Piers Sellers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Piers Sellers
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| Born |
Piers John Sellers
11 April 1955 Crowborough, East Sussex, England
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| Died | 23 December 2016 (aged 61) |
| Nationality | British, American |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh (BSc) University of Leeds (PhD) |
| Occupation | Research scientist |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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35d 9h 2min |
| Selection | 1996 NASA Group |
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Total EVAs
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6 |
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Total EVA time
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41 hours, 10 minutes |
| Missions | STS-112, STS-121, STS-132 |
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Mission insignia
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Meteorology |
| Thesis | Vegetation type and catchment water balance: a simulation study (1981) |
Piers John Sellers was a British-American meteorologist and NASA astronaut. He was also the Director of the Earth Science Division at NASA/GSFC. Piers Sellers flew on three space shuttle missions. He was known for his work on understanding Earth's climate.
Piers went to Cranbrook School, Kent in the United Kingdom. He earned a bachelor's degree in ecological science from the University of Edinburgh in 1976. In 1981, he received a doctorate in biometeorology from the University of Leeds. In 2011, Sellers retired from being an astronaut.
Before becoming an astronaut, Sellers worked at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He researched how the Earth's biosphere (living things) and atmosphere interact. This work involved using computer modelling to study climate. He also did field work using aircraft, satellites, and ground support.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Piers Sellers was born in Crowborough, Sussex, England, on April 11, 1955. He was one of five boys. He started school at Tyttenhanger Lodge Pre-preparatory School. Later, he attended Cranbrook School in Kent. There, he trained as a Royal Air Force cadet. This training taught him how to pilot gliders and powered aircraft.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in ecological science from the University of Edinburgh. He then completed a doctorate in biometeorology from the University of Leeds. Piers Sellers moved to the United States in 1982.
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
Sellers began his NASA career as a research meteorologist. He worked at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. His work focused on using computers to model climate systems. He also kept up his skills as an aircraft pilot.
Piers Sellers started applying to become an astronaut in 1984. At first, he couldn't join because he was not a U.S. citizen. In 1991, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. This allowed him to pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut.
NASA chose Sellers as an astronaut candidate in April 1996. He began his training at the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. After two years of training, he worked on computer support for the Astronaut Office. He also worked on the Space Station Branch. He even spent some time in Moscow helping with ISS computer software.
Piers Sellers spent over 559 hours in space. This included almost 41 hours on 6 spacewalks. He retired as an astronaut in 2011. After that, he became the deputy director of sciences and exploration at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Space Missions and Discoveries
Piers Sellers flew on three important space shuttle missions.
STS-112 Mission
His first mission was STS-112 from October 7 to 18, 2002. This mission was to help build the International Space Station. The crew worked with the Expedition-5 team. They delivered and installed a large part of the station called the S-One Truss.
To get the new part ready, Sellers performed three spacewalks. He spent a total of 19 hours and 41 minutes outside the station. The crew also moved supplies between the shuttle and the station. They used the shuttle's engines to raise the station's orbit. This mission was the first to use a camera on the shuttle's fuel tank. It showed a live view of the launch. The mission lasted 10 days, 19 hours, and 58 minutes.
STS-121 Mission
His second mission was STS-121 from July 4 to 17, 2006. This was a test mission to help improve shuttle safety. The crew of Discovery tested new equipment and procedures. They also took amazing high-resolution pictures of the shuttle during launch.
The crew did maintenance on the space station. They delivered over 28,000 pounds of supplies and equipment. They also brought a new Expedition 13 crew member to the station. Sellers and Mike Fossum did three spacewalks. They tested a robotic arm extension as a work platform. They also replaced a cable on the station's mobile transporter rail car. They even tested ways to inspect and repair the shuttle's heat shield. This mission lasted 306 hours, 37 minutes, and 54 seconds.
On this flight, Sellers took a special velvet patch into space. It had the University of Edinburgh crest on it. This patch was later sewn onto the hat used for the university's graduation ceremonies.
STS-132 Mission
His third mission was STS-132 from May 14 to 26, 2010. This was another mission to assemble the International Space Station. The main cargo was the Russian Rassvet Mini-Research Module. This was the last planned flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Sellers took a special four-inch wood sample into space. It was from Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree. This is the tree that supposedly inspired Newton's theory of gravity. He also took a picture of Newton. The wood is kept in the archives of The Royal Society in London. It was returned there after the flight. He also took an original watercolor painting of Cranbrook School, Kent.
Awards and Recognition
Piers Sellers received many honors and awards for his work:
- 1994 NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
- 1995 Arthur Fleming Award
- 1996 Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
- 1997 American Meteorological Society Houghton Award & Fellow of the American Meteorological Society
In 2011, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for his great contributions to science. In June 2016, he received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
After he passed away, Piers Sellers was honored with the Space Foundation#General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award. This award recognized his lifetime achievements in space. The Priestley International Centre of Climate at the University of Leeds also gives out the Piers Sellers Prize. This award is for people who make important contributions to climate research.
Later Life and Legacy
In January 2016, Piers Sellers shared that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away on December 23, 2016, at the age of 61.
Piers Sellers appeared in the documentary film Before the Flood. This film was produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. Sellers's work helped us understand more about Earth's climate and how to protect it.
See also
In Spanish: Piers Sellers para niños
