Sidney M. Gutierrez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sid Gutierrez
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| Born | June 27, 1951 Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Colonel, USAF |
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Time in space
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20d 8h 3m |
| Selection | NASA Group 10 (1984) |
| Missions | STS-40 STS-59 |
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Mission insignia
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Sidney McNeill "Sid" Gutierrez (born June 27, 1951) is an American pilot and a former NASA astronaut. He was also a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. After leaving NASA, Sid worked in important roles at Sandia National Laboratories and Rocket Crafters Inc.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sid Gutierrez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He went to Valley High School and graduated in 1969. He then studied aeronautical engineering at the United States Air Force Academy. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1973. Later, in 1977, he received a Master of Arts degree in management from Webster University.
Sid's Amazing Career
Sid Gutierrez was a skilled parachutist. He was part of the Air Force Academy Parachute Team. They even won a national championship! Sid completed over 550 jumps.
After college, he became a pilot. He trained at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas. From 1975 to 1977, he taught others how to fly the T-38 Talon jet. In 1978, Sid flew the F-15 Eagle fighter jet. He was part of the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
In 1981, he went to the USAF Test Pilot School. After graduating, he became a test pilot for the F-16 Falcon. He helped test new parts and features for the F-16 aircraft. Sid has flown over 4,500 hours in about 30 different types of aircraft. This includes planes, gliders, balloons, and even rockets!
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
NASA chose Sid Gutierrez to be an astronaut in May 1984. He officially became an astronaut in June 1985. His first job at NASA was to test Shuttle flight software. He flew simulated missions in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL).
After the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, Sid helped with the investigation. He worked with the Presidential Commission and the U.S. Congress. He also helped make sure the Space Shuttle Main Engines were safe. In 1988, he led the astronaut team for Shuttle software. He helped develop and test new software for the Shuttle. In 1989, he supported several Shuttle launches. These launches took place at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Space Flights and Missions
Sid Gutierrez flew into space twice. He spent over 488 hours (more than 20 days) in space.
His first space mission was STS-40. He was the pilot for this flight. It launched on June 5, 1991. This mission focused on life sciences. The crew studied how humans, animals, and cells react to microgravity. They also looked at how they adjust back to Earth's gravity. The mission lasted nine days. The Space Shuttle Columbia landed on June 14, 1991.
His second mission was STS-59. He was the commander of this flight. It launched on April 9, 1994. This mission studied Earth and its atmosphere. The crew used special radar to map the Earth. They took about 14,000 photographs. This was a record for the Space Shuttle! They gathered a lot of data about ecology, oceans, geology, and water. The Space Shuttle Endeavour landed on April 20, 1994.
After his first space flight, Sid was a CAPCOM. This means he was the voice link between the astronauts in space and Mission Control on Earth. He helped guide several missions from the ground. In 1992, he became a branch chief for astronaut operations. He oversaw many important aspects of Shuttle flights.
After NASA
In September 1994, Sid Gutierrez left the U.S. Air Force and NASA. He moved back to Albuquerque, New Mexico. He joined Sandia National Laboratories. There, he held several leadership roles. He managed programs that developed new technologies for satellites and sensors. He also helped assess security risks.
In 2012, he joined Rocket Crafters Inc. (now Vaya Space). He became a member of their board of directors. In February 2015, he retired from Sandia. He then became the chairman and CEO of Rocket Crafters. He also serves on the boards of other companies and non-profit groups. He was also part of NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel.
Personal Life
Sid Gutierrez is married to Marianne Sue Cremer. They have three children. In his free time, he enjoys camping, woodworking, and playing racquetball.
Special Honors and Awards
Sid Gutierrez has received many awards for his achievements.
NASA Awards
- NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
- NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
- Two NASA Space Flight Medals
- Inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1995
Hispanic Community Awards
- 1990 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Award
- Aviation Week & Space Technology Aerospace Laureate in Space and Missiles for 1991
- Hispanic Engineer of the Year National Achievement Award in 1992
- Aviation Week and Space Technology Citation for Aerospace Laureate in Space and Missiles for 1994
- Named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine in 1994
- Received the Hispanic Achievement Award in Science from Hispanic Magazine in 1995
New Mexico Recognition
- Named a Notable New Mexican in 2010
Military Awards
- Distinguished Graduate of the USAF Academy
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
- National Defense Service Medal
- Air Training Command Master Instructor
Other Honors
- A middle school in Roswell, New Mexico, is named after him.
- He received an honorary doctorate from Webster University in 2019.
See also
- List of Hispanic astronauts
