Carlos I. Noriega

• STS -84 (1997)
• STS -97 (2000)

Carlos Ismael Noriega ( born October 8, 1959 in Lima, Peru ) is a former American astronaut Peruvian descent.

Noriega 1981 he received a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Southern California and a master's in computer science in 1990 ever and in Space Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Noriega joined in 1981 the United States Marine Corps at. After his pilot training, he flew from 1983 to 1985 the CH- 46 Sea Knight transport helicopters to the Marine Corps Air Station in Hawaii. Noriega graduated, including two six-month missions on ships in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, including the support of the multinational peacekeeping force in Beirut ( Lebanon). In September 1990, he came to the United States Space Command, where he worked on developing software for missile warning systems.

Astronauts activity

Noriega was selected in December 1994 by NASA as an astronaut candidate and then trained as mission specialists.

STS -84

With the Space Shuttle Atlantis Noriega flew on his first space flight on 15 May 1997 to the space station Mir. After docking several tons were brought to equipment and experiments in the Russian space station. In addition, a crew change was made. Astronaut Jerry Linenger was replaced after four months and returned with the shuttle to Earth. His place was taken by Mike Foale. After nine days of the mission STS -84 was on 24 May to the end.

STS -97

His last flight into space led Noriega on 1 December 2000 with the space shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station (ISS). The five-member crew brought the lattice structure P6, equipped with solar panels to generate electricity and radiators for cooling, to the station. After pairing, the element was removed from the payload bay of the orbiter and connected by Noriega along with Joseph Tanner at three exits with the space station. Overall, the two astronauts 19 hours worked in open space. After the hatches were opened and the ISS crew was able to greet the crew of the Endeavour. A day later, the shuttle came to return.

After STS -97 Noriega coached in the backup crew of the ISS Expedition 6 and later as a member of the crew of STS- 121. In July 2004, Noriega was replaced for medical reasons by Piers Sellers as STS -121 crew member. At that time, Noriega was head of the Exploration Systems Engineering Division at the Johnson Space Center.

In January 2005, Noriega retired from the NASA astronaut corps and is currently the manager of the Advanced Projects Office within the Constellation program.

Private

Carlos Noriega and his wife Wendy have five children, among them are triplets.