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| Steven W. Lindsey | |
|---|---|
| Name | Steven W. Lindsey |
| Status | Retired |
| Nationality | American |
| Birth date | January 24, 1960 |
| Birth place | Arcadia, California |
| Alma mater | United States Air Force Academy; University of Texas at Austin |
| Rank | Colonel, United States Air Force |
| Selection | 1994 NASA Group |
| Time | 42d 04h 58m |
| Missions | STS-87, STS-95, STS-104, STS-121 |
Steven W. Lindsey is an American aviator, United States Air Force officer, and former NASA astronaut who flew four Space Shuttle missions. He served as a test pilot, flight instructor, and program manager before becoming Chief of the Astronaut Office and later Deputy Associate Administrator in NASA management. Lindsey's career connects to numerous United States military academies, aerospace institutions, and international spaceflight partnerships.
Born in Arcadia, California, Lindsey grew up in a region near Los Angeles and attended schools influenced by Southern California aerospace industries, including ties to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Rockwell International. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science, then earned a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. During his education he engaged with programs connected to Air Force Institute of Technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and outreach efforts involving California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University.
Lindsey's military career included service with units such as 38th Flying Training Wing, operational assignments at Nellis Air Force Base, and test pilot duties with the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. He flew tactical aircraft connected to programs run by Air Combat Command, collaborated with personnel from Pacific Air Forces, and participated in exercises involving North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners and United States European Command. His flight experience linked him to procurement and evaluation organizations including Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Air Force Research Laboratory, and contractors like Boeing and General Dynamics.
Selected by NASA in 1994 as part of a group that included military and civilian aviators, Lindsey undertook astronaut training at the Johnson Space Center and worked in mission development with teams from Marshall Space Flight Center, Kennedy Space Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He served as Shuttle Vehicle Integration Test Director, Shuttle Landing and Rollout representative, and led training tied to International Space Station assembly missions, coordinating with agencies such as Roscosmos, European Space Agency, JAXA, and Canadian Space Agency. Lindsey later became Chief of the Astronaut Office and contributed to safety and crew operations reviews involving Columbia (space shuttle), STS-107, and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster investigations and recovery efforts.
Lindsey flew on four Space Shuttle flights. On STS-87 he conducted experiments related to microgravity and payload operations with international partners such as Japanese National Space Development Agency collaborators and European Space Agency investigators. On STS-95 he supported payloads that included participants associated with NASA Ames Research Center, life science teams from National Institutes of Health, and collaborations with Space Shuttle}}; On STS-104 he contributed to the installation of the Quest Joint Airlock on the International Space Station alongside crew members from Expedition 2 and Expedition 3 contingents, working with hardware produced by Thales Alenia Space and Boeing's ISS teams. On STS-121 he executed inspection and repair techniques developed after the Columbia accident with input from Orbiter Maintenance Group and external tank contractors, coordinating with flight directors at Mission Control Center. Across these missions Lindsey worked with crewmates and specialists from organizations including European Space Agency, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and NASA centers like Langley Research Center and Glenn Research Center.
After leaving active flight status Lindsey moved into roles interfacing with aerospace industry, consulting for corporations such as Boeing, SpaceX, and Lockheed Martin, and engaging with think tanks including Center for Strategic and International Studies and Aerospace Industries Association. He participated in public speaking and educational outreach involving Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Air and Space Academy, and collaborations with universities like Purdue University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and University of Colorado Boulder. Lindsey also supported veteran and aviation charities, partnering with organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project, Order of Daedalians, and Experimental Aircraft Association.
Lindsey's recognitions include awards from the United States Air Force and NASA, flight honors such as the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, and commendations tied to spaceflight and test operations. He received departmental honors from the Department of Defense and professional society acknowledgments from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and regional civic awards from entities like Los Angeles County institutions. His career has been noted in publications by Aviation Week & Space Technology, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times.
Category:American astronauts Category:United States Air Force officers