18 Facts About Stephen Robinson

Stephen Kern Robinson was born on October 26,1955 and is an American former NASA astronaut.

Stephen Robinson was active in the Boy Scouts of America, where he achieved its second-highest rank, Life Scout.

Stephen Robinson is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Aerospace Medical Association, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Stephen Robinson started work for NASA in 1975 as a student intern at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California.

In 1990, Stephen Robinson was selected as Chief of the Experimental Flow Physics Branch at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, where he led a group of 35 engineers and scientists engaged in aerodynamics and fluid physics research.

Stephen Robinson returned to NASA Langley in September 1994, where he accepted a dual assignment as research scientist in the Multidisciplinary design optimization Branch, and as leader of the Aerodynamics and Acoustics element of NASA's General Aviation Technology program.

Stephen Robinson has logged over 1,400 hours in aircraft ranging from antique taildraggers to NASA jets.

Stephen Robinson began applying to become an astronaut in 1983, and was selected to join NASA Astronaut Corps in 1995.

Stephen Robinson has flown on four Space Shuttle missions: STS-85, STS-95, STS-114 and STS-130.

Stephen Robinson served as backup flight engineer for the International Space Station Expedition 4.

Stephen Robinson was sent to remove two protruding gap fillers on Discovery's heat shield, after engineers determined they might pose a danger upon re-entry.

Stephen Robinson successfully removed the loose material while the Discovery was docked to the International Space Station.

Stephen Robinson performed another "first" on STS-114 when he made the first podcast from space on August 7,2005.

Stephen Robinson's self-portrait took during the repair was considered one of the early space selfies.

Stephen Robinson served as a mission specialist and flight engineer on STS-130, which launched on February 8,2010, and rendezvoused with the International Space Station on February 10.

Stephen Robinson retired from the Astronaut Corps in July 2012 to take a teaching position as a full-time professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at University of California at Davis.

Stephen Robinson enjoys flying, antique aircraft, swimming, canoeing, hiking, music, art, and stereo photography.

Stephen Robinson plays lead guitar in Max Q, a rock and roll band.