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Kent Vernon RomindjerAstronaut
Date of Birth: 07.08.1956
Country:  USA |
Content:
- American Astronaut with a Distinguished Career in Space and the Navy
- Military Service
- NASA Career
- - STS-73 (1995): Pilot, 15 days, 21 hours
American Astronaut with a Distinguished Career in Space and the Navy
Early Life and EducationJames Donald Wetherbee was born on August 7, 1956, in Del Norte, Colorado. He obtained his secondary education from Del Norte High School in 1974. In 1978, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University, alongside a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Subsequently, in 1985, he graduated from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, also known as "Topgun."
Military Service
Wetherbee served as a naval aviator from 1981 to 1985, aboard the aircraft carriers USS Ranger and USS Kitty Hawk. Between 1987 and 1990, he worked as a flight instructor at the Naval Air Test and Evaluation Squadron in Patuxent River. In 1990, he joined USS Nimitz as a pilot. Throughout his military career, he accumulated over 5,000 flight hours on 35 different types of aircraft.
NASA Career
In March 1992, Wetherbee became part of NASA's astronaut corps. He undertook five successful missions into space:
- STS-73 (1995): Pilot, 15 days, 21 hours
- STS-80 (1996): Pilot, 17 days, 15 hours- STS-85 (1997): Pilot, 11 days, 20 hours
- STS-96 (1999): Commander, 9 days, 19 hours
- STS-100 (2001): Commander, 11 days, 21 hours
Awards and Honors
Wetherbee's accomplishments garnered him the following accolades:
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Navy Commendation Medal
- NASA Space Flight Medals (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001)
Personal Life
James Wetherbee is married to Marie Sue Rule, and the couple has one child. He enjoys skiing and water skiing as hobbies.
