Edward Gibson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Gibson
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Gibson with a Skylab model
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Edward George Gibson
November 8, 1936 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
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| Awards | NASA Distinguished Service Medal |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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84d 1h 15m |
| Selection | NASA Group 4 (1965) |
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Total EVAs
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3 |
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Total EVA time
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15h 22m |
| Missions | Skylab 4 |
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Mission insignia
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| Retirement | October 31, 1982 |
| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | Ionization Phenomena in a Gas-Particle Plasma (1964) |
Edward George Gibson (born November 8, 1936) is a former NASA astronaut. He was also a pilot, engineer, and physicist.
Before joining NASA, Gibson studied at the University of Rochester and the California Institute of Technology. He worked as a research scientist for Philco Corporation. In 1965, he joined NASA as one of the first scientist-astronauts.
Gibson flew into space only once, as the science pilot aboard Skylab 4. This mission was the third and final crewed flight to the Skylab space station. From 1973 to 1974, he spent over 84 days in space with Commander Gerald P. Carr and Pilot William R. Pogue. Edward Gibson is the last surviving crew member of Skylab 4.
Contents
Becoming an Astronaut: Early Life and Studies
Edward Gibson was born in Buffalo, New York, on November 8, 1936. When he was young, he had a bone infection called osteomyelitis. This meant he spent many months in hospitals. Luckily, a new medicine called penicillin helped him get better.
To make his leg stronger, Gibson played sports like swimming, football, and track. Swimming was especially helpful for his leg. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of First Class Scout.
Gibson finished high school in Kenmore, New York, in 1955. He then earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Rochester in 1959. He continued his studies at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). There, he earned a master's degree in engineering in 1960 and a PhD in engineering with a focus on physics in 1964.
Early Career and Flight Experience
While studying at Caltech, Gibson worked as a research assistant. He focused on jet propulsion and physics. He also wrote papers about plasma physics and solar physics (the study of the Sun).
Before joining NASA, Gibson was a senior research scientist at Philco Corporation. He researched lasers and how light interacts with gases.
Edward Gibson is an experienced pilot. He has flown for more than 4,300 hours. Over 2,270 of these hours were in jet aircraft.
NASA Career: A Scientist in Space
NASA chose Gibson as a scientist-astronaut in June 1965. He completed 53 weeks of flight training and earned his Air Force pilot wings. He has flown helicopters and T-38 jets.
Gibson was part of the support team for the Apollo 12 mission, which was the second Moon landing. He also worked as a CAPCOM, which means he was the main communicator with the astronauts in space.
He helped design and test many parts of the Skylab space station. To prepare for the Skylab program, Gibson studied the Sun. He even wrote a textbook called The Quiet Sun about solar astrophysics.
Skylab 4: A Record-Breaking Mission
Gibson was the science pilot for Skylab 4. This mission was the third and last time astronauts visited the Skylab space station. It launched on November 16, 1973, and ended on February 8, 1974.
This flight was the longest space mission at that time, lasting 84 days, 1 hour, and 15 minutes. Gibson flew with Commander Gerald P. Carr and Pilot William R. Pogue. They traveled 34.5 million miles and orbited the Earth 1,214 times.
During their mission, they successfully completed many experiments. They also gathered a lot of data about Earth's resources using Skylab's special cameras and sensors. Dr. Gibson was mainly in charge of operating the Apollo Telescope Mount. This powerful telescope allowed them to make many observations of the Sun.
Gibson and his Skylab 4 teammates held the world record for time spent in space for several years. Gibson also spent 15 hours and 22 minutes on three spacewalks outside the Skylab station. He is the last surviving crew member of Skylab 4.
Gibson left NASA in December 1974 to research the solar data from Skylab. He returned to NASA in 1977 to help choose and train new scientist-astronauts. He hoped to fly on another space station mission. Gibson retired from NASA for the last time on October 31, 1982.
Life After NASA
After leaving NASA, Gibson worked for TRW as a project manager. He supported the Space Station Freedom project.
In 1990, Gibson started his own consulting company, Gibson International Corp. His company helps with project management and space infrastructure design.
He has also done a lot of speaking and writing. He published a textbook on solar physics and two novels. He also edited The Greatest Adventure, a book about space missions with stories and pictures from astronauts and cosmonauts.
Special Honors and Awards
Edward Gibson has received many awards for his work. He earned fellowships at Caltech and received a Certificate of Commendation from the Johnson Space Center.
He received gold medals from the cities of New York City and Chicago in 1974. He also received the FAI Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal in 1974. In 1976, he received the U.S. Scientist Prize. He has honorary doctorates from the University of Rochester and Wagner College.
The three Skylab astronaut crews received the 1973 Robert J. Collier Trophy. This award recognized their work in showing the importance of humans in space exploration. In 1974, President Nixon gave the Skylab 4 crew the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. They also received the American Astronautical Society's 1975 Flight Achievement Award.
In 1997, Edward Gibson was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Edward Gibson is married to Julianne Volk. They have four children: Jannet Lynn, John Edward, Julie Ann, and Joseph Michael.
Media Appearances
In the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, actor Geoffrey Nauffts played Edward Gibson.
See also
