Sandra Magnus

Last updated
Sandra Magnus
Sandra Magnus 2011 (cropped).jpg
Magnus in 2011
Born (1964-10-30) October 30, 1964 (age 59)
Education Missouri University of Science and Technology (BS)
Georgia Institute of Technology (MS, PhD)
Space career
NASA astronaut
Time in space
157d 8h 42m [1]
Selection NASA Group 16 (1996)
Missions STS-112
STS-126/119 (Expedition 18)
STS-135
Mission insignia
Sts-112-patch.png STS-126 patch.png ISS Expedition 18 patch.png STS-119 patch.png STS-135 patch.png
Scientific career
Fields Materials science
Thesis An Investigation of the Relationship between the Thermochemistry and Emission Behavior of Thermionic Cathodes Based on the BaO-Sc₂O₃-WO₃ Ternary System  (1996)
Doctoral advisor Norman Hill
Signature
Sanrda magnus singture.svg

Sandra Hall Magnus (born October 30, 1964) is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. [2] She returned to Earth with the crew of STS-119 Discovery on March 28, 2009, after having spent 134 days in orbit. [3] She was assigned to the crew of STS-135, the final mission of the Space Shuttle. She is also a licensed amateur radio operator with the call sign KE5FYE. From 2012 until 2018 Magnus was the executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

Magnus was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois. She earned degrees in physics and electrical engineering from the University of Missouri–Rolla (now known as the Missouri University of Science and Technology) before earning a PhD in materials science and engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1996. Research for her dissertation, entitled "An Investigation of the relationship between the thermochemistry and emission behavior of thermionic cathodes based on the BaO-Sc2O3-WO3 ternary system," was supported by a fellowship from the NASA Lewis Research Center. [4]

Engineering career

During the 1980s, Magnus worked on stealth aircraft design as an engineer for McDonnell Douglas. She worked on the propulsion system for the A-12 Avenger II until the project was canceled by the Navy in 1991. [2]

NASA career

Sandra Magnus, STS-119 mission specialist, exercises on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation System (CEVIS) in the Destiny laboratory. Sandy Magnus in the Destiny Module.jpg
Sandra Magnus, STS-119 mission specialist, exercises on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation System (CEVIS) in the Destiny laboratory.

Magnus was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1996. Following training for two years from January 1997 until May 1998, Magnus was assigned to the Payloads/Habitability branch in the Astronaut office. Her work included coordinating with the European Space Agency and the Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) and Brazil. In May 1998 she was assigned to work in Russia supporting payload hardware development and testing. In 2000 she was CAPCOM for the International Space Station. [2]

STS-112

She flew her first space mission, STS-112, in October 2002 as a mission specialist. The main objective of Space Shuttle Atlantis' mission was the installation of the S1 truss section on the International Space Station (ISS) and consumables delivery. Magnus operated the space station's robotic arm during the three spacewalks required to install and activate the S1 truss. The flight duration was 10 days 19 hours 58 minutes and 44 seconds. [1]

Survival training

From January 29–31, 2006, together with Oleg Artemiev and Michael Barratt, Magnus took part in a two-day examination for the ability to survive in an uninhabited area in case of the Soyuz descent module making an emergency landing. She passed this examination in the forest near Moscow. [5]

NEEMO 11

From September 16–22, 2006, Magnus served as the commander of NASA's NEEMO 11 mission, an undersea expedition at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Aquarius laboratory located off the coast of Florida. With fellow astronaut/aquanauts Timothy Kopra, Robert Behnken and Timothy Creamer, all of whom were training for possible assignment to missions to the International Space Station, Magnus imitated moonwalks, tested concepts for mobility using various spacesuit configurations and weights to simulate lunar gravity. Techniques for communication, navigation, geological sample retrieval, construction and using remote-controlled robots on the Moon's surface also were tested. National Undersea Research Center support crew members Larry Ward and Roger Garcia provided engineering support inside the habitat. [6]

Expedition 18

Magnus served as flight engineer on board the International Space Station as part of Expedition 18. [2] Magnus was a mission specialist on STS-126 for the trip to the station, which launched on November 14, 2008. She served as mission specialist on STS-119 when it returned on March 28, 2009. [2] She logged 133 days in orbit and received warm greetings from NASA on her return. Her replacement, JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata, was launched aboard Discovery on March 15, 2009. [3]

STS-135

Magnus in the Cupola aboard the International Space Station during STS-135. STS-135 Sandy Magnus in the Cupola.jpg
Magnus in the Cupola aboard the International Space Station during STS-135.

On September 14, 2010, NASA announced Magnus to be one of four astronauts assigned to the STS-135 "launch on need" crew that was, if needed, to fly a rescue mission for STS-134, which was originally the last scheduled shuttle flight. [7] Other members assigned to that crew were commander Christopher Ferguson, pilot Douglas G. Hurley, and fellow mission specialist Rex J. Walheim. In January 2011, NASA added STS-135 to the manifest as the final Space Shuttle mission, scheduled to launch in July 2011; STS-134 was conducted successfully in May 2011, requiring no rescue flight. The mission launched successfully on 8 July 2011 and landed on July 21.

