Rick Husband facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rick Husband
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January 1999 portrait
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| Born |
Rick Douglas Husband
July 12, 1957 Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | February 1, 2003 (aged 45) Over Texas, United States
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| Awards |
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Previous occupation
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Test pilot |
| Rank | Colonel, United States Air Force |
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Time in space
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25d 17h 33m |
| Selection | 1994 NASA Group 15 |
| Missions | STS-96, STS-107 |
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Mission insignia
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Rick Douglas Husband (born July 12, 1957 – died February 1, 2003) was an American astronaut and fighter pilot. He was a brave pilot who flew into space twice. First, he was the pilot of the STS-96 mission. Later, he commanded the STS-107 mission.
Sadly, Rick Husband and the rest of the STS-107 crew passed away. This happened when their space shuttle, Columbia, broke apart. It was returning to Earth's atmosphere after its mission. Rick Husband was honored with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor for his service.
Contents
Becoming an Astronaut: Rick Husband's Journey
Early Life and Education
Rick Husband was born in Amarillo, Texas, on July 12, 1957. When he was just 17, he earned his pilot's license. He flew planes from a local airport called Tradewind Airport. In 1975, he graduated with high honors from Amarillo High School.
He then went to Texas Tech University. In 1980, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. While in college, he joined ROTC. This program helped him become an officer in the United States Air Force after he graduated.
Air Force Training
After college, Rick started pilot training. He went to Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. He also learned survival skills at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington. Then, he attended a special school in New Mexico to prepare for flying fighter jets. Rick married Evelyn on February 27, 1982. He later trained to fly the F-4 fighter jet.
Air Force Career
Rick Husband became an F-4E pilot at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. Later, he moved to George Air Force Base in California. There, he became an instructor for F-4 planes. By this time, he had flown for over 1,000 hours.
In 1987, Rick went to Edwards Air Force Base in California. He attended the USAF Test Pilot School. This is where pilots learn to test new aircraft. After finishing this school, he became a test pilot. He flew the F-4 and different models of the F-15 Eagle. He even helped manage a program for a powerful F-15 engine.
In 1992, Rick worked in England. He was an exchange test pilot with the Royal Air Force. He tested many different types of planes there, including the Tornado GR1 and GR4. Rick Husband flew for over 3,800 hours in more than 40 different kinds of aircraft.
Reaching for the Stars: NASA Career
Rick Husband was chosen to become an astronaut by NASA in December 1994. He started his training at the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. After his training, he worked on exciting projects. These included improving the Space Shuttle and planning future trips to the Moon and Mars. He also became the Chief of Safety for the Astronaut Office.
Space Missions
Rick Husband flew two important missions into outer space.
- STS-96 (May 27 to June 6, 1999): Rick was the pilot on this mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. It was a 10-day trip. The crew made the first-ever docking with the International Space Station. They delivered four tons of supplies for the first crew who would live there. The mission traveled 4 million miles around Earth.
- STS-107 (January 16 to February 1, 2003): Rick commanded this mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. It was a 16-day mission. The crew performed over 80 experiments. These experiments studied how things behave in microgravity (very low gravity). The goal was to learn more about space and improve life on Earth.
Sadly, the mission ended on February 1, 2003. The shuttle broke apart as it returned to Earth. All crew members, including Rick Husband, were lost. This event is known as the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
Honors and Tributes
Rick Husband received many awards for his service. These included the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. Both were given to him after his passing. He also received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the NASA Space Flight Medal.
Many places and things have been named in his honor:
- Husband Hall at the Florida Institute of Technology.
- Husband Hill, one of the hills on Mars.
- Asteroid 51823 Rickhusband.
- The Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport in his hometown.
- Husband Auditorium at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
- Rick Husband Drive in El Paso, Texas.
- The S.S. Rick Husband, an unmanned spacecraft that delivers supplies.
- A lunar crater on the Moon is named after him.
Quotes from Rick Husband
Rick Husband once talked about becoming a shuttle commander:
- "I was just at the right place at the right time."
Before his first flight, he shared his excitement about space:
- "It [space] was just so incredibly adventurous and exciting to me. I just thought there was no doubt in my mind that is what I want to do when I grow up."
Rick Husband was also known for his strong faith. In a note he left before his last flight, he wrote to his pastor:
- "Tell them about Jesus; he's real to me."
Personal Life
Rick Husband's wife, Evelyn, wrote a book about their life together. It's called High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband. The book shares how Rick worked hard to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut.
Rick and Evelyn had two children: a daughter named Laura Marie (born in 1990) and a son named Matthew (born in 1995). Evelyn later married Bill Thompson in 2008. She spoke at a memorial ceremony for the Columbia crew at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
See also
- Space science
- Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
