NASA SCIENCE SUPERSTARS

MATHEMATICS

Eileen Marie Collins (Lt. Colonel, USAF)

Lt. Colonel Collins was born in Elmira, New York. She received a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978, a master of science in operations research from Stanford in 1986, and a master of arts in space systems management from Webster University in 1989.

Collins became an astronaut in July, 1991. She served as pilot on STS-63, the first flight of the new joint Russian-American Space Program, in February, 1995. She was the first woman pilot of a Space Shuttle. She currently works in Mission Control as a spacecraft communicator.

Lt. Colonel Collins enjoys running, golf, swimming, reading, and astronomy. Her favorite quote is: "Dream the impossible dream!"

PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Dr. James King, Jr.-chemist

Dr. King received a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics (with highest honors) from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He went on to the California Institute of Technology, where he received his master's in chemistry in 1955 and his doctorate in chemistry and physics in 1958.

Though trained as a chemist, Dr. King is now in charge of 4,000 scientists, engineers and technicians at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The people in his organization work on many exciting programs including building robots to explore Earth's oceans and outer space, satellites to look down at Earth to study our environment, satellites to look out into space to unlock the secrets of the universe, and deep space probes to explore other planets in our solar system. Dr. King's organization also is developing new technologies for space habitats and for propulsion systems to boost future space explorers across the solar system.

In his spare time, Dr. King likes to play golf and bridge, and to work in his home workshop.

ENGINEERING

Dr. Lonnie Reid-mechanical engineer

Dr. Reid graduated from Highland High School in Gastonia, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee State University in 1961. He went on to the University of Toledo, where he received a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in engineering science, completing his studies in 1990.

An internationally recognized expert on the compressors of aircraft engines, Dr. Reid heads the Internal Fluid Mechanics Division at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The engineers in his organization study the flow of air through aircraft engines. They "fly" new engine designs in wind tunnels to measure the temperature, velocity, and density of air inside an engine and use computer simulations to predict engine performance. Dr. Reid and his department are trying to develop aircraft engines that are quieter and cleaner than engines on passenger aircraft today.

For recreation, Dr. Reid enjoys running and playing golf.

COMPUTER SCIENCES

Frederick Gregory- (Colonel, USAF)

Colonel Gregory was born in Washington, District of Columbia. He received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1964 and a master's degree in information systems from George Washington University in 1977.

Gregory was selected as an astronaut in January 1978, flew on three Space Shuttle missions, and logged more than 455 hours in space. On his first flight in 1985, he was the pilot for mission STS 51-B (Spacelab-3). He was commander of his next two space flights: STS-33 on in 1991 and STS-44 on in 1991. He was the first African American to pilot the Space Shuttle, and on his second mission, he was the first African American to command any space vehicle. Gregory is currently working as Associate Administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Quality at NASA Headquarters.

Colonel Gregory enjoys reading, computer technology, his grandchildren, and sports, such as white water rafting, snowmobiling, water and snow skiing, mountain climbing, and weight conditioning. His favorite quote is " Children are only as strong as the sum of their home, school, church, and neighbors."

LIFE SCIENCES

Bernard Harris, Jr., M.D.
Dr. Harris was born in Temple, Texas. He received a bachelor of science degree in biology from University of Houston in 1978 and a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech School of medicine in 1982. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1987 and trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, in 1988. Dr. Harris is now Staff Vice President of Operations for SPACEHAB Inc., Houston, Texas.

Harris became an astronaut in July 1991. He was a mission specialist on STS-55 (Spacelab D-2) in 1991, conducting a variety of research experiments in physical and life sciences. In February 1995, Dr. Harris was the payload commander on STS-63, the first flight of the new joint Russian-American Space Program; his space walk made him the first African America to perform an extravehicular activity.

Dr. Harris enjoys music, sailing, weight lifting, and running. His favorite quote is:"The key to achievement is education and the ability to dream."

ASTROPHYSICS

Dr. George Carruthers-astrophysicist

Dr. Carruthers graduated from Englewood High School in Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1961. Dr. Carruthers also obtained his graduate education at the University of Illinois, completing a master's degree in nuclear engineering in 1962 and a doctorate in aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 1964.

For nearly 30 years, Dr. Carruthers has been a space scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. His speciality is building instruments that detect radiation from astronomical objects and from Earth's upper atmosphere. The radiation he studies cannot be seen by the human eye and is blocked by Earth's atmosphere so it must be observed through space instruments. Dr. Carruthers has placed his instruments on high-altitude rockets to study three comets and was the first to detect the molecular form of hydrogen gas between the stars in our Galaxy. This is important for estimating the total amount of matter in the universe. He built a camera that was carried to the moon, where Apollo 16 astronauts photographed Earth's atmosphere and objects in deep space. He also built a camera for a Space Shuttle mission in 1991 and is working on new cameras for deep space missions.

Dr. Carruthers spends his free time bicycle riding and taking pictures as an amateur photographer.

EARTH SCIENCES

Kathryn Sullivan (Ph.D.)

Dr. Sullivan was born in Paterson, New Jersey, but considers Woodland Hills, California, her hometown. She earned a bachelor of science degree in earth sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1973 and a doctorate in geology from Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) in 1978. She also has received numerous honorary degrees.

Sullivan was selected by NASA in January 1978 and became an astronaut in August 1979. A veteran of three space flights, she was a mission specialist on STS 41-G in 1984, STS-31 in 1990, and STS-45 in 1992. She was the first American female to perform a space walk during STS 41-G. She is now an oceanography officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

Dr. Sullivan enjoys squash, racquetball, biking, and reading. Her favorite quote by DaVinci is: "When once you have tasted flight, you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward-for there you have been, and there you will always be."


To find out more about the NASA astronauts, visit: