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Thomas JonesAstronaut
Date of Birth: 22.01.1955
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Career
- Scientific Research
- NASA Career
- Spaceflights:The astronaut has embarked on four space missions:
- Honors and Awards
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Born on January 22, 1955, in Baltimore, Maryland, the NASA astronaut attended Kenwood Senior High School in Essex, Maryland, and graduated in 1973. He continued his education at the United States Air Force Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science in 1977. In 1988, he completed his doctorate in Planetary Science from the University of Arizona.
Military Career
After graduating from the Air Force Academy, the astronaut served in the U.S. Air Force for six years. He served as a pilot and aircraft commander for the B-52D "Stratofortress" strategic bomber at Carswell Air Force Base in Texas, accumulating over 2,000 flight hours.
Scientific Research
From 1983 to 1988, while pursuing his doctorate at the University of Arizona, the astronaut focused his research on asteroids, meteorites, and other celestial objects. He later worked for the Central Intelligence Agency's Engineering Division from 1989 to 1990 before joining NASA's scientific research projects.
NASA Career
Astronaut Selection and Training:In January 1990, the astronaut was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate and completed general space training at the NASA Johnson Space Center from July 1990 to July 1991.
Spaceflights:The astronaut has embarked on four space missions:
STS-59 (April 9-20, 1994): Served as a mission specialist aboard the Endeavour spacecraft, conducting radar mapping of Earth's surface.
STS-68 (September 30 - October 11, 1994): Again joined the Endeavour crew as a mission specialist, continuing the radar mapping mission.
STS-80 (November 19 - December 7, 1996): Served as a mission specialist aboard the Columbia spacecraft, performing scientific research experiments.
STS-98 (February 7-18, 2001): Joined the Atlantis crew as a mission specialist, participating in the construction of the International Space Station. He conducted three spacewalks during this mission.
Honors and Awards
The astronaut has received numerous honors, including:USAF Medals
NASA Medals, including the Space Flight Medals (1994, 1996, 2001)
FAI Yuri Gagarin Diploma (1995, 1997)
Membership in the American Astronomical Society and the American Geophysical Union
Personal Life
The astronaut is divorced and has no children. His hobbies include baseball, hiking, skiing, and history.
