Shannon Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shannon Walker
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Walker in 2020
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| Born | June 4, 1965 |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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330d 13h 40m |
| Selection | NASA Group 19 (2004) |
| Missions | Soyuz TMA-19 (Expedition 24/25) SpaceX Crew-1 (Expedition 64/65) |
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Mission insignia
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Shannon Walker was born on June 4, 1965. She is an American scientist who studies physics. In 2004, NASA chose her to become an astronaut.
Her first trip to space was on June 25, 2010. She flew on a spacecraft called Soyuz TMA-19. Shannon Walker spent more than 163 days living and working in space during this mission.
She went back to space for a second long mission on November 15, 2020. This time, she flew on the SpaceX Crew-1 mission. This was the first time SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft carried astronauts for a regular mission.
Contents
Becoming an Astronaut
Early Life and School
Shannon Walker grew up in Houston, Texas. She finished high school at Westbury High School in 1983.
She then went to Rice University in Texas. She studied physics and earned her first degree in 1987.
Later that year, Shannon Walker started working for Rockwell Space Operations Company. She worked at the Johnson Space Center. Her job was to control robots for the Space Shuttle program. She helped with many Space Shuttle missions from the ground.
From 1990 to 1993, Shannon Walker went back to school. She studied how the sun's energy affects the planet Venus. She earned two more degrees in Space Physics from Rice University.
In 1995, she started working directly for NASA. She joined the team that manages the International Space Station (ISS).
Shannon Walker helped design and build the robot parts for the Space Station. She also helped solve problems that came up with the ISS. In 1999, she moved to Moscow, Russia. There, she worked with the Russian Space Agency on the Space Station's systems.
Astronaut Training
In May 2004, NASA picked Shannon Walker to be an astronaut. She was part of the 19th group of new astronauts.
By February 2006, she finished her astronaut training. This training included learning about space systems. She also learned how to fly a T-38 jet. She practiced survival skills in water and the wilderness. After this training, she was ready for space missions.
In 2011, Shannon Walker led an underwater mission called NEEMO 15. She and her team lived in an underwater lab called Aquarius. They practiced living and working in extreme environments, like space. The mission ended early because of a hurricane.
Space Missions
First Mission: Expedition 24 and 25
Shannon Walker was chosen for her first space mission, Expedition 24 and 25.
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On June 15, 2010, Shannon Walker launched into space. She flew on the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft. Her crewmates were Douglas Wheelock from NASA and Fyodor Yurchikhin from Russia.
Two days later, they reached the International Space Station (ISS). They connected their spacecraft to the Zvezda module. They officially became part of the Expedition 24 crew.
During this mission, Shannon Walker and her crew moved their Soyuz spacecraft. They moved it from the Zvezda module to the new Rassvet module. This new module had just arrived at the ISS. They were the first crew to connect to this new part of the station.
When the previous crew left, Shannon Walker and her two crewmates became part of Expedition 25. More astronauts soon joined them.
On November 26, 2010, Shannon Walker and her crew left the ISS. They returned to Earth in their Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft. They landed safely in Kazakhstan.
Second Mission: Expedition 64 and 65
On March 31, 2020, NASA announced Shannon Walker's second spaceflight. She would fly on USCV-1, the first regular mission of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. This was a big step for the Commercial Crew Program.
Shannon Walker launched on November 15, 2020. She and her three crewmates spent 167 days on the ISS. They were part of Expedition 64 and 65.
The crew connected their spacecraft to the ISS. They joined the Expedition 64 crew. This included Russian cosmonauts and another NASA astronaut.
When the Russian crew left, Shannon Walker and her three crewmates became part of Expedition 65. Shannon Walker became the commander of this expedition. She was only the third woman to command the ISS.
Awards and Recognition
Shannon Walker has received many awards for her work. These include:
- Scholarships for her studies.
- Awards for her excellent work on the International Space Station program.
- A Space Flight Awareness Award for her contributions to the ISS.
She is also a member of groups for pilots. These include the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and The Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots.
In 2022, a SpaceX ship was named Shannon after her. This ship helps recover the Dragon spacecraft after it returns from space.
A library in Houston, Texas, is also named after her. It is called the Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library.
Personal Life
Shannon Walker is married to Andy Thomas. He is also a retired NASA astronaut.
In her free time, Shannon Walker enjoys cooking and playing soccer. She also likes running, weight training, flying, camping, and traveling.
See also
In Spanish: Shannon Walker para niños
