NASA Astronaut Group 12 (the GAFFers) was a group of 15

astronaut An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft. Although generally r ...

s announced by

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeedin ...

on June 5, 1987.

Group members

Pilots

Andrew M. Allen Andrew Michael "Andy" Allen (born 4 August 1955) is a retired American astronaut. A former Marine aviator and lieutenant colonel, he worked as a test pilot before joining NASA in 1987. He flew three Space Shuttle missions before retiring in 199 ...

(born 1955), U.S. Marine Corps (3 flights) :

STS-46 STS-46 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission using and was launched on July 31, 1992, and landed on August 8, 1992. Crew Backup crew Crew seating arrangements Mission highlights The mission's primary objectives were the deployment of ...

— July 1992 — Pilot — Deployment of EURECA and

Tethered Satellite System Space tethers are long cables which can be used for propulsion, momentum exchange, stabilization and attitude control, or maintaining the relative positions of the components of a large dispersed satellite/ spacecraft sensor system. Depending on ...

(TSS) :

STS-62 STS-62 was a Space Shuttle program mission flown aboard . The primary payloads were the USMP-02 microgravity experiments package and the OAST-2 engineering and technology payload, both in the orbiter's cargo bay. The two-week mission also featu ...

— March 1994 — Pilot — Microgravity experiments :

STS-75 STS-75 was a 1996 NASA Space Shuttle mission, the 19th mission of the ''Columbia'' orbiter. Crew Allen, Hoffman, Nicollier and Chang-Díaz had previously been members of the STS-46 crew, which had flown the TSS-1 experiment in 1992. Mission ...

— February 1996 — Commander — Tethered Satellite System reflight, lost due to broken tether * Kenneth D. Bowersox (born 1956), U.S. Navy (5 flights) :

STS-50 STS-50 (U.S. Microgravity Laboratory-1) was a NASA Space Shuttle mission, the 12th mission of the ''Columbia'' orbiter. ''Columbia'' landed at Kennedy Space Center for the first time ever due to bad weather at Edwards Air Force Base caused by ...

— June 1992 — Pilot —

Spacelab Spacelab was a reusable laboratory developed by European Space Agency (ESA) and used on certain spaceflights flown by the Space Shuttle. The laboratory comprised multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier ...

mission :

STS-61 STS-61 was the first NASA Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, and the fifth flight of the Space Shuttle ''Endeavour''. The mission launched on 2 December 1993 from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. The mission restored the spacebor ...

— December 1993 — Pilot — First

Hubble Space Telescope The Hubble Space Telescope (often referred to as HST or Hubble) is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most vers ...

servicing mission :

STS-73 STS-73 was a Space Shuttle program mission, during October–November 1995, on board the Space Shuttle ''Columbia''. The mission was the second mission for the United States Microgravity Laboratory. The crew, who spent 16 days in space, were bro ...

— October 1995 — Commander — Spacelab mission :

STS-82 STS-82 was the 22nd flight of the Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' and the 82nd mission of the Space Shuttle program. It was NASA's second mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, during which ''Discovery's'' crew repaired and upgraded the tel ...

— February 1997 — Commander — Second

servicing mission :

STS-113 STS-113 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle '' Endeavour''. During the 14-day mission in late 2002, ''Endeavour'' and its crew extended the ISS backbone with the P1 truss and exchanged the ...

— November 2002 — Mission Specialist 3 (launched only) — ISS assembly flight 11A: P1 truss, crew rotation :

ISS The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (J ...

Expedition 6 Expedition 6 was the sixth expedition to the International Space Station (25 November 2002 - 3 May 2003). It was the last three-man crew to reside on the station until the arrival of STS-121. The crew performed two spacewalks in support of main ...

— November 2002–May 2003 — ISS Commander :

Soyuz TMA-1 Soyuz TMA-1, also catalogued as Soyuz TM-35, was a 2002 Soyuz mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched by a Soyuz FG launch vehicle with a Russian-Belgian cosmonaut crew blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Thi ...

