Andy Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andy Thomas
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| Born |
Andrew Sydney Withiel Thomas
18 December 1951 |
| Nationality | Australian American |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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177d 9h 14m |
| Selection | NASA Group 14 (1992) |
| Missions | STS-77 STS-89/91 (Mir EO-24/EO-25) STS-102 STS-114 |
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Mission insignia
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Andrew Sydney Withiel Thomas, born on December 18, 1951, is an amazing Australian-American aerospace engineer. He used to be an astronaut for NASA, the famous space agency. He became a U.S. citizen in 1986 so he could join NASA's astronaut team. He is married to another NASA astronaut, Shannon Walker.
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Becoming an Astronaut
Early Life and Learning
Andy Thomas grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. As a kid, he was super interested in space. His dad even said he used to build model rockets from cardboard!
He went to St Andrews Primary School and then St Peter's College in Adelaide. After high school, he studied at the University of Adelaide. He earned two degrees there: a Bachelor of Engineering in 1973 and a PhD in 1978. Both of his degrees were in Mechanical Engineering.
Andy Thomas is also related to Frederick George Waterhouse. He was the first person to look after the South Australian Museum.
Starting His Career
After finishing his studies, Andy Thomas moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. He started working for a company called Lockheed Corporation. By 1990, he was a top scientist there, focusing on how air moves around objects. He kept working in research, taking on more important roles.
Joining NASA
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
NASA chose Andy Thomas to be an astronaut in March 1992. He started his training at the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. After a year of hard work, he officially became a member of the NASA Astronaut Corps. This meant he was ready to be a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flights.
Before his first space flight, Andy helped with Space Shuttle launches and landings. He also gave technical advice for important parts of the Space Shuttle.
First Flight and Beyond
In June 1995, Andy Thomas was chosen for his first space mission, STS-77. He flew into space on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in May 1996. He was the first professional astronaut born in Australia to go to space!
He then trained in Star City, Russia, to prepare for a long stay in space. In 1998, he lived and worked on the Russian Space Station Mir for 140 days. From 2001 to 2003, Andy was the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. He completed four space flights and spent over 177 days in space! He retired from NASA in February 2014, after 22 years.
Space Missions
Andy Thomas flew on four different space missions:
STS-77: First Mission
This was Andy's first trip to space. The crew launched two satellites and tested a large inflatable structure in orbit. They also did many science experiments in a special lab module. The mission lasted for 240 hours and 39 minutes, traveling 4.1 million miles!
STS-89/91: Living on Mir
On January 22, 1998, Andy launched on Space Shuttle Endeavour to dock with the Mir Space Station. He lived on Mir as a flight engineer for 130 days. He returned to Earth on Space Shuttle Discovery on June 12, 1998. During his time on Mir, he orbited Earth 2,250 times!
STS-102: Visiting the ISS
This was Andy's third flight, on Space Shuttle Discovery. It was the eighth time a Shuttle visited the International Space Station (ISS). The crew delivered new astronauts to the ISS and brought others back to Earth. Andy also did a spacewalk that lasted 6.5 hours! He helped install new parts on the outside of the space station. The mission lasted for 307 hours and 49 minutes.
STS-114: Return to Flight
This mission on Space Shuttle Discovery was very important. It was the first flight after the Columbia accident. The crew continued building the International Space Station. Andy tested new ways to keep the Shuttle safe and how to fix its heat shield. After a two-week journey, the Shuttle landed safely. The mission lasted for 333 hours, 32 minutes, and 48 seconds.
After NASA
In November 2020, the Andy Thomas Foundation was started. This foundation helps with space education and raises awareness about space in Australia.
Awards and Recognition
Andy Thomas has received many honors for his work:
- In 2000, he was given the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) award. This was for his amazing work as an astronaut with NASA.
- In 2001, he received the Centenary Medal.
- In 2018, he became a Life Member of the Space Industry Association of Australia.
- A road near the Adelaide International Airport in Australia is named Andy Thomas Drive in his honor!
See also
In Spanish: Andy Thomas para niños
