posted 02-03-2016 09:34 AM               

Veteran Astronaut Kevin Ford Departs NASA

After two spaceflights and more than 15 years with NASA, Kevin Ford left the space agency on Jan. 29. He spent more than 33 years in government service.

"Kevin has served the office in a number of ways over the years, and we will certainly miss him," said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center. "I had the pleasure of serving as his backup for his space station mission, and consequently spent many weeks in Russia and Kazakhstan with him. Personally, I will miss his sense of humor and special insight into technical issues. He is a great American and true friend. We all wish him well and have no doubt that he will bring a great deal of valuable experience to all of his future endeavors."

NASA selected Ford as an astronaut in 2000. After completing initial training, Ford served in various technical positions, including the director of operations in Star City, Russia, for one year and Capcom for six space shuttle missions. He served as space shuttle pilot for the STS-128 mission in 2009, helping to deliver more than 15,000 pounds of science and storage racks to the International Space Station. He then returned to the station aboard Soyuz TMA-06M in 2012, serving as flight engineer for Expedition 33, and commander on Expedition 34. Ford spent a total of 157 days and 13 hours in space.

Ford was born in Portland, Indiana, and considers Montpelier, Indiana, his hometown. He holds degrees in aerospace engineering, international relations and astronautical engineering from the University of Notre Dame, Troy State University, the University of Florida and the Air Force Institute of Technology. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel, he has accumulated more than 5,000 flying hours, and holds FAA instructor ratings for airplanes and gliders, a commercial rating for helicopters and a private rating for hot air balloons.

posted 05-23-2016 03:16 PM               

Today in Trondheim, launching my third career. Eighteen years as USAF pilot, 16 as NASA astronaut, and now NTNU researcher/educator!

posted 05-25-2016 06:14 AM               

Flash forward a few years, when Ford called Amdal from space — twice, because on the first call she was in the shower and missed the call. She was now working as a Norwegian Air Ambulance pilot, but they overcame the distances between them.

We both thought that we had quite special jobs on opposite sides of the earth, and that this would not go. But it was one of the more romantic encounters around the world, and eventually it literally landed the couple on a small farm in Munkvoll, just outside Oppdal.