Robert Lee Gibson Former American military man, pilot and astronaut. Date of Birth: 30.10.1946 Country: USA

1. Biography of Robert Lee Gibson
2. Early Life and Education
3. Military Career
4. Astronaut Career
5. Later Career
6. Contributions to Aviation
7. Trivia

Biography of Robert Lee Gibson

Robert Lee Gibson is a former American military officer, pilot, and astronaut. He was born in Cooperstown, New York, but considered Lakewood, Long Beach, California, his true hometown.

Early Life and Education

Gibson graduated from high school in 1964 and went on to study mechanical engineering at college. He continued his education at the California Polytechnic State University, specializing in aerospace engineering. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1969.

Military Career

In the same year, Gibson joined the Navy and underwent basic and advanced flight training. He served on the ships "Coral Sea" and "Enterprise" and saw combat in Southeast Asia. After returning to the United States in September 1975, Gibson became a flight instructor and later participated in the testing and improvement of the F-14A aircraft. With his dedication and hard work, he rose through the ranks and reached the position of captain.

Astronaut Career

Gibson was selected by NASA in January 1978 and became an astronaut in August 1979. During his career as an astronaut, he participated in five successful missions in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, and 1995. From December 1992 to September 1994, Gibson served as the Chief of the Astronaut Office, and from March to November 1996, he was the Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations.

Later Career

In November 1996, Gibson left NASA and became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. He accumulated over 6,000 hours of flight time on more than 50 different types of civilian and military aircraft. While he held a pilot's license, federal restrictions prevented him from continuing to work as a pilot after turning 60.

Contributions to Aviation

In December 2006, Gibson became a chief test pilot and director of production. In 2010, he became an official representative and emissary of The Academy of Model Aeronautics, a leading model aviation organization, aimed at promoting radio-controlled models and attracting young model enthusiasts.

Trivia

In October 2012, Gibson appeared on the popular television show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" and performed admirably. However, he made a mistake on the million-dollar question and walked away with $25,000, which was donated to a special scholarship fund for astronauts. In September 2013, Gibson participated in the 50th National Championship Air Races on a Hawker Sea Fury and achieved an impressive speed of 479.164 miles per hour during the preliminary selection.