Michael L. Gernhardt
- STS -69 (1995)
- STS -83 (1997)
- STS -94 (1997)
- STS- 104 (2001)
Michael Landon Gernhardt ( born May 4, 1956 in Mansfield, Ohio) is an American astronaut.
Gernhardt in 1978 received a bachelor's degree in physics from Vanderbilt University in 1983 and a master's degree in 1991 and a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Gernhardt was from 1977 to 1984 pro deep-sea diver and a project engineer for Tiefseebohrtürme and other underwater projects. From 1984 to 1992 he worked first at the development of underwater robots and other equipment for diving, later he developed techniques for space travel.
Astronauts activity
In March 1992 Gernhardt was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate. After training as a mission specialist, he was involved among other things, the development of new methods for spacewalks ( EVAs ). He was also a member of the support team for the shuttle launches at the Kennedy Space Center and also connecting speakers ( CAPCOM ) in the control center in Houston. He now works for the Prebreath Reduction Program, a program for optimization of EVAs, and is manager of Environmental Physiology Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center.
On two occasions, in October 2001 and in April 2005, Gernhardt completed a short-term stay in the underwater laboratory Aquarius. These two excursions were held as part of the NEEMO program. For years, the U.S. space agency, this " NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations " by. NASA closed to the National Weather Service NOAA, the laboratory part of the Florida coast, a cooperation agreement. The Aquarius is a 80-ton steel structure, which is anchored since 1987, six kilometers off the coast of Key Largo on the seabed 18 meters. Due to space limitations correspond approximately to those of the Zvezda module of the ISS.
STS -69
On September 7, 1995 Gernhardt started as a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on its first flight into space. The team placed a SPARTAN satellite and the Wake Shield facilitiy from successful and caught it on again. Also on board was the " International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker" payload and numerous other payloads and medical experiments. Gernhardt conducted an outboard activity that lasted 6 hours and 46 minutes, in which he tested modifications to space suits, processes and tools tried, are provided for the construction of the International Space Station ( ISS).
STS -83
On 4 April 1997 Gernhardt aboard the space shuttle Columbia into space. Payload was the Microgravity Science Laboratory ( MSL -1). Due to an issue with a fuel cell of the shuttle mission had to be shortened and the landing took place after nearly four days. NASA decided to repeat the mission three months later with the same crew.
STS -94
On 1 July 1997, the Columbia was launched again to the prematurely terminated the first attempt MSL - 1 mission. This time, the experiments in the Microgravity Science Laboratory could be carried out successfully. These included especially experiments to study the physical properties of the supercooled liquid mixtures and the combustion processes of solid and liquid materials, and for preparation of pure protein crystals.
STS -104
Gernhardt and James Reilly were the first members of the STS -104 crew, who were nominated in 1997. The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on 12 July 2001 and transported while the Quest airlock on the International Space Station ( ISS). Gernhardt and Reilly took three exits to install Quest.
STS -119
Gerhardt was nominated for mission STS -119 to the Shuttle Endeavour, but was not selected. This flight brought in October 2008, the last section of the Integrated Truss Structure, a grating module with solar panels, to the International Space Station.
NEEMO -1
In the period from 21 to 27 October 2001, it was with Michael López- Alegría, Bill Todd ( United Space Alliance) and David Williams (CSA ) at the first underwater NEEMO mission -1.
PR Image
In the period from 20 to 22 April 2005, he served as Commander John Olivas, Scott Kelly and Monika Schultz in the underwater NEEMO mission -8.
NEEMO -8
Gernhardt drove the prototype of the lunar vehicle at the parade for the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama on 20 January 2009.
NEEMO -15
In the period from 20 to 26 October 2011, he was with Richard Robert Arnold and Stanley Glen Love in the Moon & asteroid landing simulation of underwater NEEMO mission - 15th
NEEMO -16
In the period from 20 to 26 October 2012, he was with Stanley Glen Love, Serena Auñón, Steve Giddings, Bill Todd, Andrew Abercromby and Steve Chappell in the Moon & asteroid landing simulation of underwater NEEMO mission - 16th