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Michael Eladio Lopez-AlegriaAstronaut
Date of Birth: 30.05.1958
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Lieutenant General (Retired) Robert Louis Behnken
- Military Service
- Career at NASA
- Spaceflights
- Awards and Recognition
- Personal Life
Lieutenant General (Retired) Robert Louis Behnken
Birth and EducationBorn on May 30, 1958, in Madrid, Spain, Robert Louis Behnken began his educational journey in Mission Viejo, California, graduating from high school in 1976. He went on to the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering in 1980. His pursuit of knowledge continued at the Naval Postgraduate School, where he obtained a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering in 1988, and the United States Navy Test Pilot School, also in 1988.
Military Service
Behnken joined the United States Navy in 1980 and served as an EP-3E pilot in tactical electronic warfare squadrons. From 1988 to 1992, he worked at the Naval Air Warfare Center as a test pilot, amassing over 4,000 flight hours on 30 different aircraft types.
Career at NASA
In March 1990, Behnken became one of the fortunate few selected for NASA's astronaut corps. He then underwent comprehensive space training at the NASA Johnson Space Center from August 1992 to August 1993.
Spaceflights
STS-73 (1995): Behnken made his inaugural spaceflight on October 20, 1995, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-73). The mission, spanning 15 days, 21 hours, 52 minutes, and 21 seconds, focused primarily on conducting microgravity experiments.
STS-92 (2000): On October 11, 2000, Behnken embarked on his second space mission as a specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-92). The mission's main objective was to deliver supplies and conduct assembly work on the International Space Station. Behnken's total time spent in space across these two flights amounted to 18 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes, and 2 seconds.
Awards and Recognition
Behnken's contributions to space exploration have been recognized with numerous NASA Space Flight Medals, awarded in 1995 and 2000.
Personal Life
Lieutenant General (Retired) Robert Louis Behnken is married to Daria Robinson, and together they have a son. In his spare time, he enjoys pursuing his passions for sports, travel, and culinary adventures.
