Rick Douglas Husband (Col., USAF)
Mission Commander
Personal Data: Born July 12, 1957, in
Amarillo, Texas. Married. Two children. He enjoys singing, water
and snow skiing, cycling, and spending time with his family.
Education: Graduated from Amarillo High
School, Amarillo, Texas, in 1975. Received a bachelor of science
degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University in
1980, and a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from
California State University, Fresno, in 1990.
Organizations: Member of the Society of
Experimental Test Pilots, Tau Beta Pi, Air Force Association, and
the Texas Tech Ex-Students Association.
Special Honors: Distinguished Graduate
of AFROTC, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Squadron Officers School,
F-4 Instructor School, and USAF Test Pilot School; Outstanding
Engineering Student Award, Texas Tech University, 1980; F-4
Tactical Air Command Instructor Pilot of the Year (1987); named a
1997 Distinguished Engineer of the College of Engineering, Texas
Tech University. Military decorations include the Meritorious
Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Aerial Achievement
Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the National Defense
Service Medal, two NASA Group Achievement Awards for work on the
X-38 Development Team and the Orbiter Upgrade Definition Team.
Experience: After graduation from Texas
Tech University in May 1980, Husband was commissioned a second
lieutenant in the USAF and attended pilot training at Vance Air
Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma. He graduated in October 1981, and was
assigned to F-4 training at Homestead AFB, Florida. After
completion of F-4 training in September 1982, Husband was assigned
to Moody AFB, Georgia flying the F-4E. From September to November
1985, he attended F-4 Instructor School at Homestead AFB and was
assigned as an F-4E instructor pilot and academic instructor at
George AFB, California in December 1985. In December 1987, Husband
was assigned to Edwards AFB, California, where he attended the USAF
Test Pilot School. Upon completion of Test Pilot School, Husband
served as a test pilot flying the F-4 and all five models of the
F-15. In the F-15 Combined Test Force, Husband was the program
manager for the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 increased
performance engine, and also served as the F-15 Aerial
Demonstration Pilot. In June 1992, Husband was assigned to the
Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment at Boscombe Down,
England, as an exchange test pilot with the Royal Air Force. At
Boscombe Down, Husband was the Tornado GR1 and GR4 Project Pilot
and served as a test pilot in the Hawk, Hunter, Buccaneer, Jet
Provost, Tucano, and Harvard. He has logged over 3800 hours of
flight time in more than 40 different types of aircraft.
NASA Experience: Husband was selected as an
astronaut candidate by NASA in December 1994. He reported to the
Johnson Space Center in March 1995 to begin a year of training and
evaluation. Upon completion of training, Husband was named the
Astronaut Office representative for Advanced Projects at Johnson
Space Center, working on Space Shuttle Upgrades, the Crew Return
Vehicle (CRV) and studies to return to the Moon and travel to Mars.
Most recently, he served as Chief of Safety for the Astronaut
Office. He flew as pilot on STS-96 in 1999, and has logged 235
hours and 13 minutes in space. Husband is assigned to command the
crew of STS-107 scheduled for launch in 2003.
Space Flight Experience: STS-96
Discovery (May 27 to June 6, 1999) was a 10-day mission during
which the crew performed the first docking with the International
Space Station and delivered 4 tons of logistics and supplies in
preparation for the arrival of the first crew to live on the
station. The mission was accomplished in 153 Earth orbits,
traveling 4 million miles in 9 days, 19 hours and 13 minutes.