John Casper
Encyclopedia
John Howard Casper is an American
astronaut
. Although born in South Carolina
, he considers Gainesville, Georgia
to be his hometown. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America
where he achieved its second highest rank, Life Scout. He graduated with a bachelor of science in engineering science from the United States Air Force Academy
in 1966 and a master of science in astronautics from Purdue University
in 1967.
fighter pilot in the Vietnam War
. He has logged over 7000 hours of flight time in 51 types of aircraft. Casper was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
and graduated with class 74A.
Casper became an astronaut in 1985. He has spent over 825 hours in space on four spaceflight
s.
In 1990, Casper made his first spaceflight aboard STS-36
. This was a Department of Defense
mission. He flew aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour
in 1993. The crew deployed the Tracking and Data Relay satellite during this mission.
Casper made his third spaceflight aboard STS-62
in 1994. The crew performed experiments in chemistry and space manufacturing. He made his last flight in 1996 aboard STS-77
. The crew made several rendezvous sequences with four different satellite
s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
. Although born in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, he considers Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
to be his hometown. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
where he achieved its second highest rank, Life Scout. He graduated with a bachelor of science in engineering science from the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
in 1966 and a master of science in astronautics from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
in 1967.
Biography
Before he was an astronaut, Casper was a United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
fighter pilot in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He has logged over 7000 hours of flight time in 51 types of aircraft. Casper was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School is the Air Force's very advanced flight training school that trains experimental test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight test navigators to carry out tests and evaluations of new aerospace weapon systems and also other aircraft of the U.S. Air Force...
and graduated with class 74A.
Casper became an astronaut in 1985. He has spent over 825 hours in space on four spaceflight
Spaceflight
Spaceflight is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station...
s.
In 1990, Casper made his first spaceflight aboard STS-36
STS-36
STS-36 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission, during which Space Shuttle Atlantis carried a classified payload for the U.S. Department of Defense into orbit. STS-36 was the 34th shuttle mission overall, the sixth flight for Atlantis, and the fourth night launch of the shuttle program...
. This was a Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
mission. He flew aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States. Endeavour was the fifth and final spaceworthy NASA space shuttle to be built, constructed as a replacement for Challenger...
in 1993. The crew deployed the Tracking and Data Relay satellite during this mission.
Casper made his third spaceflight aboard STS-62
STS-62
STS-62 was a Space Shuttle program mission flown aboard . The primary payloads were the USMP-02 microgravity experiments package and the OAST-2 engineering and technology payload, both in the orbiter's cargo bay. The two-week mission also featured a number of biomedical experiments focusing on the...
in 1994. The crew performed experiments in chemistry and space manufacturing. He made his last flight in 1996 aboard STS-77
STS-77
STS-77 was the 77th Space Shuttle mission and the 11th mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission began from launch pad 39B from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 19 May 1996 lasting 10 days and 40 minutes and completing 161 revolutions before landing on runway 33.-Crew:-Mission...
. The crew made several rendezvous sequences with four different satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s.