NAME: Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., (Captain,
U.S. Navy)
NASA Astronaut
PERSONAL
DATA: Born March 5,
1962, in Baltimore, Maryland. Two children. He enjoys weightlifting,
backpacking and sports.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Woodlawn High
School, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1980. Bachelor of science degree in
aerospace engineering from the United States Naval Academy, 1984. Master of
science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School,
1990. Degree of aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Naval
Postgraduate School, 1991.
ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the U.S. Naval Academy
Alumni Association and the Association of Old Crows.
SPECIAL
HONORS: Fighter
Wing One Radar Intercept Officer of the Year for 1989, U.S. Naval Test Pilot
School Best Developmental Thesis (DT-II) Award.
EXPERIENCE: Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval
Academy, Curbeam commenced Naval Flight Officer training in 1984.
In 1986 he
reported to Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11) and made overseas deployments to the
Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, and the Arctic and Indian Oceans on board the
USS Forrestal (CV-59). During his tour in VF-11, he also attended Navy Fighter
Weapons School (Topgun).
Upon
completion of Test Pilot School in December 1991, he reported to the Strike Aircraft
Test Directorate where he was the project officer for the F-14A/B Air-to-Ground
Weapons Separation Program. In August 1994, he returned to the U.S. Naval
Academy as an instructor in the Weapons and Systems Engineering Department.
NASA
EXPERIENCE: Selected
by NASA in December 1994, Curbeam reported to the Johnson Space Center in March
1995. After completing a year of training and evaluation, he was assigned to
the Computer Support Branch in the Astronaut Office.
He is a
veteran of two space flights, STS-85 in 1997 and STS-98
in 2001, and has logged over 593 hours in space, including over 19 EVA
hours during three spacewalks.
Curbeam
served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) responsible for relaying all voice
communication between Mission Control and crews aboard the Space Shuttle and International Space
Station, CAPCOM Branch Chief, and Payloads Group Lead, responsible for
representing the crew office in the design, training and operation of on orbit
experiments.
During the
spring of 2002, he served as Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety and
Mission Assurance, at NASA Headquarters,
Washington, D.C. Currently, Curbeam is assigned to the crew of STS-116,
and serves as the Safety Branch Chief for the astronaut office.
SPACE
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
STS-85 (August 7-19, 1997) was a 12-day mission during which the crew deployed
and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS payload, operated the Japanese Manipulator Flight
Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm, studied changes in the Earth's atmosphere and
tested technology destined for use on the future International Space
Station. The mission was accomplished in 189 Earth orbits, traveling 4.7
million miles in 284 hours and 27 minutes.
STS-98
(February 7-20, 2001) continued the task of building and enhancing
the International Space
Station by delivering the U.S.
laboratory module Destiny. The shuttle spent seven days docked to the
station while Destiny
was attached. In helping to complete its assembly Curbeam logged over 19
hours EVA hours in three spacewalks. The crew also relocated a docking port,
and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition
1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.
Last updated: January 2006
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