Michael E. Fossum | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Fossum in 2004 | |
| Born | (1957-12-19)December 19, 1957 (age 68) |
| Status | Retired[1] |
| Education | Texas A&M University (BS) University of Houston (MS) |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 193d 19h 2m |
| Selection | 1998 NASA Group |
TotalEVAs | 7 |
Total EVA time | 48 hours, 32 minutes |
| Missions | STS-121,STS-124,Soyuz TMA-02M (Expedition 28/29) |
Mission insignia |     |
Michael Edward Fossum (born December 19, 1957, inSioux Falls, South Dakota) is a former Americanastronaut,engineer, and the Chief Operating Officer ofTexas A&M University at Galveston. He flew into space on board theNASASpace Shuttle missionsSTS-121 andSTS-124 and served as a mission specialist ofExpedition 28 and commander ofExpedition 29 aboard theInternational Space Station.
Fossum was involved with theUnited States Air Force during his undergraduate years at Texas A&M and served as commander of Squadron 3 in the Corps of Cadets. He graduated in mechanical engineering in 1980.[1] He received his master's in physical science (space science) from the University of Houston.[1] He was selected to attend Air Force Test Pilot School from which he flew 34 different types ofaircraft.[2][3] He left active duty for theAir Force Reserve in 1992 to work for NASA and retired as a colonel in the USAFR in 2010.
The first time Fossum became interested in being an astronaut was at age 12 while watching theApollo 11Moon landing. He rekindled this dream while with the Air Force atJohnson Space Center during the early 1990s.[2]
In January 1993, Fossum was employed by NASA as aSystems Engineer. His primary responsibilities were to evaluate the RussianSoyuz spacecraft for use as an emergency escape vehicle for the newInternational Space Station. Later in 1993, Fossum was selected to represent the Flight Crew Operations Directorate in an extensive redesign of the International Space Station (ISS). After this, he continued work for the crew office and Mission Operations Directorate in the area of assembly operations. In 1996, Fossum supported the Astronaut Office as a Technical Assistant for Space Shuttle, supporting design and management reviews. In 1997, he served as aFlight Test Engineer on theX-38, a prototype crew escape vehicle for the ISS, which was under development in house by the Engineering Directorate at NASA-JSC and flight tested at NASA Dryden.
Fossum was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in June 1998, having applied during almost every selection period since 1988 (7 times). He reported for training in August 1998. Fossum previously served as the Astronaut Office Lead for ISS flight software development. As a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control, Fossum supported several flights, including Lead CAPCOM for ISS Expedition 6. A veteran of three space flights, STS-121 in 2006, STS-124 in 2008 and Expedition 28/29 in 2011, Fossum has logged more than 194 days in space, including more than 48 hours of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) in seven spacewalks.
After returning to Earth in 2011, Fossum has served in a number of capacities, including assistant to the chief of the astronaut office for the International Space Station.[1]
He entered space for the first time on July 4, 2006, as a mission specialist of missionSTS-121 to theInternational Space Station where he participated in threespacewalks. On July 8, Fossum withPiers Sellers conducted a 7 and a half hour spacewalk making a repair to the ISS and testing using the Shuttle's arm as a platform for making repairs to the Shuttle.[5]
In 2008, Fossum assumed the role of mission specialist on board STS-124 launching on May 31, 2008. The mission's primary objective was the delivery and installment of Japan's Kibo Laboratory module. Once attached, this module became the largest and most scientifically capable addition to the International Space Station. Fossum took part in the installation as lead spacewalker, EVA-1, accompanied by fellow spacewalker Ron Garan. They did three spacewalks during the 14-day mission.
On June 7, 2011, Fossum launched with crewmatesSergey Alexandrovich Volkov andSatoshi Furukawa onSoyuz TMA-02M from theBaikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, to the ISS to join the crew ofExpedition 28. Upon the departure of Expedition 28, Fossum served as ISS commander duringExpedition 29 from September 9 until November 21, 2011. He returned to Earth on November 22, 2011.[6]During Expedition 28, Fossum performed his seventhEVA withRonald Garan which lasted 6 hours and 31 minutes. During the EVA They retrieved a failed pump module for return to Earth, installed two experiments and repaired a new base for theCanada Arm 2.[7]
In January 2017, Fossum left NASA and accepted a position withTexas A&M University at Galveston as vice president and chief operating officer. In October 2019, Colonel Fossum was appointed as Superintendent of Texas A&M Maritime Academy.[8]
Fossum is married to the former Melanie J. London and they have four children together.[2]
One of Michael's son's, Mitchell (callsign FORGE), is the commander of the336 Fighter Squadron.
As anEagle Scout, he is heavily involved with theBoy Scouts of America (BSA) as well as theOrder of the Arrow and is the Scoutmaster of Troop 1598 based in Webster, TX. The BSA has honored him with itsDistinguished Eagle Scout Award.[3][9][10]
A junior high school inMcAllen, Texas, has been named after Fossum.[11]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
| Preceded by | ISS Expedition Commander 16 September to 21 November 2011 | Succeeded by |
NASA Astronaut Group 16 ← NASA Astronaut Group 17 →NASA Astronaut Group 18 | |||||||
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| International mission specialists |
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