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| Timothy L. Kopra | |
|---|---|
| Name | Timothy L. Kopra |
| Status | Retired |
| Nationality | United States |
| Birth date | 18 March 1963 |
| Birth place | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Army officer, engineer, astronaut |
| Rank | Brigadier General, United States Army |
| Missions | STS-127, Expedition 20/21, Expedition 47/48 |
Timothy L. Kopra is an American engineer, United States Army officer, and former NASA astronaut who flew on multiple space missions and served in senior leadership roles at NASA and in the Army. He completed spaceflights aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station and later held administrative and programmatic assignments in aerospace organizations. Kopra's career spans service with the United States Army, flight operations with NASA, and involvement in international partnerships such as Roscosmos and European Space Agency collaborations.
Kopra was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and raised in a family connected to Fort Benning and Fort Hood postings, later attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned into the United States Army. He pursued graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, obtaining a Master of Science in aeronautical engineering while engaging with programs linked to MIT Lincoln Laboratory and research collaborations with NASA Ames Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory. During his education he interacted with curricula and faculty tied to institutions like Air Force Institute of Technology and Naval Postgraduate School through inter-service seminars and conferences.
Kopra's military career included assignments with V Corps, III Armored Corps, and command positions aligned with U.S. Army Aviation Branch formations; he served as an Army aviator flying UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and completed training at United States Army Aviation School. Operational deployments connected him to theaters involving Operation Desert Shield, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Kosovo Force (KFOR) missions, and staff tours linked him to United States Central Command and the Pentagon. He completed fellowships and attended colleges such as the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College, coordinating with interagency partners including the Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and international military staffs from NATO and the United Nations.
Selected as a mission specialist in a NASA Astronaut Group class, Kopra trained at Johnson Space Center in systems operations, extravehicular activity procedures, and robotics including the Canadarm2 and Robotics Operations Control Center. He flew as a mission specialist on STS-127 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour and later served as Expedition crew member on long-duration missions to the International Space Station during Expedition 20, Expedition 21, Expedition 47, and Expedition 48, living and working in modules such as Destiny (ISS module), Harmony (ISS module), and Kibo (ISS module). His spaceflight work encompassed spacewalks, maintenance of life-support systems like the Environmental Control and Life Support System, scientific experiments associated with Microgravity Science Glovebox studies, and robotics operations connected to Canadarm2 capture activities for visiting vehicles including HTV and Dragon (spacecraft). Kopra coordinated with international partners including Roscosmos, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Canadian Space Agency personnel during multi-national operations.
Following active flight assignments, Kopra transitioned into leadership and program roles intersecting with organizations such as NASA Headquarters, SpaceX, and defense-oriented aerospace contractors collaborating with U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Space Command. He served in senior executive capacities overseeing human spaceflight operations, vehicle integration, and contingency planning that interfaced with entities like U.S. Space Force, National Reconnaissance Office, and international partners during planning for low Earth orbit commercialization and exploration architectures referencing programs like Commercial Crew Program and Artemis program. Kopra also participated in advisory boards and industry conferences alongside representatives from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and academic institutions such as Stanford University and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Kopra is married with family connections in communities near Houston, Texas and Alexandria, Virginia, and he has engaged with outreach through organizations including The Explorers Club, Association of Space Explorers, and veterans' groups linked to the VFW and American Legion. His awards and decorations include military medals from the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and other service recognitions, as well as NASA honors such as the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and group awards involving Expedition 47/48 flight crews and mission teams. He has been featured in publications and media outlets covering aerospace topics like Aviation Week & Space Technology, Nature (journal), and Scientific American.
Category:United States Army astronauts Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:People from Indianapolis, Indiana