evaluation of common EVA tools to be used by astronauts wearing either Russian or American-made spacesuits, and a systems flight test of the Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER). The Space Shuttle Atlantis circled the Earth 169 times and traveled over 4.2 million miles during its 259 hour and 21 minute flight, landing at the Kennedy Space Center.
STS-95 Discovery (October 29 to November 7, 1998) was a 9-day mission during which the crew supported a variety of research payloads including deployment of the Spartan solar-observing spacecraft, and the testing of the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform. The crew also conducted investigations on the correlation between space flight and the aging process. Dr. Parazynski was the flight engineer (MS2) for the mission, as well as the navigator for the Spartan spacecraft rendezvous. During the flight, he also operated the Shuttles robotic arm in support of the testing of several space-vision systems being considered for ISS assembly. In addition, he was responsible for monitoring several life sciences investigations, including those involving crewmate-Senator John Glenn. The mission was accomplished in 134 Earth orbits, traveling 3.6 million miles in 213 hours and 44 minutes.
STS-100 Endeavour (April 19 to May 1, 2001) was the 9th mission to the International Space Station (ISS) Alpha during which the crew successfully delivered and installed the Space Station "Canadarm2" robotic arm, to be used for all future Space Station assembly and maintenance tasks. Dr. Parazynski conducted two spacewalks with Canadian colleague Chris Hadfield to assemble and power the next generation robotic arm. Additionally, the pair installed a new UHF radio antenna for space-to-space communications during Space Shuttle rendezvous and ISS extravehicular activity. A critical on-orbit spare, a direct current switching unit, was also transferred to Alpha during the 14 hours and 50 minutes of EVA work. Also during the flight, Dr. Parazynski operated Endeavour's robotic arm to install and later remove the Italian-built "Raffaello" Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. The mission was accomplished in 186 Earth orbits, traveling 4.9 million miles in 283 hours and 30 minutes.
Mark L. Polansky, NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience: Polansky joined NASA in August 1992, as an aerospace engineer and research pilot. He was assigned to the Aircraft Operations Division of the Johnson Space Center. His primary responsibilities involved teaching the astronaut pilots Space Shuttle landing techniques in the Shuttle Trainer Aircraft and instructing astronaut pilots and mission specialists in the T-38 aircraft. Polansky also conducted flight testing of the NASA T-38 avionics upgrade aircraft.
Selected by NASA in April 1996, Polansky reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned as a member of the Astronaut Support Personnel team at the Kennedy Space Center, supporting Space Shuttle launches and landings. Most recently, Polansky served as pilot on STS-98 Atlantis (February 7-20, 2001). The STS-98 crew continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The Shuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached and three spacewalks were conducted to complete its assembly. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.
James F. Reilly II , Ph.D., NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in December 1994, Reilly reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995, has completed a year of training and evaluation, and is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. Initially, he was assigned to work technical issues for the Astronaut Office Computer Support Branch. Reilly flew on STS-89 in 1998 and STS-104 in 2001. He has logged over 517 hours in space, including 3 spacewalks totaling 16 hours and 30 minutes.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-89 (January 22-31, 1998) was the eighth Shuttle-Mir docking mission during which the crew transferred more than 9,000 pounds of scientific equipment, logistical hardware and water from Space Shuttle Endeavour to Mir. In the fifth and last exchange of a U.S. astronaut, STS-89 delivered Andy Thomas to Mir and returned with David Wolf. Mission duration was 8 days, 19 hours and 47 seconds, traveling 3.6 million miles in 138 orbits of the Earth.
Paul William Richards, NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience: 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 the International Space Station. He next served in the Astronaut Office Shuttle Operations Branch assigned to support Payload and General Support Computers (PGSCs) and the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL). Richards flew on STS-102 and has logged over 307 hours in space, including 6.4 EVA hours. He is currently assigned as a back-up crewmember for ISS Expedition-7.
Spaceflight Experience: STS -102 Discovery (March 8-21, 2001) was the eighth Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. Mission accomplishments included the delivery of the Expedition-2 crew and the contents of the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, the return to Earth of the Expedition-1 crew, as well as the return of Leonardo, the reusable cargo carrier built by the Italian Space Agency. Richards performed an EVA totaling 6 hours and 21 minutes. Mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes.
