Randolph Bresnik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randolph Bresnik
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Bresnik in 2026
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Randolph James Bresnik
September 11, 1967 Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Colonel, United States Marine Corps (ret.) |
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Time in space
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149 days, 12 hours, 12 minutes |
| Selection | NASA Group 19 (2004) |
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Total EVAs
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5 |
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Total EVA time
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32 hours |
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Mission insignia
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Randolph "Randy" James Bresnik (born September 11, 1967) is a former officer in the United States Marine Corps and an active NASA astronaut. He was a pilot for the Marines and was chosen by NASA to become an astronaut in 2004.
Randy Bresnik flew to space on the STS-129 mission. Later, he was a flight engineer for Expedition 52 and commanded Expedition 53 on the International Space Station (ISS). Just recently, on June 9, 2026, he was named the commander for the Artemis III mission, part of NASA's plan to return humans to the Moon.
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About Randy Bresnik
Randy Bresnik was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky. However, he considers Santa Monica, California, his hometown. His family roots are in Slovenia.
He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1985. He then earned a degree in mathematics from The Citadel in 1989. Later, he received a master's degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2002. He also graduated from the Air War College in 2008. Randy is the first graduate of The Citadel to fly in space.
Randy's family includes his wife, Rebecca Burgin. They have a son and a daughter. His daughter was born while he was orbiting Earth during his first space mission, STS-129. This was only the second time a space traveler became a parent while in space.
His wife, Rebecca, has also worked at NASA. She helped with international space laws. Randy's father, Albert, was also a pilot and served in the military. His grandfather, Albert Louis "Al" Bresnik, was a photographer for the famous aviator Amelia Earhart.
Randy's Time in the Marine Corps
In May 1989, Randy Bresnik became an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He completed basic officer training in Virginia. After initial flight training in Florida and Texas, he became a Navy pilot in 1992.
He then trained to fly the F/A-18 Hornet jet. He flew with different squadrons and completed three overseas missions in the Pacific region. He also attended advanced flight training, including the famous Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN).
In 1999, Randy was selected for the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. This is where pilots learn to test new aircraft. After graduating, he became a test pilot for the F/A-18 jet. He tested different versions of the F/A-18 in many ways.
He later returned to the Test Pilot School as a flight instructor. He taught others how to fly jets like the F/A-18. In 2003, he flew combat missions in the F/A-18 jet during military operations.
Randy Bresnik has flown for more than 6,000 hours. He has piloted 81 different types of aircraft. For his military service, he received many awards. These include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal.
Randy's NASA Career
NASA chose Randy Bresnik in May 2004 to train as an astronaut. He was one of only two pilots selected in his astronaut class that year. He finished his astronaut training in February 2006.
In 2011, Randy took part in a special mission called ESA CAVES. He stayed underground for six days, exploring caves. This helped scientists practice for future missions to places like Mars.
In 2014, Randy commanded the NEEMO 19 mission. This was an underwater exploration where he lived in an underwater lab called Aquarius for seven days. He was also the lead astronaut for the final Space Shuttle launch, STS-135.
First Space Mission: STS-129
In 2008, NASA assigned Randy Bresnik as a Mission Specialist for STS-129. This shuttle mission was to the International Space Station. It launched in November 2009 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Randy and his five crewmates launched from the Kennedy Space Center. After about two days, they met up with the ISS. There, they joined the Expedition 21 crew. The main goal of STS-129 was to deliver and install special storage platforms called ExPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELCs) to the ISS. ELCs are like shelves on the outside of the ISS. They hold scientific experiments or store spare parts for the station.
Randy Bresnik took part in two spacewalks during STS-129. On November 21, 2009, he went outside the station with astronaut Michael Foreman. They spent over six hours installing equipment, including a special adapter on the European Columbus module and a wireless video system.
His second spacewalk was on November 23, 2009, with astronaut Robert Satcher. They spent almost six hours installing another cargo system. They also set up an experiment called MISSE-7 and moved a high-pressure gas tank.
STS-129 returned to Earth on November 27, 2009. It brought Randy, his crew, and astronaut Nicole Stott back from the ISS.
Living on the Space Station: Expedition 52/53
Randy Bresnik launched to the ISS on July 28, 2017. He traveled aboard the Soyuz MS-05 spacecraft. He served as a flight engineer for Expedition 52. Later, he became the commander of Expedition 53.
On October 5, 2017, Randy performed his third spacewalk with Mark Vande Hei. They spent almost seven hours replacing a part on the Canadarm2 robotic arm. On October 10, 2017, Randy and Mark did another spacewalk. They worked for over six hours, lubricating the new arm part and replacing cameras.
On October 20, 2017, Randy and Joe Acaba completed a third spacewalk. They continued lubricating and installed more cameras, working for almost seven hours.
Randy Bresnik returned to Earth on December 14, 2017. His mission lasted for 138 days.
Future Mission: Artemis III
Just recently, on June 9, 2026, NASA announced the crew of four for the Artemis III mission. This mission aims to return humans to the Moon. Randy Bresnik was selected as the commander for this historic mission. His crewmates are pilot Luca Parmitano and mission specialists Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas.
