Mike Massimino | |
|---|---|
 Massimino in 2001 | |
| Born | Michael James Massimino (1962-08-19)August 19, 1962 (age 63) Oceanside, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Columbia University (BS) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS,Eng,PhD) |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 23d 19h 47m |
| Selection | NASA Group 16 (1996) |
| Missions | STS-109 STS-125 |
Mission insignia |   |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mechanical engineering |
| Thesis | Sensory Substitution for Force Feedback in Space Teleoperation (1992) |
| Doctoral advisor | Thomas B. Sheridan |
| Website | Official website |
Michael James Massimino (born August 19, 1962)[1] is an Americanprofessor ofmechanical engineering atColumbia University and a formerNASAastronaut. He is the senior advisor of space programs at theIntrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Massimino was born August 19, 1962, inOceanside, New York, and raised inFranklin Square, New York,[2] both onLong Island. He graduated fromH. Frank Carey Junior-Senior High School inFranklin Square, New York in 1980.[3] He went on to attendColumbia University, graduating with aBachelor of Science degree inindustrial engineering in 1984. He then attended theMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), graduating with aMaster of Science degree inmechanical engineering and aMaster of Science degree intechnology andpublic policy in 1988.[4] He continued his education at MIT, earning aDegree of Mechanical Engineer in 1990 and aDoctor of Philosophy degree inmechanical engineering in 1992.[4][5]
Upon completing his B.S. degree from Columbia, Massimino worked forIBM as a systems engineer inNew York City from 1984 until 1986. In 1986 he entered graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he conducted research on human operator control of space robotics systems in the MIT Mechanical Engineering Department'shuman–machine systems Laboratory. His work resulted in the awarding of two patents. While a student at MIT he worked during the summer of 1987 as a general engineer at NASA Headquarters in the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology. He received an MS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 1988, and MS in Technology and Policy from MIT in 1988.[3] During the summers of 1988 and 1989 as a research fellow in the Man-Systems Integration Branch at theNASAMarshall Space Flight Center, and during the summer of 1990 as a visiting research engineer at theGerman Aerospace Center (DLR) inOberpfaffenhofen, Germany. He received the Degree of Mechanical Engineer from MIT in 1990, and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from MIT in 1992.[3] Massimino worked atMcDonnell Douglas Aerospace inHouston, Texas as a research engineer where he developedlaptop computer displays to assist operators of theSpace Shuttle remote manipulator system. These displays included the Manipulator Position Display, which was evaluated onSTS-69. From 1992 to 1994 he was also an adjunct assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering & Material Sciences Department atRice University, where he taught feedback control of mechanical systems. In September 1995, Massimino joined the faculty of theGeorgia Institute of Technology as an assistant professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. At Georgia Tech he taught human-machine systems engineering classes and conducted research on human-machine interfaces for space and aircraft systems in the Center for Human-Machine Systems Research. He has published papers in technical journals and in the proceedings of technical conferences.
Selected as anastronaut candidate by NASA in May 1996, Massimino reported to theJohnson Space Center in August 1996. He completed two years of initial training and evaluation and qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. Prior to his first space flight assignment, Massimino served in the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch, and in the Astronaut Office Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Branch. He has served as aCAPCOM (spacecraft communicator) in Mission Control and performed other technical tasks in the Astronaut Office CAPCOM Branch.
On July 29, 2014, Massimino announced that he would be leaving NASA to pursue a teaching career atColumbia University, inNew York City.[4]
STS-109Columbia (March 1–12, 2002). STS-109 was the fourthHubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing mission. The crew of STS-109 successfully upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope, leaving it with a new power unit, a new camera (theAdvanced Camera for Surveys), and new solar arrays. STS-109 set a record for spacewalk time with 35 hours and 55 minutes during 5 spacewalks. Massimino performed two spacewalks totaling 14 hours and 46 minutes. STS-109 orbited the Earth 165 times, and covered 4.5 million statute miles in over 262 hours and 10 minutes.[4]
STS-125Atlantis (May 11–24, 2009) was the final Hubble servicing mission by the Space Shuttle.Atlantis landed in California after stormy weather prevented the shuttle from landing at NASA's home base in Florida as previously planned. During the mission Massimino became the first person to useTwitter in space, writing, "From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!"[6]
AtColumbia University, Massimino is teaching an undergraduate engineering course,Introduction to Human Space Flight, which harnesses his years of academic and professional experience.[7] He is also collaborating onThe Art of Engineering, a course in which all first-year engineers work on engineering projects with socially responsible themes.[8][9]
Massimino's 2016 book,Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe, is aNew York Times best-seller.[10]
The street that Massimino grew up on in Franklin Square, Long Island has been renamed "Mike Massimino Street".[11]
September 17, 2022 Massimino was the Grand Marshal for the NYC Feast of San Gennaro
Massimino is a frequent guest on television news and talk show programs, includingNBC'sToday Show,ABC'sGood Morning America,CNN, andFox News. He has also appeared on theLate Show with David Letterman andTheLate Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
In thePBS children's programSid the Science Kid, Massimino appeared as himself in an episode focused on scientists.[12]
Beginning in 2012, Massimino appeared as himself in a recurring role on the CBS TV sitcomThe Big Bang Theory launching aboard a RussianSoyuz to theInternational Space Station. He appeared in another episode advisingHoward Wolowitz not to throw out the opening pitch at a baseball game. His screen credit reads "Mike Massimino, NASA Astronaut".
