Rick D. Husband (
July 12,
1957 -
February 1,
2003) was an
astronaut and the
space shuttle commander of
STS-107 (
Columbia) who was killed when the
craft disintegrated after
reentry into the
Earth's atmosphere. Husband was also a
baritone singer.
He was born in
Amarillo, Texas and graduated from Amarillo High School in
1975. Husband received a bachelor of science degree in
mechanical engineering from
Texas Tech University[?] in
1980, and a master of science degree also in mechanical engineering from
California State University, Fresno[?] in
1990.
After graduating from Texas Tech University, Husband was commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the
United States Air Force and attended pilot training at
Vance Air Force Base[?] (AFB) in
Oklahoma. He finished his training there in October
1981, and was assigned to
F-4 Phantom II training at
Homestead Air Force Base[?] in
Florida. After completion of F-4 training in September
1982, Husband was assigned to
Moody Air Force Base[?] in
Georgia flying the F-4E. From September to November
1985, he attended F-4 Instructor School at Homestead AFB and was assigned as an F-4E instructor pilot and academic instructor at George AFB, California in December
1985. In December
1987, Husband was assigned to
Edwards Air Force Base[?] in
California, where he attended the USAF Test Pilot School. Upon completion of test pilot school, Husband served as a test pilot flying the F-4 and all five models of the
F-15 Eagle. In the F-15 Combined Test Force, Husband was the program manager for the
Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 increased performance engine, and also served as the F-15 Aerial Demonstration Pilot. In June
1992, Husband was assigned to the Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment at
Boscombe Down[?],
England, as an exchange test pilot with the
Royal Air Force. At Boscombe Down, Husband was the Tornado GR1 and GR4 Project Pilot and served as a test pilot in the Hawk, Hunter, Buccaneer, Jet Provost, Tucano, and Harvard. He has logged over 3800 hours of flight time in more than 40 different types of
aircraft.
Husband was selected as an astronaut candidate by
NASA in December
1994. He reported to the
Johnson Space Center in March
1995 to begin a year of training and evaluation. Upon completion of training, Husband was named the Astronaut Office representative for Advanced Projects at
Johnson Space Center, working on
Space Shuttle Upgrades, the
Crew Return Vehicle[?] (CRV) and studies to return to the
Moon and travel to
Mars. Most recently, he served as Chief of Safety for the Astronaut Office. He flew as pilot on
STS-96[?] in
1999, and has logged 235 hours and 13 minutes in
space. Husband was later assigned to command the crew of
STS-107 which was launched early in
2003.
- STS-96[?] (May 27 to June 6, 1999) aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery was a 10-day mission during which the crew performed the first docking with the International Space Station and delivered 4 tons of logistics and supplies in preparation for the arrival of the first crew to live on the station early next year. The mission was accomplished in 153 Earth orbits, traveling 4 million miles in 9 days, 19 hours and 13 minutes.
- STS-107 (January 16 to February 1, 2003) aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia was a 16 day mission during which the crew performed over 80 experiments testing applications of microgravity to gain insight into the environment of space and improve life on Earth as well as enable future space exploration. The mission ended in tragedy on the morning of February 1 when the shuttle disintegrated upon reentry killing all crew members (see Space Shuttle Columbia disaster).
Husband describes how he became a shuttle commander having flown in only one other
space flight:
- "I think a lot of it has to do with being in the right place at the right time."
See also: space science