Andre Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andre Douglas
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Douglas in 2026
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| Born | December 11, 1985 Miami, Florida, U.S.
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| Education | |
| Spouse(s) | Rachel Stapleton |
| Children | 2 |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Selection | NASA Group 23 (2021) |
| Military career | |
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Branch
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United States Coast Guard |
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Years
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2008–2015, 2024–present |
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Rank
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Commander |
| Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". | |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Systems engineering |
| Thesis | Designing Complex Adaptive Systems Using a Stakeholder-Driven and Goal-Focused Framework (2021) |
| Doctoral advisors | Shahram Sarkani Thomas Mazzuchi |
Andre Douglas (born December 11, 1985) is an amazing American systems engineer. He is also a brave officer in the United States Coast Guard Reserve and a NASA astronaut. He was chosen as a backup crew member for the Artemis II mission. This mission was part of NASA's exciting Artemis program. On June 9, 2026, it was announced that he would be a mission specialist on the upcoming Artemis III mission.
Contents
Meet Andre Douglas: Astronaut and Engineer
Andre Douglas has a fascinating career that combines engineering, military service, and space exploration. He has achieved many impressive things. These include serving in the Coast Guard and helping design spacecraft. Now, he is preparing for a journey to the Moon!
Early Life and Education
Andre Douglas was born in Miami, Florida, on December 11, 1985. He grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia. In 2004, he graduated from Western Branch High School. There, he was a member of the National Honor Society. This showed his dedication to academics.
He earned his first degree in mechanical engineering in 2008. This was from the United States Coast Guard Academy. While there, he also held a leadership role as a regimental commander.
Andre continued his studies, earning four more advanced degrees. He received two master's degrees from the University of Michigan in 2012. These were in mechanical engineering and naval architecture (designing ships). In 2019, he earned another master's degree from Johns Hopkins University. This one was in electrical and computer engineering. Finally, in 2021, he completed his doctorate in systems engineering from George Washington University. Systems engineering is about designing and managing complex projects.
Andre is married and has two sons. In his free time, he enjoys many activities. These include soccer, basketball, kayaking, and hiking. He also likes running, ping-pong, billiards, chess, and watching movies.
His Journey in the Coast Guard
After finishing the Coast Guard Academy in 2008, Andre became an officer. He worked in various roles, both operational and engineering. His first job was on the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant. This ship was based in Cape Canaveral, Florida. On board, he helped with important missions. These included stopping illegal migration and providing humanitarian aid.
Later, he worked at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center. Here, he reviewed many technical plans for ships. He also helped with maritime accidents around the world. He used his skills as a naval architect to support these efforts.
Exploring Space and Robotics at APL
In 2015, Andre left active duty in the Coast Guard. He then joined the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). At APL, he worked on exciting projects. These included space exploration, underwater robots, and ocean systems.
He played a key role in improving U.S. missile defense systems. He also piloted unmanned surface vessels for Navy operations. These are boats that operate without people on board. Andre also supported NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. This mission tested a way to protect Earth from asteroids.
He also helped with a special instrument called MEGANE. This instrument measures gamma-rays and neutrons. It was for Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft. His research also looked at how groups of unmanned systems work together. He studied how to predict their performance over time. Andre also worked with NASA to figure out what was needed for future lunar missions. This was part of the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium.
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
On December 6, 2021, Andre Douglas was chosen by NASA. He was one of 10 new astronaut candidates. He started his training in January 2022. He successfully completed his astronaut training on March 5, 2024.
After graduating, Andre became a Commander in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Besides his NASA duties, he advises the Coast Guard. He helps them with autonomous maritime systems, public relations, and recruiting new members.
Supporting Artemis II
On July 3, 2024, NASA announced Andre Douglas as a backup crew member for Artemis II. This was the first crewed test flight of the Artemis program. He trained with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch. If one of them had been unable to go, Andre would have taken their place.
On April 1, 2026, the Artemis II mission launched. Andre was part of the closeout crew on launch day. He helped strap the astronauts into their seats inside the Orion capsule. The Artemis II test flight lasted about 10 days. It used NASA's powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The mission tested the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems. It also confirmed the skills needed for humans to live and work far from Earth.
Heading to the Moon with Artemis III
On June 9, 2026, NASA made another exciting announcement. Andre Douglas was named a mission specialist for the Artemis III mission! This mission will travel to low Earth orbit. He will join NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio. Also on the crew is ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano. This is a huge step towards returning humans to the Moon!
