1. John Howard Casper was born on July 9,1943 and is a former American astronaut and retired United States Air Force pilot.
18 Facts About John Casper
1. 2.
John Casper was active in the Boy Scouts of America and achieved its second-highest rank, Life Scout.
3.
John Casper graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science from the United States Air Force Academy in 1966, and a Master of Science degree in Astronautics from Purdue University in 1967.
4.
John Casper was selected to attend the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and graduated with class 74A.
5.
John Casper then became operations officer and later commander of the 6513th Test Squadron, where he conducted flight test programs to evaluate and develop tactical aircraft weapons systems.
6.
John Casper was then assigned to Headquarters, USAF at the Pentagon and was Deputy Chief of the Special Projects Office, where he developed USAF positions on requirements, operational concepts, policy and force structure for tactical and strategic programs.
7.
Colonel John Casper has logged over 10,000 flying hours in 52 different aircraft.
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John Casper was the pilot on mission STS-36, and spacecraft commander on missions STS-54, STS-62 and STS-77.
9.
John Casper landed Endeavour at the Kennedy Space Center on January 19,1993, after 96 Earth orbits covering over 2.5 million miles.
10.
John Casper landed Columbia at the Kennedy Space Center after 224 Earth orbits and 5.82 million miles.
11.
John Casper brought Endeavour back to Earth at the Kennedy Space Center after 160 Earth orbits and 4.1 million miles.
12.
John Casper was Director of Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assurance at the Johnson Space Center, where he was responsible for all safety, reliability and quality activities for JSC's human spaceflight programs, including the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle, Space Launch Initiative, and Crew Return Vehicles.
13.
John Casper was responsible for planning, directing and implementing an effective institutional safety program to prevent injuries, loss of life, or loss of capital assets.
14.
John Casper was Co-Chair of the Return-To-Flight Planning Team, a NASA Headquarters-chartered independent team charged with addressing all actions necessary to comply with the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations.
15.
John Casper then joined the Space Shuttle program and became Manager of the Management Integration and Planning Office, responsible for Return-to-Flight planning and management integration across all program elements.
16.
John Casper is currently Associate Manager of the Space Shuttle Program, assisting the program manager in the management, integration, and operations of the program.
17.
In 2022, John Casper published an autobiography of his experience in space titled The Sky Above: An Astronaut's Memoir of Adventure, Persistence, and Faith.
18.
Colonel John Casper has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit Awards, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 11 Air Medals, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, six Air Force Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement.