19 Facts About Dale Gardner

Dale Allan Gardner was a NASA astronaut, and naval flight officer who flew two Space Shuttle missions during the mid 1980s.

Dale Gardner considered his hometown to be Clinton, Iowa, where his mother, Alice Gardner, resides.

Dale Gardner lived with his second wife Sherry in Golden, Colorado and later in Divide, Colorado until his death.

Dale Gardner graduated as valedictorian of his class from Savanna Community High School, in Savanna, Illinois, in 1966.

Dale Gardner received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1970.

Dale Gardner was commissioned an Ensign and was selected as the most promising naval officer from his class.

Dale Gardner proceeded to the Naval Air Technical Training Center at NAS Glynco, Georgia, for Advanced Naval Flight Officer training and was selected a Distinguished Naval Graduate and awarded his Naval Flight Officer wings on May 5,1971.

Dale Gardner was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, reporting to the Johnson Space Center in July 1978.

Dale Gardner subsequently served as the Astronaut Project Manager for the flight software in the Space Shuttle onboard computers leading up to the first flight in April 1981.

Dale Gardner then served as a Support Crew Astronaut for the fourth flight.

Dale Gardner flew as a mission specialist on STS-8 and STS-51-A.

Dale Gardner logged a total of 337 hours in space and 225 orbits of the Earth on these two flights.

Dale Gardner logged more than 2,300 hours flying time in over 20 different types of aircraft and spacecraft.

Dale Gardner served over two years as the Deputy Chief, Space Control Operations Division in Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and, after promotion to the rank of captain in June 1989, became the Command's Deputy Director for Space Control at Peterson Air Force Base.

Dale Gardner retired from the US Navy in October 1990 and accepted a position with TRW Inc in Colorado Springs, being placed as a program manager in the Colorado Springs Engineering Operations of TRW's Space and Defense Sector.

Dale Gardner became the Associate Director for Renewable Fuels Science and Technology at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 2003, and retired in January 2013.

Dale Gardner was a Member of Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Tau, and Tau Beta Pi, and a fellow of the American Astronautical Society.

Dale Gardner was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal ; the Distinguished Flying Cross ; the Meritorious Unit Commendation ; the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Dale Gardner died on February 19,2014, after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke at his home.