— May 2003 — Flight Engineer (landed only) — ISS crew rotation * Curtis L. Brown, Jr. (born 1956), U.S. Air Force (6 flights) :

STS-47 STS-47 was the 50th NASA Space Shuttle mission of the program, as well as the second mission of the Space Shuttle ''Endeavour''. The mission mainly involved conducting experiments in life and material sciences inside Spacelab-J, a collaborati ...

— September 1992 — Pilot —

-J, Japan-funded Spacelab mission :

STS-66 STS-66 was a Space Shuttle program mission that was flown by the Space Shuttle ''Atlantis''. STS-66 launched on 3 November 1994 at 11:59:43.060 am EDT from Launch Pad 39-B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. ''Atlantis'' landed at Edwards Air Force ...

— November 1994 — Pilot — ATLAS-3 science platform experiments :

STS-77 STS-77 was the 77th Space Shuttle mission and the 11th mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, Space Shuttle ''Endeavour''. The mission began from launch pad 39B from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 19 May 1996 lasting 10 days and 40 minutes an ...

— May 1996 — Pilot —

SPACEHAB Astrotech Corporation, formerly Spacehab Inc., is a technology incubator headquartered in Austin, Texas. Astrotech uses technology sourced internally and from research institutions, government laboratories, and universities to fund, manage and s ...

, SPARTAN :

STS-85 STS-85 was a Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' mission to perform multiple space science packages. It was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 7 August 1997. A major experiment was the CRISTA-SPAS free-flyer which had various telescopes on ...

— August 1997 — Commander — Deployed and retrieved CRISTA-SPAS :

STS-95 STS-95 was a Space Shuttle mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 29 October 1998, using the orbiter ''Discovery''. It was the 25th flight of ''Discovery'' and the 92nd mission flown since the start of the Space Shuttle program ...

— October 1998 — Commander —

STS-103 STS-103 was a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission by Space Shuttle ''Discovery''. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 19 December 1999 and returned on 27 December 1999. It was also the last Shuttle mission of the 19 ...

— December 1999 — Commander — Third

servicing mission *

Kevin P. Chilton Kevin Patrick "Chilli" Chilton (born November 3, 1954) is an American mechanical engineer and retired United States Air Force four-star general, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. His last assignment was as commander of U.S. Strategic Command from ...

(born 1954), U.S. Air Force (3 flights) :

STS-49 STS-49 was the NASA maiden flight of the Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'', which launched on May 7, 1992. The primary goal of its nine-day mission was to retrieve an Intelsat VI satellite, Intelsat 603, which failed to leave Low Earth orbit two y ...

— May 1992 — Pilot —

Intelsat VI The Intelsat VI series of satellites were the 8th generation of geostationary communications satellites for the Intelsat Corporation. Designed and built by Hughes Aircraft Company (HAC) in 1983-1991, there were five VI-series satellites built: 601, ...

hand-retrieval and repair :

STS-59 STS-59 was a Space Shuttle program mission that took place in 1994. The launch was chronicled by the 1994 Discovery Channel special about the Space Shuttle program. Crew Mission highlights 9 April ''Endeavour'' began its sixth mission on t ...

— April 1994 — Pilot — Experiments aboard Shuttle Radar Laboratory-1 : STS-76 — March 1996 — Commander — Third Shuttle-''

Mir ''Mir'' (russian: Мир, ; ) was a space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, operated by the Soviet Union and later by Russia. ''Mir'' was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to&n ...

'' docking *

Donald R. McMonagle Donald Ray McMonagle (born May 14, 1952) (Col, USAF, Ret.) is a former astronaut and a veteran of three shuttle flights. He became the Manager, Launch Integration, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 15, 1997. In this capacity he wa ...

(born 1952), U.S. Air Force (3 flights) : STS-39 — April 1991 — Mission Specialist 4 — First unclassified DoD mission, military science experiments :

STS-54 STS-54 was a NASA '' Space Transportation System'' ( Space Shuttle) mission using Space Shuttle ''Endeavour''. This was the third flight for ''Endeavour'', and was launched on January 13, 1993 with Endeavour returning to the Kennedy Space Cent ...

