posted 07-28-2023 01:53 PM               

NASA Astronaut Andrew Jay (Drew) Feustel to Leave NASA

NASA astronaut and geophysicist Drew Feustel, a veteran of three space missions and nine spacewalks, who also held key leadership positions within the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, is retiring from the agency after 23 years. His last day is Monday, July 31.

Feustel spent 226 days in space over three missions, servicing the Hubble Space Telescope from space shuttle Atlantis and flying to the International Space Station twice on two different spacecraft – the space shuttle Endeavour and a Soyuz spacecraft.

"I want to thank Drew for his exceptional service and dedication to NASA's mission," said Vanessa Wyche, center director, NASA Johnson. "His leadership, aptitude, and his kindness impacted not only his fellow astronauts, but the next generation of explorers who come after him as well."

The Lake Orion, Michigan, native spent two years as deputy chief of the Astronaut Office and recently served as acting chief astronaut prior to stepping down to leave the agency.

"From shuttle to Soyuz, and from Hubble to the International Space Station, Drew consistently provided excellent leadership and invaluable contributions that spanned more than two decades of human spaceflight achievement," said Norm Knight, director of flight operations, NASA Johnson. "We extend a personal thank you to Drew for his dedication to the Astronaut Office and our space program."

Feustel was selected as an astronaut by NASA in July 2000. Following the completion of two years of evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office's space shuttle and space station branches. Feustel was qualified as a space shuttle and space station robotic arm operator, spacecraft communicator, and instructor astronaut for robotics and spacewalk training.

"Drew epitomized what it means to be a public servant, astronaut, and friend," said Joe Acaba, chief astronaut, NASA Johnson. "He has served as a mentor and leader during a complex transition period. Throughout his career, he ensured our continued capability to conduct science with his service of the Hubble Space Telescope, aboard the International Space Station, and now the Artemis program. He will be missed and we all wish him success in his next adventures."

Across his career, Feustel conducted nine spacewalks totaling 61 hours and 48 minutes working in the vacuum of space. He leaves third among all U.S. spacewalkers for aggregate spacewalking time.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to work among, and learn from, the exceptional and highly skilled professionals that enable human spaceflight," Feustel said. "As a child I was inspired by early space pioneers and I always believed that one day I would become an astronaut and explore space. I hope that my story serves to inspire others to pursue their own goals and aspirations."

Feustel's first spaceflight was in 2009 aboard the shuttle Atlantis on the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission, STS-125. His second spaceflight was in 2011 aboard Endeavour, that shuttle's final flight, and the penultimate Space Shuttle Program mission. STS-134 delivered to the space station the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a state‐of‐the‐art cosmic ray particle physics detector designed to examine fundamental questions about matter, and the origin and structure of the universe.

His most recent spaceflight was as space station Expedition 55 flight engineer and space station commander during Expedition 56 in 2018. Launching and landing on a Soyuz spacecraft, he saw the arrival and departure of six visiting spacecraft, participated in dozens of educational downlink events and ventured outside the station on three spacewalks to perform maintenance and upgrades.

While attending Oakland Community College in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Feustel worked as an auto mechanic restoring 1950s antique automobiles. At Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, he served as a residence hall counselor. His summers were spent working as a commercial glazier near his Michigan home. During his master's degree studies, Feustel worked as a research and teaching assistant in Purdue's Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. In 1991, Feustel moved to Kingston, Ontario, Canada, to attend Queen's University, working as a graduate researcher and teaching assistant while earning his doctorate in seismology. In 1996, Feustel and his family moved to Houston for his work with the ExxonMobil Corp. before joining NASA in 2000.

posted 08-09-2023 12:56 PM               

Canadian Space Mining Corporation (CSMC) Welcomes Distinguished NASA Astronaut & Geophysicist Andrew J. Feustel (PH.D.) to its Team

The Canadian Space Mining Corporation (CSMC) is thrilled to announce the newest addition to its world class team: Dr. Andrew J. (Drew) Feustel, a renowned NASA astronaut and geophysicist. This strategic hiring marks a significant milestone for CSMC as it strengthens its position at the forefront of space exploration and infrastructure development. Dr. Feustel has joined the core team as the Executive Vice President of Strategy for the rapidly expanding organization.

Drew brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise, with demonstrated success in the human spaceflight industry, culminating with service as Commander of the International Space Station in 2018, Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office 2020-2022, and Acting Chief Astronaut 2022-2023 His contributions to scientific research and space missions have garnered global recognition, making him an invaluable asset to CSMC's mission to harness the potential of space resources.

Daniel Sax, CEO of CSMC, expressed great excitement about the collaboration, stating: "We are honoured to have Drew join our team. His exemplary track record as a NASA astronaut, his working experience as a geophysicist, and his dedication to pushing the boundaries of space exploration will bring unparalleled insights to our work in space healthcare, energy, and ISRU. This is a watershed moment for our company, and for the space mining sector."

"I am honored to be joining the Canadian Space Mining Corporation." said Dr. Feustel. "My passion for space exploration and background in mining and oil and gas industry operations aligns perfectly with CSMC's mission and vision. I believe CSMC is at the forefront of pioneering space operations for key sectors that will have broad benefits for our civilization here on earth. I look forward to contributing on this exciting journey."

CSMC has been leading the charge in researching and developing innovative technologies for sustainable space mining. With Dr. Feustel's addition to their team, the corporation's capabilities and potential for groundbreaking advancements are set to skyrocket. The collaboration between CSMC and Dr. Feustel promises a new era in space exploration and resource utilization, with far-reaching implications for future generations.

posted 12-12-2023 01:00 PM               

Vast Welcomes Veteran NASA Astronaut Dr. Andrew J. Feustel As Its Newest Human Spaceflight Advisor

Vast, a pioneer in space habitation technologies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Andrew J. (Drew) Feustel as its newest advisor. Dr. Feustel is a veteran NASA Astronaut with 23 years of experience, most recently as NASA's acting Chief Astronaut. Prior to that role, he served as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office from 2020 to 2022. Dr. Feustel joins an esteemed list of advisors at Vast, which includes veteran NASA astronaut Dr. Garrett Reisman.

Dr. Feustel's spaceflight experience includes three space missions. In 2011, he flew on the penultimate Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and the final flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-134. In 2009, he flew on the STS-125 Hubble Space Telescope repair mission. Most recently, in 2018, he flew on a Russian Soyuz rocket to the ISS, serving as Commander during Expedition 56 on a 197 day mission.

"I am honored to be collaborating with the dynamic team at Vast. They have a compelling vision for developing a private commercial space station in low-Earth orbit, and I plan to play a contributing role in reaching that significant milestone in human exploration," said Dr. Feustel. "These efforts are critical for establishing a global human space economy, which will enable our species to explore further and further from our home planet."

Dr. Feustel began his career in the Canadian mining industry and later worked at the ExxonMobil Exploration Corporation in Houston, Texas, as an exploration geophysicist before joining the NASA Astronaut Corps in 2000.

"We look forward to working with Drew on some key design trades where practical spaceflight and user experience is vital to guide our engineering teams, and utilize his wealth of knowledge executing our future crewed missions," said Alex Hudson, CTO.

Dr. Feustel holds a Ph.D. from Queen's University specializing in Seismology. He also holds a Master of Science in Geophysics and a Bachelor of Science in Solid Earth Sciences from Purdue University, and an Associate Science degree from Oakland Community College.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Feustel to our team and look forward to learning from his expansive spaceflight experience," said Max Haot, CEO.