William M. Shepherd (Captain, USN) NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Babylon, NY
Education: BS-Aerospace Engineering from US Naval Academy; MS-Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in May 1984. A veteran of four space flights, Shepherd has logged over 159 days in space. Most recently, he was the Commander of the Expedition-1 crew on the International Space Station (October 31, 2000 to March 21, 2001). Earlier he made three flights as a mission specialist on STS-27 (December 2-6, 1988), STS-41 (October 6-10, 1990) and STS-52 (October 22 to November 1, 1992). From March 1993 to January 1996, Shepherd was assigned to the Space Station Program and served in various management positions.
*Shepherds preparation for launch in Russia and first days on the ISS are documented in the film.
Joseph R. "Joe" Tanner, NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience: Tanner started working for NASA Johnson Space Center in 1984 as an aerospace engineer and research pilot. His primary flying responsibilities involved teaching the astronaut pilots Space Shuttle landing techniques in the Shuttle Training Aircraft and instructing the pilots and mission specialists in the T-38. In addition to his flying duties, Tanner held positions as the aviation safety officer, the head of the pilot section, and the Deputy Chief of the Aircraft Operations Division (AOD). He has accumulated more than 7,500 hours in military and NASA aircraft.
Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in March 1992, Tanner reported to the Astronaut Office in August 1992. He completed one year of initial training and worked in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory before being assigned to his first mission. Tanner also served as part of the Astronaut Support Personnel team at the Kennedy Space Center, supporting Space Shuttle launches and landings. A veteran of three space flights Tanner has logged over 742 hours in space, including over 33 EVA hours in 5 space walks. He flew on STS-66 in 1994, STS-82 in 1997 and STS-97 in 2000.
Spaceflight Experience: Tanner flew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-66, November 3-14, 1994, performing the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science-3 (ATLAS-3) mission. ATLAS-3 was the third in a series of flights to study the Earths atmosphere composition and solar effects at several points during the Suns 11-year cycle. The mission also carried the CRISTA-SPAS satellite that was deployed to study the chemical composition of the middle atmosphere and retrieved later in the mission. Tanner logged 262 hours and 34 minutes in space and 175 orbits of the Earth.
Tanner performed two space walks as a member of the STS-82 crew to service the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in February, 1997. The STS-82 crew of 7 launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on February 11 and returned to a night landing at Kennedy Space Center on February 21. During the flight the crew completed a total of 5 space walks to improve the science capability of the telescope and replace aging support equipment, restoring HST to near perfect working condition. The crew boosted HSTs orbit by 8 nautical miles before releasing it to once again study the universe. Tanners two space walks totaled 14 hours and 01 minutes. The flight orbited the Earth 150 times covering 4.1 million miles in 9 days, 23 hours, 37 minutes.
STS-97 Endeavour (November 30 to December December 11, 2000) was the fifth Space Shuttle mission dedicated to the assembly of the International Space Station. While docked to the Station, the crew installed the first set of U.S. solar arrays, performed three space walks, in addition to delivering supplies and equipment to the stations first resident crew. Mission duration was 10 days, 19 hours, 57 minutes, and traveled 4.47 million miles.
Andrew S.W. Thomas , Ph.D., NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience : Dr. 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 astronaut corp. and was qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flight crews.
While awaiting space flight assignment, Dr. Thomas supported shuttle launch and landing operations as an Astronaut Support Person (ASP) at the Kennedy Space Center. He also provided technical support to the Space Shuttle Main Engine project, the Solid Rocket Motor project and the External Tank project at the Marshall Space Flight Center. In June 1995 Dr. Thomas was named as payload commander for STS-77 and flew his first flight in space on Endeavour in May 1996. 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. Dr. Thomas recently completed his third space flight on STS-102 and has logged over 163 days in space.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-77 was a 10-day mission during which the crew deployed two satellites, tested a large inflatable space structure on orbit and conducted a variety of scientific experiments in a Spacehab laboratory module carried in Endeavours payload bay. The flight was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on May 19, 1996 and completed 160 orbits 153 nautical miles above the Earth while traveling 4.1 million miles and logging 240 hours and 39 minutes in space.
