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| Michael T. Barratt | |
|---|---|
| Name | Michael T. Barratt |
| Birth date | 1959-04-28 |
| Birth place | King of Prussia, Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Physician, NASA astronaut |
| Alma mater | Pennsylvania State University, Thomas Jefferson University |
| Missions | Expedition 19, Expedition 20, Expedition 21, STS-133 |
Michael T. Barratt is an American physician and flight surgeon who served as a NASA astronaut and flight engineer on long-duration missions to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-14 and later as a crew member on STS-133. He combined clinical practice in pediatrics, research in aerospace medicine, and operational roles at Johnson Space Center while participating in multinational missions involving Roscosmos, European Space Agency, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency partners. His career bridges clinical work at institutions such as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and mission support for programs including Expedition 19, Expedition 20, and Expedition 21.
Barratt was born in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and raised in a family with roots in the Philadelphia region, attending local schools before matriculating at Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science. He completed medical training at Thomas Jefferson University (formerly Jefferson Medical College) and pursued residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and fellowship training in neonatology and neonatal-perinatal medicine at institutions associated with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He later studied aerospace medicine and completed training at Wright State University/Wright-Patterson Air Force Base affiliated programs while engaging with NASA Flight Medicine curricula and collaborating with researchers at National Institutes of Health.
Barratt worked as a clinician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and as a researcher in areas intersecting neonatology, human physiology, and space medicine. He held positions with Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and contributed to investigations funded by agencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation. His research addressed topics relevant to long-duration habitation aboard platforms such as the International Space Station, including cardiovascular deconditioning, vestibular dysfunction, and countermeasures related to exercise devices like the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device and protocols developed in cooperation with European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency physiologists. Barratt also published and collaborated with investigators from Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School on clinical guidelines and translational work bridging neonatal intensive care and aerospace operational medicine.
Selected by NASA in a class that included physician-astronauts and mission specialists, Barratt reported to Johnson Space Center for astronaut candidate training covering systems operations, spacewalk procedures, and spacecraft such as the Space Shuttle and Soyuz spacecraft. He trained alongside crewmates with affiliations to Roscosmos and engaged in analog training at facilities like the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and the European Astronaut Centre. His certification included roles as a flight surgeon, vehicle communicator (CAPCOM) support for Expedition rotations, and robotics operations associated with the Canadarm2 and Space Station Remote Manipulator System. Barratt participated in international training exchanges with the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia and cooperative programs with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and European Space Agency that emphasized long-duration mission science and integrated crew systems.
Barratt served as a flight engineer on long-duration missions to the International Space Station launched aboard Soyuz TMA-14 as part of Expedition 19, Expedition 20, and Expedition 21 increments, conducting experiments, maintenance, and international cargo operations with vehicles such as the Progress (spacecraft), HTV (H-II Transfer Vehicle), and Dragon (spacecraft). He later flew on STS-133, the final flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, performing mission tasks including payload operations, logistics transfers, and coordination with mission control centers in Houston and Moscow. During his missions Barratt worked with crewmembers from Roscosmos, Canadian Space Agency, European Space Agency, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, contributing to long-duration research in microgravity, extravehicular activity support, and medical monitoring that informed subsequent missions such as Expedition 22 and programs led by NASA Johnson Space Center.
Barratt's recognitions include awards from professional organizations in pediatrics and aerospace medicine, commendations from NASA for mission performance, and honors conferred by medical institutions including Thomas Jefferson University and Pennsylvania State University. He received accolades from associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Aerospace Medical Association for contributions to clinical care and operational human spaceflight research, and he has been acknowledged in institutional ceremonies at Johnson Space Center and partner agencies including Roscosmos and European Space Agency.
Barratt has resided in the Houston metropolitan area while affiliated with Johnson Space Center and maintains ties to the Philadelphia region through family and academic collaborations with Pennsylvania State University and Thomas Jefferson University. His interests include support for youth science outreach involving organizations like Girl Scouts of the USA and Boy Scouts of America, involvement with professional societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Aerospace Medical Association, and participation in public engagement events hosted by institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and university partners. He has worked with media outlets and educational programs to promote human spaceflight research and clinical education.
Category:American physicians Category:NASA astronauts