John L. Phillips
Encyclopedia
John Lynch Phillips, PhD (born April 15, 1951) is a NASA
astronaut
. Phillips is also a retired Captain of the United States Navy Reserve
. Phillips has received numerous awards and special honors. He is a National Merit Scholar, graduated 2nd in his class of 906 people at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972. Phillips has also been awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal
, NASA Distinguished Service Medal
, the Gagarin Medal and several others. Phillips has logged over 4,400 flight hours and 250 aircraft carrier landings, flying an A-7 during his time as a Navy reservist from 1982 to 2002. At the time of his retirement, Phillips had retained the rank of Captain.
to be his hometown. He is married to the former Laura Jean Doell of Scotia, New York
. They have two children.
Graduated from Scottsdale High School
, Scottsdale, Arizona
, in 1966; received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and Russian from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972; a master of science degree in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida
in 1974; a master of science degree and a doctorate in geophysics and space physics from the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA) in 1984 and 1987 respectively.
A National Merit Scholar; he graduated second of 906 in the class of 1972 at U.S. Naval Academy; received 2 NASA Group Achievement Awards for contributions to the Ulysses Spacecraft Mission
and the Los Alamos National Laboratory
Distinguished Performance Award in 1996. Awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal and various military awards.
Phillips received a navy commission upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972 and was designated a Naval Aviator
in November, 1974. He trained in the A-7 Corsair aircraft at Naval Air Station Lemoore
, California
and made overseas deployment with Attack Squadron 155 aboard the Oriskany
(CV-34) and Roosevelt
(CV-42). Subsequent tours of duty included navy recruiting in Albany, New York
, and flying the CT-39 Sabreliner aircraft at Naval Air Station North Island, California.
After leaving the Navy in 1982, Phillips enrolled as a graduate student at UCLA. While at UCLA he carried out research involving observations by the NASA Pioneer Venus Spacecraft. Upon completing his doctorate in 1987, he was awarded a J. Robert Oppenheimer Postdoctoral Fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory
in New Mexico
. He accepted a career position at Los Alamos in 1989. While there, Phillips performed research on the sun and the space environment. From 1993 through 1996 he was Principal Investigator for the Solar Wind Plasma Experiment aboard the Ulysses Spacecraft as it executed a unique trajectory over the poles of the sun. He has authored 156 scientific papers dealing with the plasma
environments of the sun, earth, other planets, comets and spacecraft.
Phillips has logged over 4,400 flight hours and 250 carrier landings. He has been a Navy reservist since 1982, serving as an A-7 pilot, and in various non-flying assignments. He holds the rank of Captain, USNR.
in August 1996. After completing astronaut candidate training, he held various jobs in the Astronaut Office, including systems engineering and CAPCOM for the International Space Station
(ISS). He served as a backup crew-member for ISS Expedition 7
STS-100
(Space Shuttle Endeavour
, April 19 to May 1, 2001).
STS-100 was a 12-day mission to the ISS. During the mission, the crew successfully delivered and installed the Canadarm2
Robotic Arm. They also delivered experiments and supplies aboard the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Raffaello on its maiden flight. Phillips was the Ascent/Entry Flight engineer and was the intravehicular activity coordinator during two space walks.
Expedition 11
(April 15 to October 11, 2005).
Expedition 11 was a six-month mission to the ISS.
On April 15, 2005, Phillips, along with his fellow crew-members Sergei Krikalev
, and Roberto Vittori
launched to the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-6
.
On June 14, 2005, Phillips became the first person ever to testify before congress from the ISS, or outer space
in general. He gave testimony to the United States House of Representatives
Science Space Subcommittee via a live video feed. The hearing was to evaluate the space station's usefulness as an orbiting laboratory.
On August 18, 2005, Phillips and Krikalev completed a five hour spacewalk to retrieve several experiments and install a video camera for the new docking procedure.
Phillips and Krikalev, along with Space Flight Participant Gregory Olsen
, returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-6 on October 11, 2005.
STS-119
(Space Shuttle Discovery
, March 15 to March 28, 2009).
STS-119 was a 12 day mission to the ISS flown during March 2009. It delivered and assembled the fourth starboard Integrated Truss Segment (S6), and the fourth set of solar arrays and batteries to the station. The launch took place on March 15, 2009. Discovery successfully landed on March 28, 2009.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
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....