— January 1993 — Pilot – Tracking and data relay satellite ( TDRS-F) deployment :

— November 1994 — Commander — ATLAS-3 science platform experiments * William F. Readdy (born 1952), U.S. Navy (3 flights) :

STS-42 STS-42 was a NASA Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' mission with the Spacelab module. Liftoff was originally scheduled for 8:45 EST (13:45 UTC) on January 22, 1992, but the launch was delayed due to weather constraints. ''Discovery'' successfully ...

— January 1992 — Mission Specialist 3 —

mission :

STS-51 STS-51 was a NASA Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' mission that launched the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) in September 1993. The flight also featured the deployment and retrieval of the SPAS-ORFEUS satellite and its IMAX came ...

— September 1993 — Pilot —

ACTS The Acts of the Apostles ( grc-koi, Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; la, Actūs Apostolōrum) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message ...

satellite deployment, SPAS-ORFEUS deployment and retrieval :

STS-79 STS-79 was the 17th flight of Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'', and the 79th mission of the Space Shuttle program. The flight saw ''Atlantis'' dock with the Russian space station Mir to deliver equipment, supplies and relief personnel. A variety of sc ...

— September 1996 — Commander — Fourth Shuttle-''

'' docking * Kenneth S. Reightler, Jr. (born 1951), U.S. Navy (2 flights) : STS-48 — September 1991 — Pilot — Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite deployment :

STS-60 STS-60 was the first mission of the U.S./Russian Shuttle-Mir Program, which carried Sergei K. Krikalev, the first Russian cosmonaut to fly aboard a Space Shuttle. The mission used NASA Space Shuttle ''Discovery'', which lifted off from Launc ...

— February 1994 — Pilot —

Wake Shield Facility Wake Shield Facility (WSF) was a NASA experimental science platform that was placed in low Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle. It was a diameter, free-flying stainless steel disk. The WSF was deployed using the Space Shuttle's Canadarm. The WS ...

Mission specialists

* Thomas D. Akers (born 1951), U.S. Air Force (4 flights) : STS-41 — October 1990 — Mission Specialist 3 — Ulysses/Inertial Upper Stage solar probe deployment :

— May 1992 — Mission Specialist 4 —

hand-retrieval and repair :

— December 1993 — Mission Specialist 5 — First

servicing mission :

— September 1996 — Mission Specialist 1 — Fourth Shuttle-''

'' docking * N. Jan Davis (born 1953), Engineer (3 flights) :

— September 1992 — Mission Specialist 2 —

-J, Japan-funded Spacelab mission :

— February 1994 — Mission Specialist 1 —

— August 1997 — Payload Commander — Deployed and retrieved CRISTA-SPAS * C. Michael Foale (born 1957), Astrophysicist (6 flights) :

STS-45 STS-45 was a 1992 NASA Space Shuttle mission using the . Its almost nine-day scientific mission was with a non-deployable payload of instruments. It was the 46th Space Shuttle mission and the 11th for ''Atlantis''. Crew Backup crew Cr ...

— March 1992 — Mission Specialist 3 — ATLAS-1 science platform :

STS-56 STS-56 was a NASA Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' mission to perform special experiments. The mission was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 8, 1993. Crew Mission highlights The primary payload of the flight was the A ...

— April 1993 — Mission Specialist 1 — ATLAS-2 science platform : STS-63 — February 1995 — Mission Specialist 1 — First Shuttle-''

'' rendezvous,

STS-84 STS-84 was a crewed spaceflight mission by Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' to the Mir space station. Crew Mission highlights The STS-84 mission was the sixth Shuttle/ ''Mir'' docking mission and is part of the NASA/Mir program which consisted of ...

— May 1997 — Mission Specialist 5 (launched only) — Sixth Shuttle-''

'' docking : Mir EO-23/ Mir EO-24 — May 1997–October 1997 — Flight Engineer 2 :

STS-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 Spacewalk *'' Pa ...

