NAME: Michael Fossum
NASA Astronaut
PERSONAL
DATA: Born December 19, 1957 in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, and grew up
in McAllen, Texas. Married to the former Melanie J. London. They have 4
children. He enjoys family activities, motorcycle riding, and backpacking.
Mike's main hobby is serving as Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout Troop. His mother,
Patricia A. Fossum, resides in Houston, Texas. His father, Merlyn E. Fossum, is
deceased.
EDUCATION: Graduated from McAllen High School, McAllen, Texas, in 1976. Bachelor of science in mechanical engineering
from Texas A&M University, 1980. Master of science in systems
engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, 1981. Master of science
in physical science (space science) from the University of Houston-Clear Lake,
1997.
SPECIAL
HONORS: Scouting
awards: Distinguished Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver, and Vigil Member of the Order
of the Arrow. Distinguished Military Graduate from Texas A&M University and Squadron Commander in the Corps
of Cadets. Awarded the USAF Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf
Clusters and various other service awards. Distinguished Graduate from the USAF Test Pilot School, Class 85A .
EXPERIENCE:
Fossum received his commission in the US Air Force from Texas A&M University in May 1980.
After completing
his graduate work at the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1981, he was
detailed to NASA-Johnson Space Center where he supported Space Shuttle
flight operations . He was selected for Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards
Air Force Base, California, where he graduated in 1985.
After
graduation, Fossum served at Edwards AFB as a Flight Test Engineer in the F-16
Test Squadron, working on a variety of airframe, avionics, and armament
development programs. From 1989 to 1992, he served as a Flight Test Manager at
Detachment 3, Air Force Flight Test Center. Fossum resigned from active duty in
1992 in order to work for NASA and is currently a Colonel in the USAF Reserves.
He has logged over 1000 hours in 34 different aircraft.
NASA
EXPERIENCE: In
January 1993, Fossum was employed by NASA as a systems engineer. His primary
responsibilities were to evaluate the Russian Soyuz spacecraft for use as an
emergency escape vehicle for the new space station. Later in 1993, Fossum was
selected to represent the Flight Crew Operations Directorate in an extensive
redesign of the International Space Station.
After this,
he continued work for the crew office and Mission Operations Directorate in the
area of assembly operations. In 1996, Fossum supported the Astronaut Office as
a Technical Assistant for Space Shuttle, supporting design and management
reviews. In 1997, he served as a Flight Test Engineer on the X-38, a prototype
crew escape vehicle for the new Space Station, which was under development
in-house by the Engineering Directorate at NASA-JSC and being flight tested at
NASA-Dryden.
Selected by
NASA in June 1998, he reported for training in August 1998. Astronaut Candidate
Training included orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and
technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space
Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38
flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. Fossum
has previously served as the Astronaut Office Lead for Space Station flight
software development.
As a
Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control, Fossum supported several
flights, including Lead CAPCOM for Space Station Expedition-6. Mike Fossum
completed his first space flight on STS-121 in 2006, logging over 306 hours in
space, including over 21 hours in 3 EVAs. Fossum is assigned to the crew of
STS-124 as the lead spacewalker. The STS-124 mission to the International Space
Station will be the second of three flights that will launch components to
complete the Japanese "Kibo" laboratory. Launch is targeted for May 2008.
SPACE
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
STS-121 (July 4-17,
2006), was a
return-to-flight test mission and assembly flight to the International Space
Station. During the 13-day flight the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery tested
new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of space shuttles, and
produced never-before-seen, high-resolution images of the Shuttle during and
after its July 4 th launch. The crew also performed maintenance on the space
station and delivered and transferred more than 28,000 pounds of supplies and
equipment, and a new Expedition 13 crew member to the station.
Mike Fossum
and Piers Sellers performed 3 EVAs to test the 50-ft robotic arm boom extension
as a work platform. They removed and replaced a cable that provides power,
command and data and video connections to the station's mobile transporter rail
car. They also tested techniques for inspecting and repairing the reinforced
carbon-carbon segments that protect the shuttle's nose cone and leading edge of
the wings. The STS-121 mission was accomplished in 306 hours, 37 minutes and 54
seconds.
advertisement
