15 Facts About Mike Mullane

Richard Michael Mullane was born on September 10,1945; Col, USAF, Ret.

Richard Michael Mike Mullane was born September 10,1945, in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Mike Mullane's family moved regularly until his father was diagnosed with polio and lost the use of his legs, causing the family to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mike Mullane was a Second Class Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

Mike Mullane graduated from St Pius X High School, Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1963, then received a Bachelor of Science degree in military engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1967 and was awarded a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the US Air Force Institute of Technology in 1975.

Mike Mullane completed 134 combat missions as an RF-4C weapon systems officer while stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, from January to November 1969.

Mike Mullane subsequently served a 4-year tour of duty, in England.

Mike Mullane flew on three Space Shuttle missions, serving as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-41-D in August 1984, on STS-27 in December 1988, and on STS-36 in March 1990.

On his first mission Mike Mullane served as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-41-D, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 30,1984.

Mike Mullane then was assigned to STS-62-A, the first Shuttle mission scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, but the mission was canceled after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

On his third flight, Mike Mullane served on the crew of STS-36, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on February 28,1990, aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Mike Mullane retired from NASA and the Air Force July 1,1990.

In 2006, Mike Mullane published an autobiography, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, that details his life before and during the space program, and expresses critical views towards the culture of the NASA Astronaut Corps.

Mike Mullane appeared on the United States television show The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Monday, February 13,2006, to promote his book.

Mike Mullane is a member of the Air Force Association and a member of the Leadership Board of For All Moonkind, Inc.