. Phillips is also a retired Captain of the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
. Phillips has received numerous awards and special honors. He is a National Merit Scholar, graduated 2nd in his class of 906 people at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972. Phillips has also been awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal
NASA Space Flight Medal
The NASA Space Flight Medal is a decoration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. According to its statutes, it is awarded "for significant achievement or service during individual participation as a civilian or military astronaut, pilot, mission specialist, payload specialist, or...
, NASA Distinguished Service Medal
NASA Distinguished Service Medal
The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States...
, the Gagarin Medal and several others. Phillips has logged over 4,400 flight hours and 250 aircraft carrier landings, flying an A-7 during his time as a Navy reservist from 1982 to 2002. At the time of his retirement, Phillips had retained the rank of Captain.
Biography
Born April 15, 1951 in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, but considers Scottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
to be his hometown. He is married to the former Laura Jean Doell of Scotia, New York
Scotia, New York
Scotia is a village in Schenectady County, New York, United States, incorporated in 1904. The population was 7,957 at the 2000 census.The Village of Scotia is part of the Town of Glenville, partly contiguous with Schenectady, New York and is connected by the Western Gateway Bridge over the Mohawk...
. They have two children.
Graduated from Scottsdale High School
Scottsdale High School
Scottsdale High School was a high school in Scottsdale, Arizona. It opened in 1922 and closed in May 1983. The mascot was the Beavers, and the colors were orange and black...
, Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, in 1966; received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and Russian from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972; a master of science degree in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida
University of West Florida
The University of West Florida, also known as West Florida and UWF, is a mid-sized public university located in Pensacola, Florida, United States. UWF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. The University of West Florida is a Research University, which specializes in...
in 1974; a master of science degree and a doctorate in geophysics and space physics from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA) in 1984 and 1987 respectively.
A National Merit Scholar; he graduated second of 906 in the class of 1972 at U.S. Naval Academy; received 2 NASA Group Achievement Awards for contributions to the Ulysses Spacecraft Mission
Ulysses probe
Ulysses is a decommissioned robotic space probe that was designed to study the Sun as a joint venture of NASA and the European Space Agency . The spacecraft was originally named Odysseus, because of its lengthy and indirect trajectory to near Solar distance...
and the Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
Distinguished Performance Award in 1996. Awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal and various military awards.
Phillips received a navy commission upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972 and was designated a Naval Aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
in November, 1974. He trained in the A-7 Corsair aircraft at Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California. Lemoore Station, California, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and made overseas deployment with Attack Squadron 155 aboard the Oriskany
USS Oriskany (CV-34)
USS Oriskany – nicknamed Mighty O, The O-boat, and Toasted O – was one of 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the third US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany.The history of...
(CV-34) and Roosevelt
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was the second of three Midway class aircraft carriers. To her crew, she was known as the "Swanky Franky," "Foo-De-Roo," or "Rosie," with the last nickname probably the most popular. Roosevelt spent most of her active deployed career operating in the Mediterranean Sea as...
(CV-42). Subsequent tours of duty included navy recruiting in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and flying the CT-39 Sabreliner aircraft at Naval Air Station North Island, California.
After leaving the Navy in 1982, Phillips enrolled as a graduate student at UCLA. While at UCLA he carried out research involving observations by the NASA Pioneer Venus Spacecraft. Upon completing his doctorate in 1987, he was awarded a J. Robert Oppenheimer Postdoctoral Fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He accepted a career position at Los Alamos in 1989. While there, Phillips performed research on the sun and the space environment. From 1993 through 1996 he was Principal Investigator for the Solar Wind Plasma Experiment aboard the Ulysses Spacecraft as it executed a unique trajectory over the poles of the sun. He has authored 156 scientific papers dealing with the plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
environments of the sun, earth, other planets, comets and spacecraft.
Phillips has logged over 4,400 flight hours and 250 carrier landings. He has been a Navy reservist since 1982, serving as an A-7 pilot, and in various non-flying assignments. He holds the rank of Captain, USNR.
