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 lieutenant general and NASA astronaut. She was a commander for important space-related military groups in California.
Susan Helms was a crew member on five Space Shuttle missions. She also lived on the International Space Station (ISS) for more than five months in 2001.
She officially retired from the United States Air Force in 2014. In 2020, she was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering for her amazing work in space programs for both civilians and the military.
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About Susan Helms' Life
Susan Helms was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, she considers Portland, Oregon, her hometown. She loves playing the piano and other music. She also enjoys jogging, traveling, reading, working with computers, and cooking. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her parents, Pat and Dori Helms, live in Denver, Colorado. Susan has three sisters.
Susan Helms' Military Journey
Susan Helms finished her studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1980. She earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering. After graduating, she worked at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. There, she helped design how weapons separate from F-16 jets. Later, she became the main engineer for F-15 jet weapons.
In 1984, she went to Stanford University for more education. She earned a master's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1985. After that, she taught aeronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. In 1987, she attended the Air Force Test Pilot School. She trained for a year as a flight test engineer. Then, she worked in Canada as a flight test engineer for the CF-18 aircraft. She was working on a flight control system for the CF-18 when NASA chose her for the astronaut program.
After 12 years at NASA, where she spent 211 days in space, Susan Helms returned to the U.S. Air Force in 2002. She took on new roles, including working at the Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She also served as vice commander of the 45th Space Wing near Cape Canaveral, Florida. She helped with the "Return To Flight" group after the Columbia accident. In June 2006, she was promoted to brigadier general and became the commander of the 45th Space Wing.
In August 2009, Susan Helms was promoted to major general. She worked at the U.S. Strategic Command, helping to create national security plans and military strategies. In January 2011, she became a lieutenant general. She then commanded the 14th Air Force and the Joint Functional Component Command for Space.
As a flight test engineer, Susan Helms has flown in 30 different types of U.S. and Canadian military aircraft. She retired from the Air Force in 2014.
Susan Helms' Space Adventures
NASA chose Susan Helms to be an astronaut in January 1990. By July 1991, she was officially an astronaut. She flew on five Space Shuttle missions: STS-54 (1993), STS-64 (1994), STS-78 (1996), and STS-101 (2000). She also lived on the International Space Station as part of the ISS Expedition 2 crew in 2001.
Susan Helms has spent a total of 5,064 hours in space. This includes a spacewalk (called an EVA) that lasted 8 hours and 56 minutes. This was a world record for the longest spacewalk at the time!
STS-54: Deploying a Satellite
The STS-54 mission on the Endeavour took place from January 13 to 19, 1993. The main goal was to launch a special satellite called a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-F). This satellite helps with communication in space. The crew also collected X-ray data to learn about the Milky Way galaxy. They even showed elementary school students how physics works using everyday toys! During this mission, a spacewalk helped teach important lessons for building the International Space Station. The mission lasted almost 6 days.
STS-64: Studying Earth and the Sun
On STS-64, aboard the Discovery from September 9 to 20, 1994, Susan Helms was the flight engineer. She also operated the robotic arm. This mission's main goal was to test a new laser system (Lidar) to gather information about Earth's atmosphere. They also launched and retrieved a satellite called SPARTAN-201, which studied the solar corona (the Sun's outer atmosphere). The mission lasted almost 11 days.
STS-78: Longest Shuttle Mission
The STS-78 mission on the Columbia was from June 20 to July 7, 1996. Susan Helms was in charge of the science experiments and was the flight engineer. This was the longest Space Shuttle mission at the time, lasting over 16 days! The mission involved studies from ten different countries and five space agencies. It was important for learning how to do science and medical research in microgravity, which helped prepare for the International Space Station.
STS-101: Repairs for the Space Station
STS-101 on the Atlantis took place from May 19 to 29, 2000. This mission was all about delivering and repairing important equipment for the International Space Station. Susan Helms' main jobs were to fix parts of the station's Functional Cargo Block (FGB) and manage the computer network. She also helped guide the Space Shuttle as it approached the ISS. This mission lasted almost 10 days.
Expedition 2: Living on the ISS
From March 8 to August 22, 2001, Susan Helms was part of Expedition 2, the second crew to live on the International Space Station. The Expedition 2 crew, which included two American astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut, launched on STS-102 Discovery. They docked with the station on March 9, 2001.
During her time on the ISS, Susan Helms helped install the Canadian-made robotic arm (SSRMS) and performed tests on it. She also did maintenance tasks inside and outside the station and conducted science experiments. She even installed the airlock module using the robotic arm. She and her crewmates also welcomed the first space tourist, Dennis Tito, who arrived on a Russian Soyuz spaceship.
On March 11, Susan Helms performed a spacewalk that lasted 8 hours and 56 minutes. This was a world record for the longest spacewalk by a woman, and it held that record for many years! She spent a total of 163 days living on the space station. She returned to Earth with the STS-105 crew on Discovery on August 22, 2001.
Awards and Honors
Susan Helms has received many awards for her service and achievements:
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
- Outstanding Unit Award
- Organizational Excellence Award
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Armed Forces Service Medal
- Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
- Air Force Longevity Service Award
- Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
- Air Force Training Ribbon
- Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (from Russia)
In 2004, Susan Helms was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Susan Helms para niños
- List of female United States military generals and flag officers
