NASA astronaut Shannon Walker retired July 10, concluding a profession that spanned 38 years, together with 30 years of federal service and greater than 21 years as an astronaut. Throughout two spaceflights, she spent 330 days in orbit, contributing to a whole lot of scientific experiments and know-how demonstrations for the advantage of humanity.
Walker served as a mission specialist throughout NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the Worldwide Area Station in 2020, the primary crewed operational Dragon spacecraft flight. She additionally was the primary lady to fly aboard a Dragon spacecraft. As soon as aboard the orbiting laboratory, Walker joined the Expedition 64/65 crew and briefly commanded Expedition 65, logging 167 days in area earlier than returning to Earth in Might 2021.
She spent 163 days in area throughout her first spaceflight in 2010 as a member of the area station’s Expedition 24/25 crew. She was the pilot of the Soyuz TMA-19, which grew to become the primary crew to dock with the station’s Rassvet module.
“Shannon’s dedication to human area exploration has left an unimaginable affect, not simply right here in Houston, however throughout the trade,” mentioned Steve Koerner, appearing director of NASA’s Johnson Area Middle in Houston. “Her management and steering might be missed immensely, however she leaves behind a legacy of excellence that may proceed to encourage the following technology of explorers for many years to return.”
Most just lately, Walker served because the deputy chief of the Astronaut Workplace. She additionally oversaw the 2021 class of astronaut candidates, supervising their coaching and commencement in 2024.
“Shannon and I have been part of the identical astronaut class again after we first began,” mentioned Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Workplace at NASA Johnson. “She has been an incredible pal to me ever since and an incredible chief inside the Astronaut Workplace. I couldn’t think about a greater companion by my aspect when, almost 20 years later, we’d develop into chief and deputy chief. She has undoubtedly been a optimistic affect on this workplace, and her retirement is well-deserved.”
Walker started her profession as a flight controller within the Mission Management Middle at NASA Johnson, supporting a number of shuttle missions. She subsequent labored within the Worldwide Area Station Program Workplace, serving to to develop, construct, and combine {hardware} for the area station. Within the early days of the area station, she returned to mission management, main the engineering crew liable for the area station’s technical well being.
She was chosen as an astronaut in 2004. After finishing her preliminary two years of coaching, she served as a crew assist astronaut and labored as a capsule communicator, or capcom. She additionally held management positions inside the a number of branches of the Astronaut Workplace centered on Worldwide Area Station operations, crew Soyuz missions, and supporting astronauts with flight assignments. She additionally commanded the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations project, or NEEMO 15 underwater mission.
“I had at all times recognized I needed to be an astronaut once I grew up, however wanting again on the previous 38 years, I by no means would have imagined what number of adventures my profession would take me on,” mentioned Walker. “I really feel lucky to have been in a position to work with folks all around the world within the pursuit of area exploration. I’ve seen a variety of change within the evolution of human spaceflight, and I do know the long run is in good arms with all of the proficient folks now we have right here and the generations but to return.”
The Houston native attended Rice College in her hometown, the place she earned a bachelor’s diploma in physics, adopted by a grasp’s diploma and doctorate in area physics.
Be taught extra about how NASA explores the unknown and innovates for the advantage of humanity at: https://www.nasa.gov/
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Chelsey Ballarte
Johnson Area Middle, Houston
281-483-5111
Chelsey.n.ballarte@nasa.gov