Susan Helms facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susan Helms
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| Born | February 26, 1958 |
| Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit (4) Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3) |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Lieutenant General, USAF |
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Time in space
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210d 23h 6m |
| Selection | NASA Group 13 (1990) |
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Total EVAs
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1 |
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Total EVA time
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8h 56m |
| Missions | STS-54 STS-64 STS-78 STS-101 Expedition 2 (STS-102 / STS-105) |
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Mission insignia
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| Military career | |
| Years of service | 1980–2014 |
| Unit | United States Strategic Command |
Susan Jane Helms (born February 26, 1958) is a retired United States Air Force officer and a NASA astronaut. She reached the rank of lieutenant general, which is a very high rank in the military. She was in charge of important space operations for the Air Force.
Susan Helms flew on five different Space Shuttle missions. She also lived on the International Space Station (ISS) for more than five months in 2001.
In 2020, she was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This honor recognized her amazing work in both civilian and military space programs.
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About Susan Helms
Susan Helms was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, she considers Portland, Oregon, her childhood home. She enjoys playing the piano and other music. She also likes jogging, traveling, reading, working with computers, and cooking. Her parents live in Denver, Colorado, and she has three sisters.
Her Military Journey
Susan Helms started her military career at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She earned a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1980. After graduating, she worked as an engineer, testing weapons for F-16 and F-15 jets.
In 1984, she went to Stanford University for her master's degree. She then taught aeronautics at the Air Force Academy. Later, she trained to be a flight test engineer at Edwards Air Force Base. This job meant she flew in many different types of military aircraft to test them. She even worked in Canada, testing the CF-18 aircraft. She has flown in 30 different types of U.S. and Canadian military planes.
After 12 years as an astronaut, Helms returned to the U.S. Air Force in 2002. She held several important leadership roles. She helped lead the team that looked into the Columbia accident. This was a very important job to make space travel safer. She was promoted to brigadier general in 2006.
In 2009, she became a major general. She was responsible for developing national security plans and strategies. In 2011, she was promoted to lieutenant general. She became the commander of the 14th Air Force and the Joint Functional Component Command for Space. This meant she was in charge of many important space operations for the U.S. military. She retired from the Air Force in 2014.
Adventures in Space
NASA chose Susan Helms to be an astronaut in 1990. By 1991, she was officially an astronaut! She flew on five Space Shuttle missions. She also lived on the International Space Station (ISS) for a long time. In total, she spent 5,064 hours in space. She even did a spacewalk (called an EVA) that lasted 8 hours and 56 minutes, which was a world record at the time!
STS-54 Mission (1993)
Her first mission was STS-54 aboard the Endeavour in January 1993. The main goal was to launch a special satellite called TDRS-F. This satellite helps NASA communicate with spacecraft. The crew also studied X-rays from space to learn about our Milky Way galaxy. They even showed elementary school students how toys work in space! During this mission, Helms also learned important lessons about spacewalks that helped with building the International Space Station. The mission lasted almost 6 days.
STS-64 Mission (1994)
In September 1994, Helms flew on STS-64 aboard the Discovery. She was the flight engineer and operated the robotic arm. The crew used a special laser tool called Lidar to study Earth's atmosphere. They also released and retrieved a satellite that studied the sun. They tested new equipment for spacewalks and gathered data for future space station docking. This mission lasted almost 11 days.
STS-78 Mission (1996)
Helms was the payload commander and flight engineer on STS-78 aboard the Columbia. This was one of the longest Space Shuttle missions at the time, lasting over 16 days! The mission focused on studying how things behave in microgravity (very low gravity). They also did many experiments on how space affects the human body. This mission helped prepare for future studies on the International Space Station.
STS-101 Mission (2000)
In May 2000, Helms flew on STS-101 aboard the Atlantis. This mission was all about getting the International Space Station ready. Helms helped fix important equipment on the station's Functional Cargo Block (FGB). She was also in charge of the computer network and helped guide the shuttle to meet up with the ISS. The mission lasted almost 10 days.
Expedition 2 (2001)
From March to August 2001, Susan Helms was part of the second crew to live on the International Space Station. She launched on STS-102 Discovery with two other astronauts. While on the station, she helped install the Canadian-made robotic arm. She also did many maintenance tasks and science experiments.
During her time there, she installed a new airlock module using the robotic arm. She and her crewmates also welcomed the first ever space tourist, Dennis Tito, who visited the station on a Russian Soyuz! On March 11, 2001, she performed a record-breaking spacewalk that lasted 8 hours and 56 minutes. She spent a total of 163 days living and working on the space station. She returned to Earth on STS-105 Discovery.
Awards and Honors
Susan Helms has received many awards and decorations for her service and achievements.
 Command Space Operations Badge |
 Air Force Senior Observer Badge with Astronaut Device |
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Defense Superior Service Medal |
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Legion of Merit |
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Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
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Meritorious Service Medal |
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Air Force Commendation Medal |
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Outstanding Unit Award |
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Organizational Excellence Award |
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NASA Distinguished Service Medal |
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NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal |
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National Defense Service Medal |
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Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
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Armed Forces Service Medal |
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Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon |
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Air Force Longevity Service Award |
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Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon |
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Air Force Training Ribbon |
In 2004, Susan Helms was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame. In 2018, she was also inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. These honors recognize her incredible contributions to space exploration and her achievements as a woman in leadership.
See also
In Spanish: Susan Helms para niños
- List of female United States military generals and flag officers
