|
Discovery's 7 astronauts a diverse bunch
2006-12-02
Discovery's seven astronauts are among the most culturally diverse of any space shuttle crew. There are two African-Americans, an astronaut of Indian descent, the soon-to-be first Swede in space, a British-born mission specialist, an Alaskan and a Jersey Boy. Muzi.com News 10027849-0 (muzi.com)It's also the greenest crew in eight years when it comes to spaceflight experience: Five astronauts have never flown in a space shuttle before. The last time a shuttle mission had five rookies was a Columbia crew that flew in April 1998. Muzi.com News 10027849-1 (muzi.com) But commander Mark Polansky said each has been training as an astronaut anywhere from eight to 12 years. Muzi.com News 10027849-2 (muzi.com) "Even though they've not flown (in space) before, they have been here eight years, training or working on missions in various degrees," Polansky said of the five. "I don't consider them rookies." Muzi.com News 10027849-3 (muzi.com) Three members of the current crew -- pilot William Oefelein and spacewalkers Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang -- started training in 2002 with another commander. Then came the Columbia tragedy in 2003 and the decision to end the shuttle program by 2010. Muzi.com News 10027849-4 (muzi.com) The original commander, who had made four space trips already, was asked to step aside to give others a chance. The other crew members were added in late 2004 and early 2005. Muzi.com News 10027849-5 (muzi.com) Here is a more detailed look at each astronaut: Muzi.com News 10027849-6 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10027849-7 (muzi.com) Mark Polansky, commander Muzi.com News 10027849-8 (muzi.com) Age: 50 Muzi.com News 10027849-9 (muzi.com) Hometown: Born in Paterson, N.J., but considers Edison his hometown. Muzi.com News 10027849-10 (muzi.com) Family: Married, a daughter. Muzi.com News 10027849-11 (muzi.com) Nicknamed "Roman" for movie director Roman Polanski, Polansky is making only his second trip to space. He previously was the pilot of Atlantis when it delivered the Destiny lab to the space station in 2001. His current Discovery crewmate, Robert Curbeam, also was on that flight. Muzi.com News 10027849-12 (muzi.com) Polansky has a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronomical engineering and a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University. After earning his wings in 1980, he spent the next dozen years as an Air Force trainer and test pilot. He joined NASA in 1992 as an aerospace engineer and research pilot and joined the astronaut corps in 1996. Muzi.com News 10027849-13 (muzi.com) Polansky wasn't the mission's original commander and inherited the crew's original three astronauts. Muzi.com News 10027849-14 (muzi.com) "You always sort of worry when you break a crew up a little bit how you're going to reconstitute them," Polansky said. He told the crew, "All the assignments that everybody had in the past, we're throwing them out the window and we're starting from scratch." Muzi.com News 10027849-15 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10027849-16 (muzi.com) U.S. Navy Cmdr. William Oefelein, pilot. Muzi.com News 10027849-17 (muzi.com) Age: 41 Muzi.com News 10027849-18 (muzi.com) Hometown: Born in Ft. Belvoir, Va., but considers Anchorage, Alaska, his hometown. Muzi.com News 10027849-19 (muzi.com) Family: Unmarried, two children. Muzi.com News 10027849-20 (muzi.com) Called "Billy-O" by his fellow astronauts, Oefelein began his aviation career as a teenager flying floatplanes in Alaska. Muzi.com News 10027849-21 (muzi.com) "One of the best ways to explore the state ... was by air," Oefelein said. "I started flying floatplanes up there and explored -- whether I was just trying to find a new fishing hole or camping spot." Muzi.com News 10027849-22 (muzi.com) He studied electrical engineering at Oregon State University and later earned a master's degree in aviation systems at the University of Tennessee Space Institute. He received a commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1988 and was designated a naval aviator two years later. He made several overseas deployments, attended Navy Fighter Weapons (Topgun) School and then became a test pilot instructor before he was selected to be an astronaut in 1998. Muzi.com News 10027849-23 (muzi.com) As Discovery's pilot, Oefelein will undock Discovery from the space station, coordinate the mission's three spacewalks and use the shuttle's robotic arm to inspect for any damage. He is making his first flight in space. Muzi.com News 10027849-24 (muzi.com) "I'm really looking forward to wearing a lot of hats," he said. Muzi.com News 10027849-25 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10027849-26 (muzi.com) U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Curbeam Muzi.com News 10027849-27 (muzi.com) Age: 44 Muzi.com News 10027849-28 (muzi.com) Hometown: Baltimore. Muzi.com News 10027849-29 (muzi.com) Family: Two children. Muzi.com News 10027849-30 (muzi.com) Curbeam will spacewalk three times to rewire the space lab and help guide a new space station addition into place as it is being attached by robotic arm. During his rewiring tasks, he's hoping to avoid a scare that popped up in a similar spacewalk during his last mission aboard Atlantis in 2001. Muzi.com News 10027849-31 (muzi.com) During that spacewalk, a leaking connector sprayed ammonia into space and contaminated his spacesuit. He was ordered to stay in the sunlight until the ammonia on his suit was baked off before he was allowed back inside the space station. Muzi.com News 10027849-32 (muzi.com) "We've taken some steps and made it as good as can be within the current design," Curbeam said of the ammonia lines. "Hopefully, we'll never have that problem again." Muzi.com News 10027849-33 (muzi.com) Curbeam, who is called "Beamer" by his fellow astronauts, earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and later got a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He attended Navy Fighter Weapons (Topgun) School and Test Pilot School before becoming an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. Muzi.com News 10027849-34 (muzi.com) He was chosen to be an astronaut in 1994 and flew his first shuttle mission aboard Discovery in 1997. His two previous spaceflights make him the most experienced of the crew. Muzi.com News 10027849-35 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10027849-36 (muzi.com) Joan Higginbotham Muzi.com News 10027849-37 (muzi.com) Age: 42 Muzi.com News 10027849-38 (muzi.com) Hometown: Chicago. Muzi.com News 10027849-39 (muzi.com)
| 
