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Frederick SturckowAstronaut
Date of Birth: 11.08.1961
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Frederick Sterkow
- Military Service and Pilot Training
- Career as an Astronaut
- Personal Life
Biography of Frederick Sterkow
Frederick Sterkow, an American astronaut, was born on August 11, 1961, in La Mesa, California, USA. However, he considers Lakeside, California, where he spent his childhood, as his hometown. In 1978, he graduated from Grossmont High School in La Mesa and enrolled at the California Polytechnic State University. In 1984, Sterkow earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. After completing university, he joined the military service.
Military Service and Pilot Training
In April 1987, Sterkow received his pilot qualification and flew F/A-18 aircraft. He served at various American airbases in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. In August 1990, he was transferred to an American airbase in Bahrain and participated in the operation "Desert Storm," completing 41 combat missions. In January 1992, Sterkow arrived at the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where he successfully completed his training in 1993. From 1993 onwards, he served at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, USA. He accumulated a total flight time of 2500 hours on 40 different aircraft types.
Career as an Astronaut
In December 1994, Sterkow was accepted into the NASA Astronaut Corps. In March 1996, he completed the training course and became qualified to pilot the Space Shuttle. From December 4 to 16, 1998, he flew as a pilot on the "Endeavour" spacecraft during the STS-88 mission. This mission involved the assembly of the International Space Station. The duration of the flight was 11 days, 19 hours, 18 minutes, and 47 seconds. Sterkow is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and has been awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal (1998) and other medals.
