Frederick W. Sturckow

Frederick W. Sturckow
Name	Frederick W. Sturckow
Type	NASA Astronaut, USMC Colonel
Nationality	American
Status	Retired
Birth date	11 August 1961
Birth place	La Mesa, California
Occupation	Test Pilot
Rank	Colonel, United States Marine Corps
Selection	1994 NASA Group
Time	51d 09h 36m
Mission	STS-88, STS-105, STS-117, STS-128

Frederick W. Sturckow is a retired United States Marine Corps colonel, former NASA astronaut, and commercial spacecraft pilot. A veteran of four Space Shuttle missions, he later became a key figure in the commercial spaceflight industry, piloting missions for Virgin Galactic. His career bridges the eras of government-operated and private human spaceflight.

Early life and education

Frederick Wilford Sturckow was born on August 11, 1961, in La Mesa, California. He graduated from Grossmont High School in El Cajon, California before pursuing higher education. Sturckow earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1984. He furthered his education with a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School located in Monterey, California.

NASA career

Selected by NASA as a pilot candidate in 1994, Sturckow completed rigorous training at the Johnson Space Center. He served in various technical and leadership roles within the Astronaut Office, including as a spacecraft communicator, or CAPCOM, in Mission Control Center during numerous Space Shuttle flights. His expertise as a naval aviator and test pilot was instrumental in his assignments, which included supporting operations for the International Space Station program.

Spaceflight experience

Sturckow piloted two Space Shuttle missions and commanded two others, all to the International Space Station. His first flight was as pilot on STS-88 aboard Endeavour in 1998, the inaugural mission to assemble the station, delivering the Unity module. He commanded STS-105 on Discovery in 2001, a crew rotation and logistics mission. In 2007, he commanded STS-117 on Atlantis, which delivered the S3/S4 truss segment to the station. His final NASA mission was commanding STS-128 on Discovery in 2009, which carried the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.

Post-NASA career

After retiring from NASA and the United States Marine Corps in 2013, Sturckow transitioned to the commercial space sector. He joined Virgin Galactic as a pilot, bringing his extensive flight test experience to the SpaceShipTwo program. He piloted the VSS Unity spacecraft on its first crewed spaceflight, Unity 22, in July 2021, officially becoming one of the few individuals to have flown to space aboard both a government and a privately operated vehicle. He continues to serve as a pilot and advisor for the company.

Personal life

Sturckow is married and has two children. His recreational interests include flying, sailing, and skiing. He maintains a strong connection to the aviation and space communities through public speaking and educational outreach.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Sturckow has received numerous accolades, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and multiple NASA Space Flight Medals. He has also been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his aviation achievements. His contributions to commercial spaceflight have been recognized by industry groups like the Commercial Spaceflight Federation.

Category:American astronauts Category:United States Marine Corps officers Category:Virgin Galactic people Category:1961 births Category:Living people