AEM Alumnus Duane Carey Flies Space Shuttle Columbia

Duane Carey graduated from Highland Park High School, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1975; received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics and a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis in 1981 and 1982. After he completed his studies, Carey joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a fighter pilot in the Persian Gulf War and later as a test pilot and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

He was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996 and reported to the NASA Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. Initially, Carey was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems/Operations Branch. He served as pilot on STS-109 Columbia (March 1-12, 2002).

View photos of the STS-109 Hubble mission.

STS-109 was the fourth Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing mission. The crew of STS 109 successfully upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope leaving it with a new power unit and a new camera which made Hubble’s imaging capability 10 times more powerful. It also received new solar arrays that are more powerful and less susceptible to damage.

HST servicing and upgrade was accomplished by four crewmembers during a total of 5 EVAs (Extra Vehicular Activity) in 5 consecutive days. The space walkers were assisted by crewmates inside Space Shuttle Columbia. Carey also helped document the EVA activities with video and still images. STS-109 orbited the Earth 165 times, and covered 3.9 million miles in over 262 hours. On his flight, Duane Carey carried a banner that was created by the Department to honor his alma mater.

More information on flight can be found at: http://sm3b.gsfc.nasa.gov/. Lt. Colonel Duane Carey will giving a seminar in the department for students and participating in some other activities at the University on Friday, October 25th.

 Next- The Hubble Project: An Astronaut’s View

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