Robert Laurel Crippen was born on September 11,1937 and is an American retired naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aerospace engineer, and retired astronaut.
47 Facts About Robert Crippen
2.
Robert Crippen traveled into space four times: as pilot of STS-1 in April 1981, the first Space Shuttle mission; and as commander of STS-7 in June 1983, STS-41-C in April 1984, and STS-41-G in October 1984.
3.
Robert Crippen was a part of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, Skylab Medical Experiment Altitude Test, ASTP support crew member, and the Approach and Landing Tests for the Space Shuttle.
4.
In 1986, Crippen participated in the recovery operations for the remains of crew members after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
5.
Robert Crippen was on the commission responsible for determining the cause of the accident.
6.
Robert Crippen went to Lockheed Martin and Thiokol Propulsion before retiring to private life in Florida.
7.
Robert Crippen has received several awards and honors, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2006, and having an elementary school named after him in Porter, Texas.
8.
Robert Crippen is a fellow of several organizations, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
9.
Robert Crippen was born in Beaumont, Texas, on September 11,1937.
10.
Robert Crippen was selected as a member of the Texas Alpha chapter of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Gamma Tau.
11.
Robert Crippen became interested in flying and computers at a very early age.
12.
Robert Crippen attended the first computer programming class held at the University of Texas.
13.
Robert Crippen was commissioned through the United States Navy's Aviation Officer Candidate School Program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.
14.
Robert Crippen spent time at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Florida and the Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas.
15.
Robert Crippen later went to Edwards Air Force Base in California to attend the US Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School.
16.
Robert Crippen has spent more than 6,500 hours in the air as either a pilot or an astronaut.
17.
When Robert Crippen was selected for astronaut training in October 1966, he had to choose between the military and NASA, deciding to stay in the military to work on the MOL program.
18.
Robert Crippen felt that he would get lost at NASA due to the number of astronauts already in programs at the agency.
19.
The MOL program was canceled in June 1969, after which Robert Crippen transferred to NASA to continue his career.
20.
Robert Crippen served as support for the Skylab 2, Skylab 3, and Skylab 4, as well as for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
21.
Robert Crippen was the capsule communicator for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, during which time he developed a close association with Mission Operations and Flight Control.
22.
Robert Crippen was first assigned to family support with the testing, then progressed to being a chase pilot in a T-38.
23.
Robert Crippen was the pilot of the Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-1, the first test flight of the Space Shuttle in orbit.
24.
Robert Crippen's job involved working with the Shuttle computers, electrical systems, and auxiliary power units.
25.
Robert Crippen was responsible for operating the payload bay doors.
26.
Robert Crippen served as the commander of STS-7, the second launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and headed a crew of five people.
27.
Robert Crippen was the commander of Space Shuttle Challenger on STS-41-C, a seven-day mission during which the crew deployed the Long Duration Exposure Facility.
28.
On his final spaceflight, Robert Crippen served as the commander of STS-41-G.
29.
Robert Crippen was personally involved in the recovery efforts of the Challenger disaster.
30.
Robert Crippen was a part of the STS-51-L Interim Mishap Review Board to examine the cause of the Challenger accident.
31.
Robert Crippen was stationed at Kennedy Space Center from July 1987 to December 1989 where he was Deputy Director of Shuttle Operations under Arnie Aldrich, Director of Space Shuttle.
32.
Robert Crippen was accountable for Shuttle missions and the return of the craft to KSC after landings at Edwards.
33.
From January 1990 to January 1992, Robert Crippen served as Director of the Space Shuttle program at NASA Headquarters.
34.
Robert Crippen's main focus was simulation work supporting the military.
35.
Robert Crippen became President of Thiokol Propulsion from December 1996 through to April 2001.
36.
Robert Crippen enjoyed continuing his connection with the Space Shuttle program.
37.
Robert Crippen is a fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and the American Astronautical Society.
38.
Robert Crippen served as President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1999.
39.
Robert Crippen was selected to be a member of Naval Aviators Golden Eagles in 2009.
40.
Robert Crippen was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2012 for leadership in human space flight and development of solid fueled rockets.
41.
Robert Crippen received the Navy Distinguished Flying Cross and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
42.
Finally, Robert Crippen received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
43.
Robert Crippen received NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, and three NASA Distinguished Service Medals.
44.
In 1996, Robert Crippen became the tenth individual to receive the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement's National Space Trophy.
45.
Robert Crippen was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1991 and the US Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2001.
46.
On November 18,2015, at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas, Robert Crippen was announced as a 2016 Inductee into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
47.
Robert Crippen was first married to Virginia Hill on September 8,1959.