Greetings From Space

Stephen G. Bowen
NASA EXPERIENCE:
Bowen is the first Submarine Officer selected by NASA in July 2000 as a mission specialist. He reported for training at the Johnson Space Center in August 2000. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station Operations Branch. Bowen completed his first space flight in 2008, logging 15 days, 20 hours, 29 minutes and 37 seconds in space, including 19 hours and 56 minutes of EVA in 3 space walks.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
STS-126 Endeavour (November 14-30, 2008) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It was NASA’s 4th shuttle flight in 2008 and the 27th Shuttle/Station assembly mission. Highlights of the almost 16-day mission included expanding the living quarters of the space station to eventually house 6 member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine, and a water recycling system. During the mission Bowen performed 3 EVAs (spacewalks). STS-126 also delivered a new resident to the station, replacing Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17-18 with Sandy Magnus, Expedition 18. STS-126 returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.



Donald R. Pettit
NASA EXPERIENCE:
Selected by NASA in April 1996, Dr. Pettit reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. A veteran of two spaceflights, Dr. Pettit has logged over 176 days in space and over 13 EVA hours. He lived aboard the Space Station for 5-1/2 months in 2002-2003 and, in 2008, was a member of the STS-126.crew.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
Expedition 6 (November 23, 2002 to May 3, 2003). Dr. Pettit completed his first space flight as NASA ISS Science Officer aboard the International Space Station, logging over 161 days in space, including over 13 EVA hours. During 5-1/2 months aboard the International Space Station, the crew worked with numerous U.S. and Russian science experiments. Dr. Pettit and the mission commander Ken Bowersox performed 2 EVAs (spacewalks) to continue the external outfitting of the orbital outpost. The Expedition 6 crew launched on STS-113 Space Shuttle Endeavour and returned to Earth on Soyuz TMA-1.

STS-126 Endeavour (November 14-30, 2008) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It was NASA’s 4th shuttle flight in 2008 and the 27th Shuttle/Station assembly mission. Highlights of the almost 16-day mission included expanding the living quarters of the space station to eventually house 6 member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine, and a water recycling system. During the mission Dr. Pettit operated the robotic arm for a total of four EVAs (spaewalks) performed by three members of the crew. STS-126 also delivered a new resident to the station, replacing Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17-18 with Sandy Magnus, Expedition 18. STS-126 returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.



Christopher J. Ferguson
NASA EXPERIENCE:
Ferguson reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1998. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems Branch involving the Shuttle Main Engine, External Tank, Solid Rocket Boosters and Software. He next served as spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) and was the Lead CAPCOM for STS-118 in August 2007. A veteran of two space flights, Ferguson has logged over 28 days in space. He was the pilot on STS-115 in 2006 and was the crew commander on STS-126 in 2008.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
STS-115 Atlantis (September 9-21, 2006) successfully restarted assembly of the International Space Station. During the 12-day mission the crew delivered and installed the massive P3/P4 truss segment and two sets of solar arrays providing one quarter of the station’s power. The crew also performed over 30 hours of robotic work using the Shuttle’s robotic arm as well as three spacewalks to complete the truss installation.

STS-126 Endeavour (November 14-30, 2008) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It was NASA’s 4th shuttle flight in 2008 and the 27th Shuttle/Station assembly mission. Highlights of the almost 16-day mission included expanding the living quarters of the space station to eventually house 6 member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine, and a water recycling system, and included a total of four EVAs (spaewalks) by three members of the crew. They also delivered a new resident to the station, replacing Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17-18 with Sandy Magnus, Expedition 18. STS-126 returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.




Eric A. Boe
NASA EXPERIENCE:
Selected as a pilot by NASA in July 2000, Boe reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 2000. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Advanced Vehicles Branch, Station Operations Branch, and Space Shuttle Branch. From October 2005 to October 2006, he served as NASA Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia. In the Exploration Branch, he worked on the new Crew Launch Vehicle and Crew Exploration Vehicle. Boe completed his first space flight as pilot on STS-126 and has logged 15 days, 20 hours, 29 minutes and 37 seconds in space.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
STS-126 Endeavour (November 14-30, 2008) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It was NASA’s 4th shuttle flight in 2008 and the 27th Shuttle/Station assembly mission. Highlights of the almost 16-day mission included expanding the living quarters of the space station to eventually house 6 member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine, and a water recycling system, and included a total of four EVAs (spacewalks) by three members of the crew. STS-126 also delivered a new resident to the station, replacing Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17-18 with Sandy Magnus, Expedition 18. STS-126 returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.



Robert R. Kimbrough
NASA EXPERIENCE:
Kimbrough joined the NASA team at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in September of 2000. He was assigned to NASA’s Aircraft Operations Division at Ellington Field in Houston where he served as a flight simulation engineer (FSE) on the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA).

Selected by NASA in May 2004. In February 2006 he completed Astronaut Candidate Training that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. Completion of this initial training qualified him for various technical assignments within the Astronaut Office and future flight assignment as a mission specialist. Kimbrough completed his first space flight in 2008, logging a total of 15 days, 20 hours, 29 minutes and 37 seconds in space, and 12 hours and 52 minutes of EVA in 2 space walks.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
STS-126 Endeavour (November 14-30, 2008) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It was NASA’s 4th shuttle flight in 2008 and the 27th Shuttle/Station assembly mission. Highlights of the almost 16-day mission included expanding the living quarters of the space station to eventually house 6 member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine, and a water recycling system. During the mission Kimbrough performed two space walks logging a total of 12 hours and 52 minutes of EVA. STS-126 also delivered a new resident to the station, replacing Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17-18 with Sandy Magnus, Expedition 18. STS-126 returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.





Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper
NASA EXPERIENCE:
Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996, Stefanyshyn-Piper reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, she is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. Initially assigned to astronaut support duties for launch and landing, she has also served as lead Astronaut Office Representative for Payloads and in the Astronaut Office EVA branch. A veteran of two space flights, STS-115 in 2006, and STS-126 in 2008, Stefanyshyn-Piper has logged over 27 days in space, and 33 hours and 42 minutes of EVA in 5 space walks.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
STS-115 Atlantis (September 9-21, 2006) successfully restarted assembly of the International Space Station. During the 12-day mission the crew delivered and installed the massive P3/P4 truss, and two sets of solar arrays that will eventually provide one quarter of the station’s power. The crew also performed unprecedented robotic work using the Shuttle’s arm. Stefanyshyn-Piper made 2 spacewalks (EVAs) that completed truss installation, enabled the solar arrays to be deployed and prepared an important radiator for later activation. She and Joe Tanner also replaced an S-Band Antenna, signal processor and transponder that transmits voice and data to the ground and retrieved an external science payload for return to earth.

STS-126 Endeavour (November 14-30, 2008) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It was NASA’s 4th shuttle flight in 2008 and the 27th Shuttle/Station assembly mission. Highlights of the almost 16-day mission included expanding the living quarters of the space station to eventually house 6 member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine, and a water recycling system. During the mission, Stefanyshyn-Piper performed a total of 3 spacewalks. STS-126 also delivered a new resident to the station, replacing Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17-18 with Sandy Magnus, Expedition 18. STS-126 returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.