On January 22, 1998, Dr. 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 June 12, 1998, completing 141 days in space and 2,250 orbits of the Earth.
STS-102 Discovery (March 8-21, 2001) was the eighth Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station and Dr. Thomass third flight. Mission accomplishments included the delivery of the Expedition-2 crew and logistics resupply with the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, and the return to Earth of the Expedition-1 crew. During the mission, Dr. 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.
Yury Vladimirovich Usachev, Cosmonaut
Education: Engineering degree from the Moscow Aviation Institute
NASA Experience: Served on the crew of STS-101, the third Shuttle mission devoted to International Space Station (ISS) construction. Most recently, he was the commander of the Expedition-2 crew. Launched on March 8, 2001 aboard STS-102 Discovery and successfully docked with the International Space Station on March 9, 2001, the Expedition-2 crew lived and worked aboard ISS for the next 163 days. They returned to Earth with the crew of STS-105 on August 22, 2001 on the Shuttle flight delivering the third Expedition crew. Altogether, he has logged over 670 days in space and has participated in 6 EVAs.
James S. Voss (Colonel, USA, Ret.) NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Opelika, AL
Education: BS-Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University; MS-Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado; Honorary Doctorate from the University of Colorado
NASA Experience: Voss has been working at the Johnson Space Center since November 1984. In his capacity as a Vehicle Integration Test Engineer, he supported Shuttle and payload testing at the Kennedy Space Center for STS 51-D, 51-F, 61-C and 51-L. He participated in the STS 51-L accident investigation, and supported the resulting reviews dedicated to returning the Space Shuttle safely to flight. Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in June 1987, Voss completed a one year training and evaluation program in August 1988, which qualified him for assignment as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flights. He has worked as a flight crew representative in the area of Shuttle safety, as a CAPCOM, providing a communications interface between ground controllers and flight crews during simulations and Shuttle flights, and as the Astronaut Office Training Officer. Jim served as the back-up crew member for two missions to the Russian Space Station Mir. During this time he lived and trained for 2 years at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Voss served as a mission specialist on STS-44 in 1991 and STS-53 in 1992, was the payload commander on STS-69 in 1995, and again was a mission specialist on STS-101 in 2000. During 2001 he lived and worked aboard the International Space Station as a member of the Expedition-2 crew. A veteran of five space flights, Voss has logged 201 days in space, including four spacewalks totalling 22 hours and 35 minutes of EVA time.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-44 Atlantis (November 24 - December 1, 1991) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida and returned to land on the lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The primary mission objective was accomplished with the successful deployment of a Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite with an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) rocket booster. In addition, the crew also conducted two Military Man in Space experiments, three radiation monitoring experiments, and numerous medical tests to support longer duration Shuttle flights. The mission was concluded after 110 orbits of the Earth in 166 hours, 50 minutes and 42 seconds.
STS-53 Discovery (December 2-9, 1992) launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The five man crew deployed the classified Department of Defense payload DOD-1 and also performed several Military Man in Space and NASA experiments. Mission duration was 115 orbits of the Earth in 175 hours, 19 minutes and 17 seconds.
STS-69 Endeavour (September 7-18, 1995) launched from and returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. On this mission Jim served as Payload Commander. The crew successfully deployed and retrieved a SPARTAN satellite and the Wake Shield Facility. Also on board was the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker payload, and numerous secondary payloads and medical experiments. Jim conducted an EVA (space walk) lasting 6 hours 46 minutes to test space suit modifications and to evaluate procedures and tools to be used to construct the International Space Station. Mission was accomplished in 171 orbits of the Earth in 260 hours and 28 minutes.
STS-101 Atlantis (May 19-29, 2000) was the third Shuttle mission devoted to International Space Station (ISS) construction. The crew transported and installed over 3,000 pounds of equipment and supplies, and repaired Station electrical and environmental control components. Jim conducted his second space walk lasting 6 hours and 44 minutes to complete Station assembly tasks. Mission duration was 155 orbits of the Earth in 236 hours and 9 minutes.
