Google Analytics

March 28, 2024 8:59 pm
Logo

Seeing What Doesn't Exist Yet, That's Our Strength

Science And
Aerospace

Seeing what doesn’t exist yet. That’s our strength.

Top News

SpaceX crew Dragon: Robert Behnken

Born in Creve Coeur, MO, Behnken, 49, earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Physics at Washington University in St. Louis in 1992. There, he served in Air Force ROTC. After that he went to graduate school at Caltech, where he got a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1993 and a PhD in a similar subject in 1997.

Robert Behnken

After completing graduation, Behnken entered Air Force well-trained and was appointed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. During his time at Eglin, he filled in as a specialized chief and developmental engineer on new weapons configurations. He at that point went to the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where he examined flight test engineering. Following graduation, Behnken stayed at Edwards, where he was allocated to the F-22 program, filled in as lead flight test engineer for Raptor 4004, and flew in F-15 and F-16 warrior airplane. He has completed more than 1500 flight hours in different types of 25 air crafts.

Acknowledged as a NASA astronaut in 2000, Behnken prepared for 18 months before being appointed to dispatch and landing activities at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). He flew on two shuttle flights, STS-123 of every 2008, for which he was a team part, and STS-130 out of 2010, for which he filled in as Mission Specialist. During each bus crucial, took an interest in three separate spacewalks.

Overall, Behnken has spent more than 708 hours in space and over 37 hours doing spacewalks.

Two years before his first spaceflight, Behnken spent seven days living and working submerged as an aquanaut on the Aquarius submerged lab as a major aspect of the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO 11) crucial. Astronauts train on submerged research stations in anticipation of spaceflight.

In NASA’s Astronaut Office, Behnken appointed as Chief of the Space Station Operations Branch. Between July 2012 and July 2015, he appointed as NASA’s Chief of the Astronaut Office. He left that position after being chosen alongside three different space travelers to prepare for the space station’s Commercial Crew Program. In August 2018, he partook in an experimental drill of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.

In his Chief Astronaut job, Behnken was responsible for strategic, flight assignments, backing of ISS teams in circle, and building support for new dispatch vehicles. Since being chosen for the Commercial Crew Program, Behnken and group mate Doug Hurley have worked together with SpaceX on the improvement of new rocket frameworks for the transportation of space explorers to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Behnken is dear companions with individual group part Hurley. They spent their vocations as military aircraft testers together and are very much familiar with each other.

Behnken has won various honors during his profession, including Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Senior at Washington University in 1992; arrangement as National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow from 1993-1996; US Air Force Meritorious decorations for Meritorious Service, Defense Meritorious Service, and Defense Superior Service; NASA Space Flight Medals in 2008 and 2010; NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2011; Washington University Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2009, and Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013.

He is married to oceanographer and individual NASA space explorer K. Megan McArthur, who flew on space transport Atlantis strategic 125, the fourth crucial assistance the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In 2019, she was delegated Deputy Chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office. They have one child.

K. Megan McArthur

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.