— October 1997 — Mission Specialist 5 (landed only) — Seventh Shuttle-''

'' docking :

— December 1999 — Mission Specialist 3 — Third

servicing mission : Soyuz TMA-3 — October 2003–April 2004 — Flight Engineer — ISS crew rotation :

Expedition 8 — October 2003–April 2004 — ISS Commander * Gregory J. Harbaugh (born 1956), Engineer (4 flights) : STS-39 — April 1991 — Mission Specialist 2 — First unclassified DoD mission, military science experiments :

— January 1993 — Mission Specialist 2 – Tracking and data relay satellite ( TDRS-F) deployment : STS-71 — June 1995 — Mission Specialist 1 — First Shuttle-''

'' docking :

— February 1997 — Mission Specialist 3 — Second

servicing mission * Mae C. Jemison (born 1956), Physician (1 flight) :

— September 1992 — Mission Specialist 4 —

-J, Japan-funded Spacelab mission *

Bruce E. Melnick Bruce Edward Melnick (born December 5, 1949) is a retired American astronaut and United States Coast Guard officer. Following retirement from NASA and the Coast Guard, he entered the aerospace industry. He served as a vice president with the ...

(born 1949), U.S. Coast Guard (2 flights) : STS-41 — October 1990 — Mission Specialist 1 — Ulysses/Inertial Upper Stage solar probe deployment :

— May 1992 — Mission Specialist 2 —

hand-retrieval and repair * Mario Runco, Jr. (born 1952), U.S. Navy (3 flights) :

STS-44 STS-44 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission using '' Atlantis'' that launched on November 24, 1991. It was a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) space mission. Crew Backup crew Crew seating arrangements Mission highlights The launch wa ...

— November 1991 — Mission Specialist 2 — DSP satellite deployment :

— January 1993 — Mission Specialist 1 – Tracking and data relay satellite ( TDRS-F) deployment :

— May 1996 — Mission Specialist 3 —

, SPARTAN *

James S. Voss James Shelton Voss (born March 3, 1949) is a retired United States Army colonel and NASA astronaut. During his time with NASA, Voss flew in space five times on board the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. He also served as deputy of F ...

(born 1949), U.S. Army (5 flights) :

— November 1991 — Mission Specialist 3 — DSP satellite deployment : STS-53 — December 1992 — Mission Specialist 2 — Partially classified 10th and final DoD mission, likely deployment of SDS2 satellite :

STS-69 STS-69 was a Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'' mission, and the second flight of the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 7 September 1995. It was the 100th successful crewed NASA spaceflight, not incl ...

— September 1995 — Mission Specialist 1 —

, SPARTAN :

STS-101 STS-101 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle '' Atlantis''. The mission was a 10-day mission conducted between 19 May 2000 and 29 May 2000. The mission was designated 2A.2a and was a resuppl ...

— May 2000 — Mission Specialist 3 —

supply :

STS-102 STS-102 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle '' Discovery'' and launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. STS-102 flew in March 2001; its primary objectives were resupplying the ISS a ...

— March 2001 — Mission Specialist 4 (launched only) —

supply and crew rotation :

Expedition 2 — March 2001–August 2001 — Flight Engineer 2 :

STS-105 STS-105 was a mission of the Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' to the International Space Station, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 10 August 2001. This mission was ''Discoverys final mission until STS-114, because ''Discovery'' was gro ...

— August 2001 — Mission Specialist 4 (landed only) —

supply and crew rotation

Further information

The group's informal nickname is an acronym for " George Abbey Final Fifteen". Of this group, Mae Jemison would become the first female African-American in space, Bruce Melnick the first Coast Guard aviator in space, while Michael Foale would fly aboard the

space station. At the time of the ''Columbia'' accident in 2003, William Readdy was Associate Administrator for Space Flight and Kenneth Bowersox was commanding the ''

'' crew on the ISS. Chilton, after leaving NASA, became the first NASA astronaut to become a

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...

in the

U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...

(Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford, USAF, and VADM Richard Truly, USN were three-star officers) and was commander of U.S. Strategic Command from October 2007 until January 2011.

References

External links

Astronaut Biographies: Home Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:NASA Astronaut Group 12 NASA Astronaut Corps Lists of astronauts

Group members

Pilots

Mission specialists

Further information

See also

References

External links