Henry Hartsfield (Auburn ’54)
Space Shuttle Commander

EDUCATION:

Graduated from West End High School, Birmingham, Alabama; received a bachelor of science degree in physics at Auburn University in 1954 where he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity; performed graduate work in physics at Duke University and in astronautics at the Air Force Institute of Technology; and awarded a master of science degree in engineering science from the University of Tennessee in 1971.

SPECIAL HONORS:

Awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal; the General Thomas D. White Space Trophy for 1973 (1974). Inducted into Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame (1983). Distinguished Civilian Service Award (DOD) (1982). NASA Distinguished Service Medals (1982, 1988). NASA Space Flight Medals (1982, 1984, 1985). NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1988). Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Auburn University (1986). Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service (1996).

EXPERIENCE:

Hartsfield received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC) at Auburn University. He entered the Air Force in 1955, and his assignments have included a tour with the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron in Bitburg, Germany. He is also a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and was an instructor there prior to his assignment in 1966 to the USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Program as an astronaut. After cancellation of the MOL Program in June 1969, he was reassigned to NASA.

He has logged over 7,400 hours flying time -- of which over 6,150 hours are in the following jet aircraft: F-86, F-100, F-104, F-105, F-106, T-33, and T-38.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

Hartsfield became a NASA astronaut in September 1969. He was a member of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 16 and served as a member of the astronaut support crew for the Skylab 2, 3, and 4 missions.

Hartsfield retired in August 1977 from the United States Air Force with more than 22 years of active service but continues his assignment as a NASA astronaut in a civilian capacity. He was a member of the orbital flight test missions group of the astronaut office and was responsible for supporting the development of the Space Shuttle entry flight control system and its associated interfaces.

Hartsfield served as backup pilot for STS-2 and STS-3, Columbia's second and third orbital flight tests. A veteran of three space flights, Hartsfield has logged 483 hours in space. He served as the pilot on STS-4 (June 27 to July 4, 1982), and was the spacecraft commander on STS-41D (August 30 to September 5, 1984) and STS-61A (October 30 to November 6 1985).

From 1986 to 1987 Mr. Hartsfield served as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. In 1987, he became the Deputy Director for Flight Crew Operations, supervising the activities of the Astronaut Office and the Aircraft Operations Division at the Johnson Space Center.

In 1989, he accepted a temporary assignment in the Office of Space Flight, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. There he served as Director of the Technical Integration and Analysis Division reporting directly to the Associate Administrator for Space Flight. In this assignment he was responsible for facilitating the integration of the Space Station and its unique requirements into the Space Shuttle systems. His office also served as a technical forum for resolving technical and programmatic issues.

In 1990, Mr. Hartsfield accepted another temporary assignment as the Deputy Manager for Operations, Space Station Projects Office, at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama. In that capacity he was responsible for the planning and management of Space Station Operations and Utilization Capability Development and operations activities including budget preparation. Later in that assignment he also acted as the Deputy Manager for the Space Station Projects Office.

In 1991, Mr. Hartsfield accepted the position of the Man-Tended Capability (MTC) Phase Manager, Space Station Freedom Program and Operations (SSFPO), with a duty station at the Johnson Space Center. Reporting directly to the Deputy Director, SSFPO, he represented the Deputy Director in providing appropriate program guidance and direction to the Space Shuttle Program, and across the Space Station Freedom Program for all MTC phase mission unique activities to assure appropriate resolution of issues.

In December 1993, Mr. Hartsfield accepted the position of Manager, International Space Station Independent Assessment. In this capacity he reports directly to the Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Assurance and manages and focuses the oversight activities and assessment of the International Space Station Alpha Program.

In September 1996, the scope of Mr. Hartsfield's work was expanded to include independent assessment of the programs and projects of the Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) Enterprise and he was named Director, HEDS Independent Assurance.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:

STS-4, the fourth and final orbital test flight of the Shuttle Columbia, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 27 June 1982. He accompanied Thomas K. Mattingly (spacecraft commander) on this seven-day mission designed to: further verify ascent and entry phases of Shuttle missions; perform continued studies of the effects of long-term thermal extremes on the Orbiter subsystems; and conduct a survey of Orbiter-induced contamination on the Orbiter payload bay. Additionally, the crew operated several scientific experiments located in the Orbiter's cabin as well as in the payload bay. These experiments included the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES), designed to investigate the separation of biological materials in a fluid according to their surface electrical charge. The crew was credited with effecting an in-flight repair which enabled them to activate the first operational "Getaway Special" which was comprised of nine experiments that ranged from algae and duckweed growth in space, to fruit fly and brine shrimp genetic studies. STS-4 completed 112 orbits of the Earth before landing on a concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on July 4, 1982. Mission duration was 169 hours 11 minutes, 11 seconds.

STS-41D launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 30, 1984. The crew included Mike Coats (pilot), Judy Resnik, Steve Hawley, and Mike Mullane (mission specialists), and Charlie Walker (payload specialist). This was the maiden flight of the Orbiter Discovery. During the six-day mission the crew successfully activated the OAST-1 solar cell wing experiment, deployed three satellites, SBS-D, SYNCOM IV-2, and TELSTAR 3-C, operated the CFES-III experiment, the student crystal growth experiment, and photography experiments using the IMAX motion picture camera. The crew earned the name "Icebusters" when Hartsfield successfully removed a hazardous ice-buildup from the Orbiter using the Remote Manipulator System. STS-41D completed 96 orbits of the Earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on September 5, 1984. Mission duration was 144 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds.

STS-61A, the West German D-1 Spacelab mission, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 30, 1985. The crew included Steve Nagel (pilot), Jim Buchli, Guy Bluford and Bonnie Dunbar (mission specialists), and Reinhard Furrer, Ernst Messerschmid, and Wubbo Ockels (payload specialists). The seven-day mission was the first with eight crew members, and the first Spacelab science mission planned and controlled by a foreign customer. More than 75 scientific experiments were completed in the areas of physiological sciences, materials processing, biology, and navigation. After completing 111 orbits of the Earth, STS-61A landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on November 6, 1985. Mission duration was 168 hours, 44 minutes, 51 seconds.