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Andrew Abercromby | |
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 Abercromby in front of Lunar Excursion Vehicle | |
| Born | Andrew Frank Abercromby[1] (1980-05-12)12 May 1980 (age 45) Dundee, Scotland |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation(s) | Scientist andbiomedical engineer |
| Employer | NASA |
| Known for | Aquanaut |
Andrew Frank Jorgensen Abercromby (born 12 May 1980)[2][3] is a Scottishscientist andbiomedical engineer who designs and testsspacesuit systems and exercise countermeasures for future exploration of theSolar System. He is employed byNASA as Lead of the Human Physiology, Performance, Protection & Operations (H-3PO) Laboratory atJohnson Space Center inHouston, Texas.[4] As anaquanaut, Abercromby served as a member of the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations 14 (NEEMO 14) crew. Abercromby has more than fifteen years of experience working in the Human Health and Performance (HH&P) and Engineering Directorates at the Johnson Space Center.[2] He is married with two daughters.[5]
Growing up in a fishing village in Scotland, Abercromby playedfootball,rugby, andcricket. He was not interested inspace exploration until the age of 17. While attendingBuckhaven High School inFife, Scotland, he was offered the chance to fly to the United States and join an International Space School at NASA'sJohnson Space Center. Abercromby had never been on an aircraft before.[2][5][6] His host while in Houston wasChris Hadfield, anastronaut from theCanadian Space Agency (CSA). After spending two weeks at NASA, Abercromby knew what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.[2][5][6]
Because noaerospace degree was available in Scotland,[5] after leaving high school, Abercromby studiedmechanical engineering at theUniversity of Edinburgh, while trying to figure out a way to become involved in space exploration, and perhaps fly in space himself one day. After much study, part-time jobs, and some pilot training with the reserves of theRoyal Air Force,[clarification needed] Abercromby was employed by NASA.[2] Abercromby received an award as best graduate student from theInstitute of Mechanical Engineers (IME).[5] He received anMEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh in 2002.[7] In 2006, Abercromby received aPhD inKinesiology from theUniversity of Houston. He was honoured as a Distinguished Alumnus by the University's Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) in 2007.[8]
As a biomedical engineer and deputy project manager for theSpace Exploration Vehicle (SEV) project, Abercromby was part of a team designing and testing a new type of human space exploration vehicle. Abercromby was also a member of theExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Physiology, Systems and Performance project, which helped develop newspacesuits that will be safer, more efficient, and easier to use. Abercromby has also worked in NASA's Neurosciences Laboratory, Anthropometry and Biomechanics Facility, and Flight Mechanics Laboratory.[2][6]
Abercromby has worked on NASAanalogue missions in theArizona desert and on theHaughton–Mars Project in the HighArctic.[2][9] He has also worked aboardreduced-gravity research aircraft, and on thePavilion Lake Research Project, investigating a remote lake inBritish Columbia, Canada.[2][8][10] In May 2010, Abercromby became anaquanaut through his participation in the joint NASA-NOAA,NEEMO 14 (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations) project, an exploration research mission held inAquarius, the world's onlyundersea research laboratory.[4][11] The NEEMO 14 mission was commanded byChris Hadfield, Abercromby's host on his first visit to Houston thirteen years earlier.[5] Prior to the NEEMO 14 mission, Abercromby was quoted as saying that he "expects to learn a lot about himself by living and working as part of an underwater team for two weeks. He expects it to be a lot of work but plans on enjoying the unique experience."[2] Abercromby celebrated his 30th birthday during the NEEMO 14 mission.[3][5]
Abercromby was a member of NASA'sDesert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) 2010 Mission Support Team. He was responsible for ensuring that all experimental procedures were followed, and that all of the data was collected.[6] Abercromby was a member of the support team for theNEEMO 15 mission in October 2011.[12] During theNEEMO 16 mission in June 2012, Abercromby served as an In-Water Test Director, and piloted aDeepWorkersubmersible.[13][14] In 2013, Abercromby participated as a field engineer and research diver in the Tawani International Antarctic Expedition (part of theRussian Antarctic Expedition), led by Dr. Dale Anderson.[citation needed] The five person expedition involved underwater exploration of perennially ice-covered lakes,Lake Obersee andLake Untersee, using scuba diving,remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), and other sampling techniques.
Abercromby is now Lead of the Human Physiology, Performance, Protection & Operations (H-3PO) Laboratory within the Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division atJohnson Space Center.[citation needed]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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