List of United States Marine Corps astronauts
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This is a list of United States Marine Corps members who have served as NASA astronauts.
Project Mercury
Project Mercury (1959–1963) was the first human spaceflight program of the United States. It ran from 1959 through 1963 with the goal of putting a human in orbit around the Earth. The Mercury-Atlas 6 flight on 20 February 1962, piloted by John Glenn, was the first Mercury flight to achieve this goal. U.S. Marines who were astronauts in the Mercury program:
- Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, first American to make an orbital flight. (Glenn also flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery)
Apollo Program
The Apollo Program was a NASA spaceflight endeavor that landed the first humans on Earth's moon. Apollo set major milestones in human spaceflight and stands alone in sending manned missions beyond low Earth orbit. The Apollo Program ran from 1961 until 1975, and was the US civilian space agency's third human spaceflight program (following Project Mercury and Project Gemini). Apollo used Apollo spacecraft and Saturn launch vehicles, which were later used for the Skylab program and the joint American-Soviet Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. U.S. Marines who were astronauts in the Apollo Program are:
- R. Walter Cunningham (Apollo 7)
- Fred W. Haise, Jr. (Apollo 13)
- Jack R. Lousma (Skylab 3 and STS-3 Space Shuttle Columbia)
- Gerald P. Carr (Flight Commander Skylab 4)
- Vance D. Brand (Apollo-Soyuz) - USMC Reserve (Marine rank not listed)
Space Shuttle Program
NASA's Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States government's current manned launch vehicle. The winged Space Shuttle orbiter is launched vertically, usually carrying five to seven astronauts (eight have been carried) and up to 50,000 lb (22 700 kg) of payload into low earth orbit. When its mission is complete, the shuttle can independently move itself out of orbit and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. U.S. Marines who have been astronauts in the Space Shuttle Program are:
- Fred W. Haise, Jr. (Commander Space Shuttle Enterprise, three flights)
- Vance D. Brand (Space Shuttle Columbia and Space Shuttle Challenger)
- Robert F. Overmyer (Columbia and Challenger)
- David C. Hilmers (Space Shuttle Atlantis and Space Shuttle Discovery)
- James F. Buchli (Atlantis, Challenger, and Discovery)
- Bryan D. O'Connor (Atlantis and Columbia)
- Charles F. Bolden, Jr. (Columbia, Discovery, and Atlantis)
- Robert D. Cabana (Discovery and Columbia)
- Robert C. Springer (Atlantis)
- Kenneth D. Cameron (Atlantis and Discovery)
- Andrew M. Allen (Atlantis and Columbia)
- Terrence W. Wilcutt (Space Shuttle Endeavour)
- Carlos I. Noriega (Atlantis and Endeavour)
- Frederick W. Sturckow (Endeavour, Discovery (twice), and Atlantis)
- Charles O. Hobaugh (Atlantis and Endeavour)
- Joseph M. Acaba, USMC Reserve, Sergeant (Discovery)
- George D. Zamka (Pilot aboard Space Shuttle Discovery {STS 120} and Commander aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour {STS-130})
- Douglas G. Hurley (Endeavour)
- Randolph J. Bresnik (Atlantis)
See also
References
- Naval Historical Center Webpage, 2007-02-08
- Official Nasa Biography Webpage, Vance D. Brand, 2007-02-08
- The Navy in Space