|
Author
|
Topic: Payload specialists who joined NASA groups
|
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 55276
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 09-22-2025 09:57 PM
   
With the announcement of Anna Menon (Polaris Dawn) being selected as part of NASA's 24th group of astronaut candidates, there was a question if she was the first person to fly into Earth orbit before becoming a NASA astronaut. Joe Engle preceded Menon as the first person to earn astronaut wings before joining the NASA corps, but his qualifying X-15 flight did not reach orbit. Looking into it tonight, I found six examples of international payload specialists flying on the space shuttle and then joining a NASA class. Is this list complete or are there more? - Canadian Marc Garneau first flew into orbit as a payload specialist on STS-41G in 1984 before becoming a member of NASA Group 14 in 1992.
- Japan's Mamoru Mohri first flew into orbit as a payload specialist on STS-47 in 1992 before becoming a member of NASA Group 16 in 1996.
- Canadian Steven MacLean first flew into orbit as a payload specialist on STS-52 in 1992 before becoming a member of NASA Group 16 in 1996.
- Italian Umberto Guidoni first flew into orbit as a payload specialist on STS-75 in 1996 before becoming a member of NASA Group 16 in 1996.
- Canadian Robert Thirsk first flew into orbit as a payload specialist on STS-78 in 1996 before becoming a member of NASA Group 17 in 1998.
- Canadian Bjarni Tryggvason first flew into orbit as a payload specialist on STS-85 in 1997 before becoming a member of NASA Group 17 in 1998.
|
astro-nut
Member Posts: 1080
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 09-23-2025 01:59 PM
I would like to add the following individuals who have flown in space prior to being announced in a NASA Astronaut Class/Group. - Jean-Loup Chretien who flew aboard Soyuz T-6 in June 1982 and Soyuz TM-7 in 1988.
- Michel Tognini who flew aboard Soyuz TM-14/15 in 1992.
|
astro-nut
Member Posts: 1080
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 09-25-2025 01:43 PM
I would like to add Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts to the list. - Hans Schlegel flew on STS-55 in 1993 and was selected in NASA Group-17 in 1998.
- Leopold Eyharts flew on Soyuz TM-27 in 1998 and was selected with NASA Group-17 in 1998.
|
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3474
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 09-26-2025 01:31 PM
Of this list, though, Bjarni Tryggvason was the only one who didn't fly a mission after becoming a NASA astronaut, although other CSA astronauts did, and he retired 10 years after his NASA selection. Any reason for not being assigned to a flight? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 55276
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 09-26-2025 06:41 PM
From our article at the time of his death: Rather than pursue another spaceflight assignment, though, Tryggvason took leave of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to work in the private sector. He returned to the CSA for another four years in before retiring in 2008 and went on to become a visiting professor at the University of Western Ontario. |
advertisement