In September 2012, Magnus became deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office.

After NASA

In October 2012, Magnus left NASA Astronaut corps to become the executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). [8] She was the executive director until January 2018. [9]

From 2018 to 2019, Magnus was a principal at AstroPlanetView. In 2019, she became the deputy director for Engineering within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, [10] serving under former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.

On February 9, 2021, Virgin Galactic announced that Magnus would be joining their Space Advisory Board to help "provide advice to senior management as the company moves forward to open space for the benefit of all." [11] Magnus will be joined by former astronaut Chris Hadfield and Chief Scientist of Cubic Corporation David A. Whelan.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Thirsk</span> Canadian engineer, astronaut and physician (born 1953)

Robert Brent "Bob" Thirsk, is a Canadian retired engineer and physician, and a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut. He holds the Canadian record for the most time spent in space. He became an officer of the Order of Canada (OC) in 2013 and was named to the Order of British Columbia (OBC) in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koichi Wakata</span> Japanese engineer and astronaut (born 1963)

Koichi Wakata is a Japanese engineer and an astronaut working for Axiom Space. He retired from JAXA in 2024. Wakata is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions, a Russian Soyuz mission, and a long-duration stay on the International Space Station. During a nearly two-decade career in spaceflight, he has logged more than five hundred days in space. During Expedition 39, he became the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station. Wakata flew on the Soyuz TMA-11M/Expedition 38/Expedition 39 long duration spaceflight from 7 November 2013 to 13 May 2014. During this spaceflight he was accompanied by Kirobo, the first humanoid robot astronaut. As of 2023, he is the longest active astronaut in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Leestma</span> American astronaut (born 1949)

David Cornell Leestma is a former American astronaut and retired Captain in the United States Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael L. Gernhardt</span> NASA astronaut and manager of Environmental Physiology Laboratory (born 1956)

Michael Landon Gernhardt is a NASA astronaut and manager of the Environmental Physiology Laboratory, and principal investigator of the Prebreathe Reduction Program (PRP) at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark L. Polansky</span> American astronaut, pilot and engineer (born 1956)

Mark Lewis "Roman" Polansky is an American aerospace engineer and research pilot and a former NASA astronaut. Polansky received the nickname "Roman" as a joke, because he shares a last name with director Roman Polanski. He flew on three Space Shuttle missions: STS-98, STS-116, and STS-127 and was first person of Korean ancestry in space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick W. Sturckow</span> American astronaut (born 1961)

Frederick Wilford "Rick" Sturckow is an engineer, retired United States Marine Corps officer, former NASA astronaut, and commercial spacecraft pilot. Sturckow is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions. He flew as a pilot on STS-88 and STS-105 and as a commander on STS-117 and STS-128. All four missions docked with the International Space Station, making Sturckow one of three American astronauts to visit the station four times. Sturckow later was assigned to the Johnson Space Center as a CAPCOM. He left NASA in 2013 to become a pilot for Virgin Galactic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex J. Walheim</span> American astronaut, engineer and USAF colonel (born 1962)

Rex Joseph Walheim is a retired United States Air Force officer, engineer and NASA astronaut. He flew three Space Shuttle missions, STS-110, STS-122, and STS-135. Walheim logged over 566 hours in space, including 36 hours and 23 minutes of spacewalk (EVA) time. He was assigned as mission specialist and flight engineer on STS-135, the final Space Shuttle mission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Wilson</span> American astronaut and engineer (born 1966)

Stephanie Diana Wilson is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She flew to space onboard three Space Shuttle missions, and is the second African American woman to go into space, after Mae Jemison. As of 2022, her 42 days in space are the second most of any female African American astronaut, having been surpassed by Jessica Watkins in 2022, however in 2024 she was assigned to the Crew-9 mission during which she should retake the lead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Dutton (astronaut)</span>

James Patrick "Mash" Dutton Jr. is an engineer, former NASA astronaut pilot of the Class of 2004, and a former test pilot in the US Air Force with the rank of colonel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John D. Olivas</span> American engineer and a former NASA astronaut

John Daniel "Danny" Olivas is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. Olivas has flown on two space shuttle missions, STS-117 and STS-128. He performed EVAs on both missions, totaling 34hrs 28min.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrett Reisman</span> American engineer and former NASA astronaut (born 1968)

Garrett Erin Reisman is an American engineer and former NASA astronaut. He was a backup crew member for Expedition 15 and joined Expedition 16 aboard the International Space Station for a short time before becoming a member of Expedition 17. He returned to Earth on June 14, 2008 on board STS-124 on Space Shuttle Discovery. He was a member of the STS-132 mission that traveled to the International Space Station aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis from May 14 to 26, 2010. He is a consultant at SpaceX and a Professor of Astronautics Practice at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew J. Feustel</span> American-Canadian NASA astronaut and geophysicist

