K. Megan McArthur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Megan McArthur
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McArthur in December 2007
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| Born | August 30, 1971 |
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Time in space
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212d 15h 21m |
| Selection | NASA Group 18 (2000) |
| Missions | STS-125 SpaceX Crew-2 (Expedition 65/66) |
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Mission insignia
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Katherine Megan McArthur (born August 30, 1971) is an amazing American oceanographer, engineer, and NASA astronaut. She has helped guide missions from Earth as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM). This means she talks to astronauts in space! Megan McArthur has flown on two space missions. One was on the Space Shuttle called STS-125. The other was a SpaceX mission, SpaceX Crew-2, aboard the Crew Dragon Endeavour. She is famous for being the last person to physically work on the Hubble Space Telescope using the Canadarm robotic arm. She is married to another astronaut, Robert L. Behnken.
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Early Life and Education
Megan McArthur was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She grew up in California. She went to high school in Mountain View, California.
Later, she studied aerospace engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her degree in 1993. In 2002, she received a Ph.D. in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This is part of the University of California, San Diego.
Oceanography Work
At the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, McArthur studied how sound travels underwater near the coast. She also worked with digital signal processing. Her research helped create models to understand shallow water environments.
She was the lead scientist during data collection at sea. She also planned and led diving operations. These dives were to place instruments on the seafloor and collect samples. She helped test, deploy, and maintain underwater instruments. She also collected marine plants, animals, and sediment.
While at Scripps, McArthur volunteered at the Birch Aquarium. She gave educational demonstrations to the public. She even did some of these from inside a huge 70,000-gallon exhibit tank!
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
NASA chose Megan McArthur as a mission specialist in July 2000. She started her training in August 2000. After two years of training, she joined the Astronaut Office.
She worked on technical issues for Space Shuttle systems. She also supported the Expedition 9 crew. This crew spent six months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
McArthur also worked in Mission Control as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM). She was the CAPCOM for STS-116 in 2006. She also helped with spacewalks (EVA) for the STS-117 mission in 2007.
First Space Mission: STS-125
In 2009, Megan McArthur flew on the STS-125 mission. This mission was special because it was to fix and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. McArthur was the flight engineer for launch and landing. She was also the main robotics expert for the mission.
This mission lasted almost 13 days. It was McArthur's first time in space. She famously said before the flight, "I'll be the last one with hands on the Hubble Space Telescope."
In 2019, McArthur became the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office.
Second Space Mission: Expedition 65/66
In July 2020, NASA announced that McArthur would fly to space again. This time, it was on SpaceX Crew-2. She flew with NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
Interestingly, she used the same seat inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour that her husband, Bob Behnken, used on an earlier mission.
Crew-2 launched in April 2021 and docked with the ISS. They stayed for a six-month mission. The capsule splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico in November 2021.
Awards and Honors
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In 2022, a SpaceX support ship was renamed Megan in her honor. Another ship was named Shannon after astronaut Shannon Walker. A third ship was named Bob after her husband, Bob Behnken.
In 2021, McArthur was also recognized as a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst.
Personal Life
Megan McArthur is married to fellow astronaut Bob Behnken. They have one son together.
She even appeared as an animated version of herself in the TV show Blaze and the Monster Machines!
See also
In Spanish: K. Megan McArthur para niños
