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Scott KellyAstronaut
Date of Birth: 21.02.1964
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Service
- Test Pilot Career
- NASA Career
- Spaceflights
- Awards and Honors
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
John "Lennie" Helms was born on February 21, 1964, in Orange, New Jersey. He graduated from Mountain High School in West Orange, New Jersey, in 1982. In 1987, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the New York University College of Engineering.
Military Service
Helms commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy in 1989. He served as a naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1989 to 1992. During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, he flew combat missions from the Eisenhower.
In 1994, Helms transitioned to test pilot duty at the United States Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. He graduated from the school in 1994 and went on to earn a Master of Science degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee in 1996.
Test Pilot Career
As a test pilot, Helms conducted flight tests on various aircraft, including the F-14A/B/D, F/A-18A/B/C/D, and KC-130F. He accumulated over 2,000 flight hours on more than 30 different aircraft types.
NASA Career
In April 1996, Helms was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA. He completed his astronaut training in August 1998.
Spaceflights
Helms flew his first spaceflight as the pilot of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-103 mission, which launched on December 20, 1999. The primary objective of the mission was to perform maintenance and repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope. Discovery landed on December 28, 1999, after a successful seven-day, 23-hour, 10-minute, and 47-second flight.
Awards and Honors
Helms has received numerous awards and honors, including the NASA Space Flight Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Defense Superior Service Medal.
Personal Life
Helms is married to the former Leslie S. Yandell. They have one child. His hobbies include running and playing sports.
