Robert Curbeam | |
|---|---|
 Curbeam in January 2001 | |
| Born | Robert Lee Curbeam Jr. (1962-03-05)March 5, 1962 (age 63) |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) Naval Postgraduate School (MS,MS) |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Captain,USN |
Time in space | 37d 14h 33m |
| Selection | NASA Group 15 (1994) |
TotalEVAs | 7 |
Total EVA time | 45h 34m |
| Missions | STS-85 STS-98 STS-116 |
Mission insignia |    |
Robert Lee Curbeam Jr. (born March 5, 1962) is a formerNASAastronaut andcaptain in theUnited States Navy.[1] He currently holds the record for the mostspacewalks during a single spaceflight, accomplished during theSTS-116 mission, when Curbeam completed four spacewalks.[1]
Curbeam graduated fromWoodlawn High School,Baltimore County, Maryland in 1980. He earned aBachelor of Science degree inAerospace Engineering from theUnited States Naval Academy in 1984, aMaster of Science degree inAeronautical Engineering from theNaval Postgraduate School in 1990, and a master's degree inAstronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1991.
Curbeam was named Fighter Wing One Radar Intercept Officer of the Year in 1989 and received theU.S. Naval Test Pilot School Best Developmental Thesis (DT-II) Award.
Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, Curbeam commencedNaval Flight Officer training in 1984. In 1986 he reported to Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11) and made overseas deployments on board theaircraft carrierUSS Forrestal. During his tour in VF-11, he also attended theNavy Fighter Weapons School.
Upon graduation ofUnited States Naval Test Pilot School in December 1991, he reported to the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate, where he was the project officer for theF-14A/B Air-to-Ground Weapons Separation Program. In August 1994, he returned to the U.S. Naval Academy as an instructor in the Weapons and Systems Engineering Department.
Selected by NASA in December 1994, Curbeam reported to theJohnson Space Center in March 1995. After completing a year of training and evaluation, he was assigned to the Computer Support Branch in the Astronaut Office. He is a veteran of three space flights:STS-85 in 1997,STS-98 in 2001,STS-116 in 2006, and has logged over 901 hours in space, including over 45 hours during three spacewalks.[1]
Between the first two flights, Curbeam was a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) responsible for relaying all voice communication between Mission Control and crews aboard theSpace Shuttle andInternational Space Station. After his second flight, he also was the CAPCOM Branch Chief. During the spring of 2002, he was Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Assurance, at NASA Headquarters,Washington, D.C.
STS-85 (August 7–19, 1997) was a 12-day mission during which the crew deployed and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS payload, operated the Japanese Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm, studied changes in theEarth's atmosphere, and tested technology destined for use on the futureInternational Space Station.[1]
STS-98 (February 7–20, 2001) continued the task of building and enhancing theInternational Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory moduleDestiny. TheShuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached. In helping to complete its assembly, Curbeam logged over 19EVA hours in 3 space walks.[1]
STS-116 (December 9–22, 2006) was a mission to the International Space Station. The mission involved the installation of a new truss segment and the rewiring of the station's electrical system. During the mission, Curbeam was the EVA crewmember for the record-breaking four spacewalks, three of which were conducted along with astronautChrister Fuglesang (Sweden) and one along with astronautSunita Williams.[1]
On December 7, 2007, NASA announced that Curbeam had chosen to leave NASA after 13 years, to pursue a job in the private sector.[2] He presently works for Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems as the Senior Director of Business Development in Virginia.[3]
Having played lacrosse as a student athlete at the Naval Academy, Curbeam became an assistant coach for the boys lacrosse team atClear Lake High School in Houston, Texas. In 2011, Curbeam led Clear Lake to the semifinal match of the Texas High School Lacrosse League South District Championship game.[4]
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