WASHINGTON, July 3, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut Patrick G. Forrester retired
June 29, after a career spanning 31
years of service and three spaceflights. He went on to become chief
of NASA's Astronaut Office, and most recently served as an advisor
to the associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission
Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Forrester joined the agency in 1993 as an aerospace engineer at
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and was selected to become an
astronaut in 1996. He dedicated his early career to the assembly of
the International Space Station, spending 40 days in space and
completing four spacewalks totaling 25 hours and 30 minutes.
"Pat's dedication and commitment to the advancement of human
space exploration over the past three decades has been an
inspiration, not just to the Johnson workforce, but the Artemis
generation as well," said NASA's Johnson Space Center Director
Vanessa Wyche. "I want to extend my
sincere gratitude to Pat for his outstanding contributions. His
legacy will continue to impact the agency and the next generation
of explorers for many years to come. Many congratulations to Pat; I
wish him all the best in his retirement."
Forrester launched to the space station for the first time in
August 2001 aboard space shuttle
Discovery in support of STS-105. Forrester was the mission's prime
robotics operator, helping to install the Leonardo Multi-Purpose
Logistics Module that would help deliver 2.7 metric tons of
supplies to the station. He flew again with STS-117 in June 2007 aboard space shuttle Atlantis,
delivering the orbiting laboratory's second starboard truss and its
third set of solar arrays. His final spaceflight, STS-128 aboard
Discovery, launched in August 2009.
As prime robotics officer, Forrester again installed Leonardo and
the crew transferred 18,000 pounds of supplies.
Forrester continued to support the astronaut corps through
numerous leadership positions, serving as technical assistant to
the director of Flight Crew Operations. He was a crew
representative of robotics development on the space station and
shuttle training and onboard crew procedures. Forrester also held
the role of spacecraft communicator, or CAPCOM, for both station
and shuttle missions.
In 2017, Forrester became chief of the Astronaut Office,
overseeing the first flights of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and
helping develop the initial architecture for the agency's Artemis
campaign. In 2020, he stepped down from his chief position, handing
over to NASA astronaut Reid
Wiseman.
"Pat's leadership was instrumental during a time where NASA was
just starting to launch our astronauts from American soil again,"
said Norm Knight, director of flight
operations at NASA Johnson. "I admire his courage, his tenacity,
and his character during such a dynamic time in our history, and I
thank him for laying a strong foundation, not just in his role as
chief astronaut, but through his career in human spaceflight. To
me, he is a mentor and a friend, and I wish him all the best."
At the time of his retirement, Forrester supported the Space
Operations Mission Directorate, serving as the director of the
Cross-Directorate Technical Integration Office and an adviser to
the directorate's associate administrator and fellow NASA astronaut
Ken Bowersox.
"Pat is an incredible leader who has provided invaluable service
to NASA's astronaut corps and human spaceflight during his career,"
said Ken Bowersox, associate
administrator for space operations at NASA. "In the Space
Operations Mission Directorate, his influence will be felt long
after his departure as we continue to work every day in low
Earth orbit and prepare for the
future near Earth, at the Moon,
Mars and into the solar system."
An El Paso, Texas, native,
Forrester earned a bachelor of science degree in applied sciences
and engineering from the U.S. Military
Academy, West Point, New
York, and a master of science in mechanical and aerospace
engineering from the University of
Virginia, Charlottesville.
A retired colonel in the U.S. Army, Forrester logged more than
5,300 hours of flight time in over 50 different aircraft as an
operational aviator and test pilot, retiring in 2005.
"It has been an honor to serve our nation as a member of the
NASA family. Many of the stories I will tell for the rest of my
life will be related to my experiences here," said Forrester. "I
look forward to watching my friends and colleagues circle the Moon
and eventually land on its surface - with the help of all those
serving faithfully on the ground. I am forever grateful."
Read Forrester's full biography at:
https://go.nasa.gov/45NnfUA
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SOURCE NASA