Karl Gordon Henize American astronaut Date of Birth: 17.10.1926 Country: USA

Biography of Karl Gordon Henize

Karl Gordon Henize, an American astronaut, was born in 1926 in Cincinnati, Ohio. From a young age, he was fascinated by heights and had a passion for climbing. He grew up on his parents' small farm and idolized Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to conquer Mount Everest.

Henize was an active individual, participating in activities such as baseball, diving, and climbing. He excelled in mathematics and astronomy during his school years, which he continued studying at the University of Virginia. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1947 and a master's degree in astronomy in 1948.

In 1948, Henize began working at the University of Michigan Observatory, conducting his astronomical observations from various locations, including Bloemfontein in South Africa and Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, California. By 1956, he had become the chief astronomer at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, a position he held until the late 1950s. In 1959, he became a professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Throughout these years, Henize never stopped dreaming of going to space. In 1965, he applied to NASA but was initially rejected due to his age. However, two years later, despite being older, he was accepted and became the oldest candidate in his training program. He later worked on several NASA projects, primarily in support roles.

Henize's dream came true in the summer of 1985 when he joined the crew of the space shuttle Challenger for the STS-51-F mission. Despite a failed initial launch, the mission proceeded after a delay. On July 29, 1985, the Challenger successfully launched, and Henize spent 7 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes, and 21 seconds in space, completing 126 orbits around the Earth. This flight was notable for being the first to bring Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola to space, providing some amusement for the astronauts.

At the time of his spaceflight, Henize was 58 years old, making him the oldest astronaut to go to space. He held this record for several years until Vance DeVoe Brand surpassed him in 1990 at the age of 59. However, Henize still holds the record as the oldest rookie astronaut.

Unfortunately, Henize's love for climbing ultimately led to his untimely death. In 1993, he participated in an expedition to Mount Everest. He experienced symptoms of pulmonary edema on the second day at an altitude of around 6,500 meters. Despite the efforts of his climbing companions, Henize could not be saved. He was buried on Everest at an altitude of 5,486 meters.

Karl Gordon Henize passed away at the age of 66. His legacy as an astronaut and his passion for exploration and mountains continue to inspire others.