 |
Alan Goodwin PoindexterAmerican astronaut, NASA cosmonaut, US Navy captain.
Date of Birth: 05.11.1961
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Alan Poindexter was born on November 5, 1961, in Pasadena, California. He graduated from Coronado High School in 1979 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1986.
Military Career
After completing flight training, Poindexter served as a Naval aviator at Miramar Naval Air Station. He flew combat missions during Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch. He also earned a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1983 and attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. He later served at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia.
NASA Career
Poindexter joined NASA's astronaut corps in June 1998. In 2008, he made his first flight into space aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis mission STS-122 (1E). The mission lasted from February 7 to 20. Later that year, he was appointed commander of Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-131 (19A), which included seven crew members, three of whom were women. The flight took place from April 5 to 20, 2010. Poindexter retired from NASA in 2010.
Personal Life
Poindexter was married and had two sons, Samuel and Zachary. He tragically died on July 1, 2012, in a personal watercraft accident.