The Expedition-2 crew launched on March 8, 2001 aboard STS-102 Discovery and successfully docked with the International Space Station on March 9, 2001. As a member of the second crew to live on ISS, Voss served aboard the space station for a total of 163 days and returned to Earth with the STS-105 crew on August 22, 2001. During the expedition, Jim conducted spacewalks in both U.S. and Russian space suits and was the first person to operate the Space Station Robotic Manipulator System, Canadarm2. Other highlights of the mission included a Soyuz capsule flyaround, addition of the joint airlock to ISS and 5 visiting spacecraft. In completing this mission, Voss logged a total of 167 days in space, including 2 spacewalks totalling 9 hours and 5 minutes of EVA time.
*In the film, Voss joins fellow crew members Susan Helms and Yury Usachev in Florida prior to their shuttle launch to board the ISS. He describes the size of the space station upon arrival, and the narrator explains that the crew will conduct experiments which will include growing crystals to understand molecular structures, the germination of seeds in zero G, exposure levels of cosmic radiation, and human body changes in Zero G. Voss shares with the audience how he decorated his space on the ISS and describes his crewmate Yury on a personal level.
Koichi Wakata, NASDA Astronaut
NASA Experience: Wakata reported to the NASA Johnson Space Center in August 1992. He completed one year of training and is qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on future Space Shuttle flight crews. Wakatas technical assignments to date include: payload science support for the Astronaut Office Mission Development Branch (April 1993 to February 1995); Space Shuttle flight software verification testing in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) (April to October 1994); Space Shuttle and Space Station Robotics for the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch (March 1996 to date). Wakata was the NASDA Assistant Payload Operation Director of the Manipulator Flight Demonstration, a robotic arm experiment for the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station, on STS-85 (August 7-19, 1997).
Spaceflight Experience: STS-72 Endeavour (January 11-20, 1996). Wakata flew as the first Japanese mission specialist on this 9-day mission during which the crew retrieved the Space Flyer Unit (launched from Japan 10-months earlier), deployed and retrieved the OAST-Flyer, and conducted two spacewalks to demonstrate and evaluate techniques to be used in the assembly of the International Space Station. The STS-72 mission was completed in 142 orbits, travelling 3.7 million miles in 8 days, 22 hours and 40 seconds.
STS-92 Discovery (October 11-24, 2000) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the 13-day flight, the seven member crew attached the Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 to the International Space Station using Discoverys robotic arm and performed four space walks to configure these elements. This expansion of the ISS opened the door for future assembly missions and prepared the station for its first resident crew. The STS-92 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, travelling 5.3 million miles in 12 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds.
Hometown: Saitama, Japan. Education: BS-Aeronautical Engineering from Kyushu University; MS-Applied Mechanics from Kyushu University
*Koichi Wakata is celebrated in the film for his successful operation of the shuttle's robotic arm and the installation of the T-1 truss of the ISS.
James D. Wetherbee (Capt. USN) NASA Astronaut
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in May 1984, Wetherbee became an astronaut in June 1985. Wetherbee is Director of the Flight Crew Operations Directorate. A veteran of five space flights, Wetherbee has logged over 1,262 hours in space. He was the pilot on STS-32 in 1990, and was the mission commander on STS-52 in 1992, STS-63 in 1995, STS-86 in 1997, and STS-102 in 2001. Wetherbee will serve as Commander of STS-113 scheduled to launch in 2002.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-32 Columbia (January 9-20, 1990) included the successful deployment of the Syncom IV-F5 satellite, and retrieval of the 21,400-pound Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) using the remote manipulator system (RMS). The crew also operated a variety of middeck experiments and conducted numerous medical test objectives, including in-flight aerobic exercise and muscle performance to evaluate human adaptation to extended duration missions. Mission duration was 173 orbits in 261 hours and 01 minute.
STS-52 Columbia (October 22 to November 1, 1992) successfully deployed the Laser Geodynamic Satellite (LAGEOS), a joint Italian-American project. The crew also operated the first U.S. Microgravity Payload (USMP) with French and American experiments, and successfully completed the initial flight tests of the Canadian-built Space Vision System (SVS). Mission duration was 236 hours and 56 minutes.