He is a frequent guest onNeil deGrasse Tyson's podcastStarTalk,[13] and has also appeared on theTV version.[14]
Massimino performed twice at a storytelling event ofThe Moth:[15] on November 14, 2012, he talked about the high stakes in the repair of the Hubble Space Telescope inA View of the Earth[16] and on February 21, 2017, he talked about the swimming test at the beginning of his astronaut training inSwimming with Astronauts.[17]
Massimino makes a brief appearance at a Shuttle launch in Chapter XXIX of the 2012 novelA Hologram for the King, in which he discusses his experience in space.
Massimino was a guest in episode 414 ofThe Nerdist Podcast.[18]
After the October 4, 2013, release of the filmGravity withSandra Bullock, Massimino commented on the scientific reliability of the movie.[19] It was also suggested that the role played byGeorge Clooney was partially based on Massimino'sspacewalk performance.[20]
Massimino's bookSpaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe was published by Crown Archetype on October 4, 2016[21] The Audible e-book version is narrated by Massimino himself.[22]
In 2017, Massimino hostedScience Channel's live coverage of thetotal solar eclipse of August 21, dubbed the "Great American Eclipse."[23]
Soon after, he became host ofScience'sThe Planets, an in-depth look at the planets of theSolar System as well asdwarf planets andexoplanets.[24] The series was renewed for a second season, which began airing in 2018 under the new titleThe Planets and Beyond. He also hosted an online companion series,Ask the Astronaut, in which he talked about his personal experiences of spaceflight.[25]
In 2019, Massimino hosted aYouTube series forWired where he discusses the differences between life on Earth and in space, discussing topics like Food, Sleep, and Hygiene.[26][27][28]
Massimino voiced the NASA launch control official in the 2022 animated comedyBeavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.[29]
In 2024, Massimino was a guest speaker on the podcastFinding Mastery, called an astronaut's guide to achieving the impossible.[30]
NASA Space Flight Medals[4]Massimino is married to Jessica Marinaccio. He has two children from a previous marriage.[4]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Hubble | Himself | An IMAX 3D movie directed byToni Myers and narrated byLeonardo DiCaprio, showing views of the galaxy and a report of several space-walks that were performed to install and maintain the Hubble Space Telescope. |
| 2010 | SXSW Flashback 2010 | Himself | Documentary of the 2010South by Southwest music festival, an annual conglomerate of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences taking place inAustin, Texas. The 2010 iteration ran from March 12 to 21. |
| 2011 | Sid the Science Kid | Himself | "I Want to Be a Scientist!" (episode 57) |
| 2011–14 | The Big Bang Theory | Himself | "The Friendship Contraction" "The Countdown Reflection" "The Decoupling Fluctuation" "The Re-Entry Minimization" "The Table Polarization" "The First Pitch Insufficiency" |
| 2015–16 | StarTalk | Himself | "Chris Hadfield" (episode 7)[36] "Bas Lansdorp" (Mars One) (episode 17)[37] "Buzz Aldrin" (episode 30)[38] |
| 2017–2018 | The Planets and Beyond | Himself | Host of the Science Channel series, and companion web seriesAsk the Astronaut |
| 2018 | One Strange Rock | Himself | Featured in the National Geographic Channel's series |
| 2022 | Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe | NASA Launch Control | Voice cameo |
| 2024 | Space Cadet | Himself |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration.
NASA Astronaut Group 15 ← NASA Astronaut Group 16 →NASA Astronaut Group 17 | |||||||
| Pilots | |||||||
| Mission specialists |
| ||||||
| International mission specialists |
| ||||||
| |||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
