Danny Olivas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | John Daniel Olivas (1966-05-25)May 25, 1966 (age 59) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Education | University of Texas at El Paso (BS) University of Houston (MS) Rice University (PhD) |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 27d 17h 5m |
| Selection | NASA Group 17 (1998) |
| Missions | STS-117 STS-128 |
Mission insignia |   |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Materials science |
| Thesis | Surface Study of Process Contamination of Plasma Spray Metal Deposition Process (1996) |
| Doctoral advisor | Enrique Barrera |
John Daniel "Danny" Olivas (born May 25, 1966 inNorth Hollywood, California)[1] is an Americanengineer and a formerNASAastronaut. Olivas has flown on two space shuttle missions,STS-117 andSTS-128, received two NASA Space Flight Medals, and has been in over 5 spacewalks throughout his career.[2] He performedEVAs on both missions, totaling 34hrs 28min.
In 2013, Olivas joined theUniversity of Texas at El Paso as Director of the Center for the Advancement of Space Safety and Mission Assurance Research and will oversee space initiatives on campus.[3]
Olivas and his wife, Marie, launched the Space for Everyone Foundation in 2020 to help immigrant families with their health and well-being.[4]
Born in North Hollywood, California, raised inEl Paso, Texas, received aBachelor of Science degree inmechanical engineering from theUniversity of Texas at El Paso in 1989,[5] aMaster of Science degree in mechanical engineering from theUniversity of Houston in 1993, and aPh.D. in mechanical engineering andmaterials science fromRice University in 1996.[6] Olivas is a descendant of immigrants from the state ofChihuahua in Mexico. In 2006, Olivas was given the highest honor an alumni can receive by being named UTEP's Distinguished Alumni.[7] In 2013 Olivas joined theUniversity of Texas at El Paso as Director of the Center for the Advancement of Space Safety and Mission Assurance Research and will oversee space initiatives on campus.[3] In 2019, he appeared as a contestant onNickelodeon's revival ofAre You Smarter than a 5th Grader?.
NASA selected Olivas as an astronaut candidate in 1998. His astronaut training included orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare forT-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. From 1999 to 2002, he was assigned technical responsibilities within the Robotics Branch as lead for the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator Robot and the Mobile Transporter. From 2002 to 2005 he was assigned to the EVA Branch and supported the research effort focused on developing materials, tools and techniques to perform on-orbit shuttle repair. In July 2002, Olivas served as anaquanaut during theNEEMO 3 mission aboard theAquariusunderwater laboratory.[8] In April 2005, he was a crew member on theNEEMO 8 mission.[9] In 2006, Olivas served as lead of the Hardware Integration Section of the Space Station Branch, responsible for ensuring proper configuration and integration of future station modules and visiting vehicles.
STS-117Atlantis (June 8–22, 2007) was the 118th Shuttle mission and the 21st mission to visit theInternational Space Station, delivering the second starboard truss segment, the third set of U.S. solar arrays, batteries and associated equipment. The mission also entailed the first ever on-orbit EVA repair to the Space Shuttle,Atlantis. During two spacewalks, Olivas accumulated 14 hours and 13 mins of EVA experience. The mission also delivered and returned with an ISS expedition crew member. STS-117 returned to land atEdwards Air Force Base, California, having traveled more than 5.8 million miles in 13 days, 20 hours and 20 minutes.[10]
Olivas served as a mission specialist on space shuttleDiscovery on theSTS-128 mission, which launched on August 28, 2009.Discovery carried theMulti-Purpose Logistics Module filled with science and storage racks to the ISS. The mission included three spacewalks to remove and replace a materials processing experiment outsideESA'sColumbus module and return an empty ammonia tank assembly.[11]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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