STS-63 Discovery (February 2-11, 1995), 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 (September 25 to October 6, 1997) 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. crew members Mike Foale and David Wolf, a spacewalk by Scott Parazynski and Vladimir Titov to retrieve four experiments first deployed on Mir during the STS-76 docking mission, the transfer to Mir of 10,400 pounds of science and logistics, and the return of experiment hardware and results to Earth. Mission duration was 169 orbits in 259 hours and 21 minutes.
STS-102 Discovery (March 8-21, 2001) was the eighth Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. Mission accomplishments included the delivery of the Expedition-2 crew and the contents of the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, the completion of two successful space walks, the return to Earth of the Expedition-1 crew, as well as the return of Leonardo, the reusable cargo carrier built by the Italian Space Agency. Mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes.
Peter J.K. "Jeff" Wisoff, Ph.D., NASA Astronaut
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
Education: BS-Physics from the University of Virginia; MS, PhD-Applied Physics from Stanford University
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in January 1990, Dr. Wisoff became an astronaut in July 1991. He is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. His technical assignments to date include: spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control; flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); co-ordinating flight crew equipment; evaluating extravehicular activity (EVA) equipment and techniques for the construction of the International Space Station; lead for the Payloads and Habitability Branch of the Astronaut Office. A veteran of four space flights, STS-57 in 1993, STS-68 in 1994, STS-81 in 1997 and STS-92 in 2000, Dr. Wisoff has logged a total of 42 days, 56 hours, 1 minute and 48 seconds in space, including 19 hours and 53 minutes of EVA time in three space walks.
Spaceflight Experience: STS-57 Endeavour (June 21 to July 1, 1993) launched from and returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The primary objective of this flight was the retrieval of the European Retrievable Carrier satellite (EURECA) using the RMS. Additionally, this mission featured the first flight of Spacehab, a commercially-provided mid-deck augmentation module for the conduct of microgravity experiments. Spacehab carried 22 individual flight experiments in materials and life sciences research. During the mission Wisoff conducted a 5-hour, 50-minute spacewalk during which the EURECA communications antennas were manually positioned for latching, and various extravehicular activity tools and techniques were evaluated for use on future missions. STS-57 was accomplished in 155 orbits of the Earth in 239 hours and 45 minutes.
STS-68 Endeavour (September 30 to October 11, 1994) was the Space Radar Lab-2 (SRL-2) mission. As part of NASAs Mission to Planet Earth, SRL-2 was the second flight of three advanced radars called SIR-C/X-SAR (Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar), and a carbon-monoxide pollution sensor, MAPS (Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites). SIR-C/X-SAR and MAPS operated together in Endeavours cargo bay to study Earths surface and atmosphere, creating radar images of Earths surface environment and mapping global production and transport of carbon monoxide pollution. Real-time crew observations of environmental conditions, along with over 14,000 photographs aided the science team in interpreting the SRL data. The SRL-2 mission was a highly successful test of technology intended for long-term environmental and geological monitoring of planet Earth. Following 183 orbits of the Earth in 269 hours and 46 minutes, the eleven-day mission ended with Space Shuttle Endeavour landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
STS-81 Atlantis (January 12-22, 1997) was a ten-day mission, the fifth to dock with Russias Space Station Mir, and the second to exchange U.S. astronauts. The mission also carried the Spacehab double module providing additional mid-deck locker space for secondary experiments. In five days of docked operations more than three tons of food, water, experiment equipment and samples were moved back and forth between the two spacecraft. Following 160 orbits of the Earth in 244 hours, 55 minutes, the STS-81 mission concluded with a landing on Kennedy Space Centers Runway 33 ending a 3.9 million mile journey.
STS-92 Discovery (October 11-24, 2000) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the 13-day flight, the seven-member crew attached the Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 to the International Space Station using Discoverys robotic arm and performed four space walks to configure these elements. This expansion of the ISS opened the door for future assembly missions and prepared the station for its first resident crew. Dr. Wisoff totalled 13 hours and 16 minutes of EVA time in two space walks. The STS-92 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, travelling 5.3 million miles in 12 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds.
*Wisoff performed a space walk with Mike Lopez-Alagria on STS-92 to construct the ISS. He has logged some 19 hours and 53 minutes of EVA time.
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