NASA
Selected by NASA in April 1996, Phillips reported to the Johnson Space CenterLyndon B. Johnson Space Center
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's center for human spaceflight training, research and flight control. The center consists of a complex of 100 buildings constructed on 1,620 acres in Houston, Texas, USA...
in August 1996. After completing astronaut candidate training, he held various jobs in the Astronaut Office, including systems engineering and CAPCOM for the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(ISS). He served as a backup crew-member for ISS Expedition 7
Expedition 7
Expedition 7 was the seventh expedition to the International Space Station.-Crew:-Mission parameters:*Perigee: 384 km*Apogee: 396 km*Inclination: 51.6°*Period: 92 min...
Spaceflight experience
STS-100
STS-100 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station flown by Space Shuttle Endeavour. STS-100 installed the ISS Canadarm2 robotic arm.- Crew :- Mission parameters :* Mass:** Orbiter liftoff:...
(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...
, April 19 to May 1, 2001).
STS-100 was a 12-day mission to the ISS. During the mission, the crew successfully delivered and installed the Canadarm2
Mobile Servicing System
The Mobile Servicing System , better known by its primary component Canadarm2, is a robotic system and associated equipment on the International Space Station...
Robotic Arm. They also delivered experiments and supplies aboard the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
A Multi-Purpose Logistics Module is a large pressurized container used on Space Shuttle missions to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station . An MPLM was carried in the cargo bay of a Shuttle and berthed to the Unity or Harmony modules on the ISS. From there, supplies were...
Raffaello on its maiden flight. Phillips was the Ascent/Entry Flight engineer and was the intravehicular activity coordinator during two space walks.
Expedition 11
Expedition 11
Expedition 11 was the 11th expedition to the International Space Station, using the Soyuz TMA-6, which stayed during the expedition for emergency evacuation....
(April 15 to October 11, 2005).
Expedition 11 was a six-month mission to the ISS.
On April 15, 2005, Phillips, along with his fellow crew-members Sergei Krikalev
Sergei Krikalev
Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev is a Russian cosmonaut and mechanical engineer. As a prominent rocket scientist, he has been veteran of six space flights and currently has spent more time in space than any other human being.On August 16, 2005 at 1:44 a.m...
, and Roberto Vittori
Roberto Vittori
Roberto Vittori is an Italian air force officer and an ESA astronaut. After graduating from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989, Vittori flew in the Italian Air Force. He then trained as a test pilot in the United States....
launched to the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-6
Soyuz TMA-6
Soyuz TMA-6 was a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station launched by a Soyuz-FG launch vehicle.-Crew:-Docking with ISS:*Docked to ISS: April 17, 2005, 02:20 UTC...
.
On June 14, 2005, Phillips became the first person ever to testify before congress from the ISS, or outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
in general. He gave testimony to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Science Space Subcommittee via a live video feed. The hearing was to evaluate the space station's usefulness as an orbiting laboratory.
On August 18, 2005, Phillips and Krikalev completed a five hour spacewalk to retrieve several experiments and install a video camera for the new docking procedure.
Phillips and Krikalev, along with Space Flight Participant Gregory Olsen
Gregory Olsen
Gregory Hammond "Greg" Olsen is an American entrepreneur, engineer and scientist who, in October 2005, became the third private citizen to make a self-funded trip to the International Space Station with the company Space Adventures....
, returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-6 on October 11, 2005.
STS-119
STS-119
-Crew notes:This mission was originally scheduled to bring the Expedition 9 crew to the ISS. This crew would have consisted of:-Mission parameters:* Mass:* Orbiter liftoff: * Orbiter landing: * Perigee: * Apogee:...
(Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States, and was operational from its maiden flight, STS-41-D on August 30, 1984, until its final landing during STS-133 on March 9, 2011...
, March 15 to March 28, 2009).
STS-119 was a 12 day mission to the ISS flown during March 2009. It delivered and assembled the fourth starboard Integrated Truss Segment (S6), and the fourth set of solar arrays and batteries to the station. The launch took place on March 15, 2009. Discovery successfully landed on March 28, 2009.
Awards
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
 |
National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... |
|
 |
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon | |
 |
Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon | |
 |
NASA Distinguished Service Medal NASA Distinguished Service Medal The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States... |
|
 |
NASA Space Flight Medal | with two award stars |