Andrew Jay "Drew" Feustel is a former American/Canadian NASA astronaut and geophysicist. Following several years working as a geophysicist, Feustel was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in July 2000. He is the veteran of 3 space flights with NASA. His first spaceflight in May 2009, STS-125, lasted just under 13 days. This was a mission with six other astronauts to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. Feustel performed three spacewalks during the mission. His second spaceflight was STS-134, which launched on May 16, 2011, and landed on June 1, 2011. STS-134 was the penultimate Space Shuttle flight. Feustel returned to space on March 21, 2018, on Soyuz MS-08 with Expedition 55/56. For expedition 56, he commanded the International Space Station, before handing over to Alexander Gerst on October 3, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory Chamitoff</span> Canadian born engineer and NASA astronaut (born 1962)

Gregory Errol Chamitoff is a Canadian-born American engineer and former NASA astronaut. He has been to space twice, spending 6 months aboard the ISS across Expedition 17 and 18 in 2008, and another 15 days as part of STS-134 in 2011. STS-134 was the last of Space Shuttle Endeavour which delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and completed the US Orbital Segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Nyberg</span> American mechanical engineer and NASA astronaut

Karen LuJean Nyberg is an American mechanical engineer and retired NASA astronaut. Nyberg became the 50th woman in space on her first mission in 2008. Nyberg holds a Ph.D in mechanical engineering. She started her space career in 1991 and spent a total of 180 days in space in 2008 and 2013 as a mission specialist on STS-124 and a flight engineer on Soyuz TMA-09M.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shannon Walker</span> American scientist and NASA astronaut

Shannon Walker is an American physicist and a NASA astronaut selected in 2004. She launched on her first mission into space on June 25, 2010, onboard Soyuz TMA-19 and spent over 163 days in space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger</span> American astronaut

Dorothy Marie "Dottie" Metcalf-Lindenburger is a retired American astronaut. She was a science teacher at Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington when she was selected in 2004 as an educator mission specialist. She was the first Space Camp alumna to become an astronaut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Stott</span> American engineer and a NASA astronaut

Nicole Marie Passonno Stott is an American engineer and a retired NASA astronaut. She served as a flight engineer on ISS Expedition 20 and Expedition 21 and was a mission specialist on STS-128 and STS-133. After 27 years of working at NASA, the space agency announced her retirement effective June 1, 2015. She is married to Christopher Stott, a Manx-born American space entrepreneur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randolph Bresnik</span> United States Marine Corps officer and a NASA astronaut on three expeditions

Randolph James "Komrade" Bresnik is a retired officer in the United States Marine Corps and an active NASA astronaut. A Marine Aviator by trade, Bresnik was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 19 in May 2004. He first launched to space on STS-129, then served as flight engineer for Expedition 52, and as ISS commander for Expedition 53.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Barratt (astronaut)</span> American aerospace medicine physician and astronaut born 1959

Michael Reed Barratt is an American physician and a NASA astronaut. Specializing in aerospace medicine, he served as a flight surgeon for NASA before his selection as an astronaut and has played a role in developing NASA's space medicine programs for both the Shuttle-Mir Program and International Space Station. His first spaceflight was a long-duration mission to the International Space Station, as a flight engineer in the Expedition 19 and 20 crew. In March 2011, Barratt completed his second spaceflight as a crew member of STS-133. Barratt pilots the SpaceX Crew-8 mission that launched on 4 March 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Behnken</span> US Air Force officer, NASA astronaut and former Chief of the Astronaut Office (born 1970)

Robert Louis Behnken is an American engineer, a former NASA astronaut, and former Chief of the Astronaut Office.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration .

  1. 1 2 Becker, Joachim. "Astronauts and Cosmonauts (sorted by "Time in Sace")". www.spacefacts.de.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sandra H. Magnus (Ph.D.) NASA Astronaut" (PDF). NASA. NASA. October 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Shuttle lands in Florida, ending 13-day voyage". AP. 2009-03-28. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  4. Magnus, Sandra (May 1996). "An Investigation of the relationship between the thermochemistry and emission behavior of thermionic cathodes based on the BaO-Sc2O3-WO3 ternary system". SMARTech. Georgia Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  5. "Future cosmonauts learn to survive in freezing weather in the Moscow forests". RuSpace. January 27, 2006. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  6. "NEEMO 11". NASA. September 2006. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  7. NASA (September 14, 2010). "NASA Assigns Crew for Final Launch on Need Shuttle Mission" . Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  8. "AIAA Announces Sandra H. Magnus as Executive Director". September 19, 2012.
  9. "Dr. Sandra H. Magnus Executive Director Emeritus". AIAA. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  10. "Sandra H. Magnus, Ph.D." U.S. Dept of Defense. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  11. "Virgin Galactic Launches Space Advisory Board". Virgin Galactic. Retrieved 13 February 2021.