Rex J. Walheim
- STS- 110 (2002)
- STS- 122 (2008)
- STS- 135 (2011)
Rex Walheim Joseph ( born October 10, 1962 in Redwood City, California, USA ) is an American astronaut.
Walheim in 1984 he received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California in 1989 and a master's in industrial engineering from the University of Houston.
In May 1984, Walheim joined the U.S. Air Force and worked for the missile early warning system on the Cavalier Air Force Station in North Dakota. In October 1986, he was an engineer at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. He returned in August 1989 Air Force Space Command headquarters in Colorado, where he initiated a program for the development of rocket warning systems. From 1991, he was educated at Edwards Air Force Base as a test pilot, and then worked in the test program for the F- 16th From January 1996 until his selection as an astronaut, he was employed as an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School.
Astronauts activity
In March 1996, Walheim was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate and trained mission specialist. He then worked for the astronaut office at the program for the International Space Station (ISS) and the compound speaker ( CAPCOM ) in Mission Control. After his first space flight, he joined the Department of spacewalks (EVA). There, he represents the astronaut office in terms of the EMU spacesuit ( Extravehicular Mobility Unit).
Together with astronaut Scott Kelly and four other volunteers Walheim spent in September 2002, six months after his first space flight, one and a half weeks in the underwater laboratory "Aquarius". This excursion was part of the NEEMO program.
STS -110
On 8 April 2002 Walheim flew on the space shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station (ISS). Here, the lattice structure element S0 and a rail car to the ISS were brought. Called the Mobile Transporter uses the slide moved on the grid elements rail system. Together with his colleague Steven Smith led Walheim by two of the four spacewalks of the mission.
STS -122
Walheim launched on 7 February 2008 with the Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS - 122. Similarly, the European space laboratory module Columbus was brought to the ISS. The landing took place on 20 February 2008.
STS -135
On September 14, 2010 Walheim was nominated as a mission specialist of shuttle mission STS -135. The launch took place on 8 July, the landing on 21 July 2011. It was the last space flight of the Space Shuttle program.
Private
Rex Walheim is married and has two children.