To the Galaxies and Beyond
Georgia Tech has a proud history in space exploration and Tech’s College of Engineering has had a long association with NASA. Ten astronauts have earned engineering degrees from Georgia Tech; another three COE graduates have been selected as candidates for future missions.
Slated to go into space on October 23, 2007 is COE alum Army Col. Douglas Wheelock (MS AE’92) who is assigned to Space Shuttle mission STS-120. The crew will deliver the Italian-built Node connecting module to the International Space Station (ISS), as well as relocate a truss segment to allow for future ISS expansion and increased power generation. Colonel Wheelock will conduct both extravehicular activities and robotics operations during the mission’s three scheduled spacewalks. The STS-120 crew is scheduled to be aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Wheelock received a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1992. Colonel Wheelock reported for Astronaut Candidate Training in August 1998.
Recent COE graduates Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe (MS EE’97) and Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough (MS OR '98) have been assigned to Space Station Assembly Mission in 2008 aboard the Endeavour’s STS-126. The flight will deliver equipment to the International Space Station that will enable larger crews to reside aboard the complex.
Col. Douglas Wheelock
(MS AE’92)
Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe
(MS EE’97)
Lt. Col. Robert S.
Kimbrough (MS OR '98)
Dr. Sandra Magnus
(PhD MSE’96)
Boe was born in Miami and grew up in Atlanta. He has a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000. Kimbrough will serve as one of the mission specialists on the flight. Kimbrough has a Master's degree in Operations Research from Tech. He was selected as an astronaut in 2004. Boe and Kimbrough will be making their first spaceflight on Endeavour. Endeavour will carry a reusable logistics module that will hold supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, a second treadmill, equipment for the regenerative life support system and spare hardware.
COE graduate Sandra Magnus (PhD MSE’96) has already made her way into space aboard Atlantis in October of 2002.Magnus served on an International Space Station assembly mission during which the crew conducted joint operations with the Expedition. Dr. Magnus operated the space station’s robotic arm during the three spacewalks required to outfit and activate the new component. The crew also transferred cargo between the two vehicles and used the shuttle's thruster jets during two maneuvers to raise the station's orbit. Magnus received a Doctorate from the School of Material Science and Engineering at Tech in 1996.
Go back in time to the days of space pioneer and astronaut John Young, a 1952 Aerospace Engineering graduate from Tech and a veteran of six space flights and one of 12 men to walk on the moon. Young was the first human to fly in space six times and launch seven times. (He launched six times from Earth and once from the moon.) Young is the only astronaut to pilot four different types of spacecraft, flying in the Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. Young is the longest serving astronaut in history and retired from NASA in December 2004. Young was presented with the NASA Ambassador of Exploration Award in 2005 (plaque and a moon rock) which recognizes the sacrifices and dedication of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts. The awards remain property of NASA, but are displayed at a museum or educational institution of the recipient’s choice. The goal of the awards is to inspire a new generation of explorers.
New generations of explorers are very much a part of the College of Engineering. With three COE alumns going into space in the next two years they become part of a new generation of explorers who are taking their place among the stars. As NASA administrator Michael Griffin recently wrote, “…the Vision for Space Exploration …is in building a new generation of spacecraft to venture out into the solar system. Today, NASA is moving forward with a new focus for the manned space program: to go out beyond Earth orbit for purposes of human exploration and scientific discovery.”