Michael J. Bloomfield
Encyclopedia
Michael John "Bloomer" Bloomfield (born 16 March 1959) is a former American
astronaut and a veteran of three space shuttle
missions.
, Bloomfield received his bachelor's degree in Engineering Mechanics from the United States Air Force Academy
where he played Falcon football for coach Bill Parcells and was the team's captain. He became an F-15
fighter pilot with the rare combination of having graduated the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC, pronounced 'Fwick') and then selected as a test pilot (assigned to the F-16 test squadron at Edwards AFB). He earned his master's degree from Old Dominion University
before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1994.
in 1997, where he docked with the space station Mir
. Bloomfield also piloted STS-97
in 2000 and commanded STS-110
in 2002, both missions to the International Space Station
.
Bloomfield has served as deputy director of flight crew operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston since 2006, before resigning from NASA in July 2007. Michael then became VP of the Constellation Program for ATK.
He also has taken on the nickname of Captain America, due to his Air Force and NASA previous work experience.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronaut and a veteran of three space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
missions.
Early life and education
Born in Flint and raised in Lake Fenton, MichiganLake Fenton, Michigan
Lake Fenton is an unincorporated community in Fenton Charter Township, Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also a census-designated place for statistical purposes and has no legal status as a municipality. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 4,876...
, Bloomfield received his bachelor's degree in Engineering Mechanics 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...
where he played Falcon football for coach Bill Parcells and was the team's captain. He became an F-15
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
fighter pilot with the rare combination of having graduated the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC, pronounced 'Fwick') and then selected as a test pilot (assigned to the F-16 test squadron at Edwards AFB). He earned his master's degree from Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1994.
NASA career
He first flew as a pilot aboard STS-86STS-86
STS-86 was a Space Shuttle Atlantis mission to the Mir space station. This was the last Atlantis mission before it was taken out of service temporarily for maintenance and upgrades, including the glass cockpit.-Crew:-Crew notes:...
in 1997, where he docked with the space station Mir
Mir
Mir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
. Bloomfield also piloted STS-97
STS-97
STS-97 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station flown by Space Shuttle Endeavour. The crew installed the first set of solar arrays to the ISS, prepared a docking port for arrival of the Destiny Laboratory Module, and delivered supplies for the station's crew.-Crew:-Mission...
in 2000 and commanded STS-110
STS-110
STS-110 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station on 8–19 April 2002 flown by Space Shuttle Atlantis. The main purpose was to install the S0 Truss segment, which forms the backbone of the truss structure on the station.- Crew :...
in 2002, both missions to 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...
.
Bloomfield has served as deputy director of flight crew operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston since 2006, before resigning from NASA in July 2007. Michael then became VP of the Constellation Program for ATK.
He also has taken on the nickname of Captain America, due to his Air Force and NASA previous work experience.