Michael J. McCulley

Michael J. McCulley
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Name	Michael J. McCulley
Type	NASA Astronaut
Nationality	American
Status	Retired
Birth date	4 August 1943
Birth place	San Diego, California, U.S.
Occupation	Test pilot, Engineer
Rank	Captain, United States Navy
Selection	1984 NASA Group
Time	4d 23h 39m
Mission	STS-34
Insignia	50px

Michael J. McCulley is a retired United States Navy officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut who served as pilot on the Space Shuttle mission STS-34. A graduate of Purdue University, he was selected for NASA Astronaut Group 9 in 1984 and flew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1989, deploying the critical Galileo planetary probe. Following his NASA career, he held significant executive roles in the aerospace industry, including President and CEO of United Space Alliance.

Early life and education

Michael James McCulley was born on August 4, 1943, in San Diego, California. He spent his formative years in Livingston, Tennessee, where he developed an early interest in aviation and engineering. He attended Livingston Academy before pursuing higher education at Purdue University, a renowned institution known for its aeronautical engineering programs and for producing numerous NASA astronauts, including Neil Armstrong. McCulley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Purdue in 1970. He later completed postgraduate studies in Ocean Engineering at the University of West Florida.

NASA career

McCulley was selected by NASA as a pilot astronaut candidate in May 1984 as part of NASA Astronaut Group 9. His selection followed a distinguished career as a naval aviator and test pilot, which included assignments with Fighter Squadron 101 and service as a project test pilot at the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River. His initial NASA assignments involved supporting Space Shuttle operations at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he served as a member of the Astronaut Support Personnel team, assisting with vehicle launch preparations and crew ingress. He also worked in Mission Control at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, as a spacecraft communicator, or CAPCOM, for several missions.

Space Shuttle mission

McCulley's sole spaceflight was as pilot on STS-34, aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B on October 18, 1989, the five-day mission had a primary objective of deploying the Galileo spacecraft, an ambitious NASA probe destined to study Jupiter and its moons. The crew, commanded by Donald E. Williams, successfully released Galileo using an Inertial Upper Stage rocket, setting it on a complex interplanetary trajectory. During the flight, McCulley and his crewmates also conducted numerous secondary experiments in the shuttle's Spacelab-equipped middeck, including research in polymer morphology and radiation measurements. STS-34 concluded with a landing on Runway 23 at Edwards Air Force Base in California on October 23, 1989, after traveling over 2.2 million miles.

Post-NASA career

After leaving NASA and retiring from the United States Navy with the rank of Captain in 1990, McCulley embarked on a notable career in the private aerospace sector. He initially joined Lockheed Martin in Houston, holding management positions related to Space Shuttle operations. In 1999, he was appointed Deputy Program Manager for the Space Shuttle program at United Space Alliance, the prime contractor for Shuttle operations. He was later promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of United Space Alliance, a role he held from 2003 until his retirement from the company in 2007. In this capacity, he oversaw all aspects of Space Shuttle processing, launch, and flight operations following the STS-107 accident.

Personal life

McCulley is married and has children. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys activities such as fishing and hunting. He has been involved with several professional and alumni organizations, including the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Purdue Alumni Association. Following his retirement from United Space Alliance, he has served on corporate boards and remained engaged with the aerospace community as a consultant and speaker.

Category:American astronauts Category:NASA astronauts Category:Purdue University alumni Category:United States Navy officers Category:Test pilots