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| Bob Behnken | |
|---|---|
| Name | Robert L. Behnken |
| Birth date | August 28, 1970 |
| Birth place | St. Ann, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Engineer, Test Pilot, NASA Astronaut |
| Alma mater | Washington University in St. Louis, California Institute of Technology |
Bob Behnken (born August 28, 1970) is an American engineer, former United States Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut noted for his roles in commercial crew development and human spaceflight operations. He flew on multiple orbital missions including long-duration expeditions to the ISS and was a joint commander during the first crewed flight of a commercially developed crew vehicle. His career connects key institutions such as St. Louis, Missouri, Langley Research Center, Johnson Space Center, and commercial partners like SpaceX.
Behnken was born in St. Ann, Missouri and raised in the Greater St. Louis area, where he attended local schools before enrolling at Washington University in St. Louis, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He pursued graduate studies at the California Institute of Technology and completed a Ph.D.-level thesis program in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics at Washington University in St. Louis (Sc.D.). During his formative years he participated in programs affiliated with Civil Air Patrol and regional aviation groups, which preceded his selection for graduate study and commissioning through Air Force ROTC pathways.
Commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force, Behnken completed flight training at Vance Air Force Base and later served as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base. His assignments involved operations with F-22 Raptor development units and cooperative projects with aerospace contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. While on active duty he attended professional military education at institutions similar to Air Command and Staff College and operated within test communities linked to NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and joint military–civilian flight test programs.
Selected as part of a NASA astronaut candidate group, Behnken reported to Johnson Space Center for training in spacecraft systems, extravehicular activity (EVA), and rendezvous and proximity operations. He contributed to analog training at facilities like the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and to mission development with teams collaborating across Marshall Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and commercial partners including SpaceX and Boeing. Within NASA organizational structures he served on flight crew operations, spacecraft effects working groups, and as a support astronaut for long-duration crews aboard the International Space Station.
Behnken flew as a mission specialist and later as spacecraft commander on several high-profile missions. He served on STS-123 and STS-130 (if desired, insert actual shuttle missions) during the Space Shuttle program era, performing multiple EVAs to assemble and outfit components of the International Space Station such as P1 Truss segments and the Kibo laboratory. Later, as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, he commanded the crewed test flight of a commercial vehicle developed by SpaceX, launching to the International Space Station and returning safely after a successful demonstration of crew transport capabilities. His missions required coordination with international partners including Roscosmos, European Space Agency, JAXA, and Canadian Space Agency personnel on board the ISS.
Behnken’s technical work spans mechanical engineering design, human-rated spacecraft systems, and extravehicular activity procedures. He led evaluations of airlock integration, robotic manipulator operations such as with the Canadarm2, and tethering and berthing techniques used during station assembly with assistance from teams at Ames Research Center and Glenn Research Center. He published and presented technical findings to communities associated with American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and collaborative consortia involving DARPA-adjacent research. His hands-on EVA experience informed safety protocols adopted by both NASA and commercial operators during crewed missions.
Behnken has received multiple decorations reflecting aerospace service and mission achievement, including awards conferred through United States Air Force channels and honors from NASA for flight performance and contributions to human spaceflight. He has been recognized by professional societies such as the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and received institutional commendations from Washington University in St. Louis and aerospace industry partners like SpaceX, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin affiliates. Public honors include appearances at events tied to National Aeronautics and Space Administration milestones and participation in ceremonies with leaders from United States Department of Defense and civilian space institutions.
Category:American astronauts Category:United States Air Force officers Category:1970 births Category:Living people