Robert A. Parker
Encyclopedia
Robert Allan Ridley Parker (born December 14, 1936) is the former director of the NASA
Management Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
and a retired NASA astronaut. He was a mission specialist on two space shuttle
missions, STS-9
and STS-35
.
He has logged over 3,500 hours flying time in jet aircraft and 463 hours in space.
, Massachusetts
. He attended primary and secondary schools in Shrewsbury. He received a bachelor of arts degree in astronomy
and physics
from Amherst College
in 1958 and a doctorate in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology
in 1962. Prior to his selection for astronaut training, Parker was an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
in August 1967. He was a member of the astronaut support crews for the Apollo 15
and 17
missions, and served as program scientist for the Skylab
program Director's Office during the three manned Skylab flights.
From March 1988 to March 1989, Parker was stationed at NASA Headquarters
in Washington, D.C.
where he served as director of the Space Flight/Space Station Integration Office.
A veteran of two Spacelab
missions, Parker was a mission specialist on STS-9/Spacelab-1 (28 November-8 December 1983) and on STS-35 (2–10 December 1990); which featured the ASTRO-1 ultraviolet astronomy laboratory.
. Parker retired from NASA on August 31, 2005.
, California
. He has five children and nine grandchildren.
and of the International Astronomical Union
.
He was awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
(1973) and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
(1974).
.
In the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, Parker was portrayed by Chris Ellis
.
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...
Management Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
and a retired NASA astronaut. He was a mission specialist on two 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, STS-9
STS-9
STS-9 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission which carried the first Spacelab module into orbit to conduct space-based scientific experiments. It was the sixth mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and was Columbia's last flight until STS-61-C in January 1986...
and STS-35
STS-35
-Crew notes:Prior to the Challenger disaster, this mission was slated to launch in March 1986 as STS-61-E. Jon McBride was originally assigned to command this mission, which would have been his second spaceflight. He chose to retire from NASA in May 1989 and was replaced as mission commander by...
.
He has logged over 3,500 hours flying time in jet aircraft and 463 hours in space.
Early life
Parker was born in New York City but grew up in ShrewsburyShrewsbury, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,640 people, 12,366 households, and 8,693 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 12,696 housing units at an average density of...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He attended primary and secondary schools in Shrewsbury. He received a bachelor of arts degree in astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1958 and a doctorate in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
in 1962. Prior to his selection for astronaut training, Parker was an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
NASA career
Parker was selected as a scientist-astronaut by NASANASA
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...
in August 1967. He was a member of the astronaut support crews for the Apollo 15
Apollo 15
Apollo 15 was the ninth manned mission in the American Apollo space program, the fourth to land on the Moon and the eighth successful manned mission. It was the first of what were termed "J missions", long duration stays on the Moon with a greater focus on science than had been possible on previous...
and 17
Apollo 17
Apollo 17 was the eleventh and final manned mission in the American Apollo space program. Launched at 12:33 a.m. EST on December 7, 1972, with a three-member crew consisting of Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 remains the...
missions, and served as program scientist for the Skylab
Skylab
Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of...
program Director's Office during the three manned Skylab flights.
From March 1988 to March 1989, Parker was stationed at NASA Headquarters
NASA Headquarters
Two Independence Square, often referenced as NASA Headquarters, is a low-rise building in the two-building Independence Square complex at 300 E Street SW in Washington D.C. The building houses NASA leadership who provide overall guidance and direction to the US government executive branch agency...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where he served as director of the Space Flight/Space Station Integration Office.
A veteran of two Spacelab
Spacelab
Spacelab was a reusable laboratory used on certain spaceflights flown by the Space Shuttle. The laboratory consisted of multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier and other related hardware housed in the Shuttle's cargo bay...
missions, Parker was a mission specialist on STS-9/Spacelab-1 (28 November-8 December 1983) and on STS-35 (2–10 December 1990); which featured the ASTRO-1 ultraviolet astronomy laboratory.
Post-flight career
Parker was director of the Division of Policy and Plans for the Office of Space Flight at NASA Headquarters from January 1991 to December 1991. From January 1992 to November 1993, he was director of the Spacelab and Operations Program. From December 1993 to August 1997 he was manager of the Space Operations Utilization Program. In August 1997, Parker was named director of the NASA Management Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. Parker retired from NASA on August 31, 2005.
Family
Parker married the former Judy Woodruff of San MarinoSan Marino, California
San Marino is a small, affluent city in Los Angeles County, California. Incorporated in 1913, the City founders designed the community to be uniquely residential, with expansive properties surrounded by beautiful gardens, wide streets, and well maintained parkways...
, 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...
. He has five children and nine grandchildren.
Honors and memberships
Parker is a member of the American Astronomical SocietyAmerican Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
and of the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
.
He was awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
The NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal was established by NASA on September 15, 1961 when the original ESM was divided into three separate awards. Under the current guidelines, the ESAM is awarded for unusually significant scientific contribution toward achievement of aeronautical or...
(1973) and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
The NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal is awarded to government employees only for notably outstanding leadership which affects technical or administrative programs of NASA...
(1974).
Media
Parker was a contributor to the book, NASA's Scientist-Astronauts by David Shayler and Colin BurgessColin Burgess (author)
Colin Burgess is an Australian author and historian, specializing in space flight and military history. He is a former customer service manager for Qantas Airways, and a regular contributor to the collectSPACE online community. He lives in New South Wales...
.
In the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, Parker was portrayed by Chris Ellis
Chris Ellis (actor)
Chris Ellis is an American film and television actor who was born April 14, 1956 in Dallas, Texas.Ellis always wanted to be an actor because of television...
.