John Casper

John Howard Casper
Astronaut NASA
Státní příslušnostUSA
Datum narození9. července 1943 (79 let)
Místo narozeníGreenville, Severní Karolína, USA
Čas ve vesmíru34 dní 9 hodin 52 minut
Kosmonaut od23. května 1984
MiseSTS-36, STS-54, STS-62, STS-77
Znaky misí
Některá data mohou pocházet z datové položky.

John Howard Casper (* 9. červenec 1943, Greenville, Severní Karolína, USA) je americký vojenský pilot a astronaut, který absolvoval čtyři lety raketoplánem v období let 1990–1996. Byl 227. astronautem ve vesmíru, kde strávil 34 dní.

Životopis

Vystudoval v roce 1966 vojenskou akademii a o rok později na Purdueově univerzitě vzdělání v oboru astronautiky ukončil. Jako vojenský pilot se zúčastnil války ve Vietnamu. Nalétal 7000 hodin. Pak absolvoval školu testovacích pilotů a pokračoval v létání. V NASA byl od 23. května 1984 a o šest let později do vesmíru odletěl.

Lety do vesmíru

Poprvé letěl v únoru 1990 na palubě raketoplánu Atlantis. Start byl jako obvykle na kosmodromu Mysu Canaveral (USA, stát Florida). Čtyřdenní mise STS-36 (dle COSPAR katalogizována 1990-019A) na oběžné dráze Země se zúčastnila tato pětice astronautů, vesměs občanů USA: John Creighton, Richard Mullane, David Hilmers, Pierre Thuot a nováček John Casper, který zde byl jako pilot. Během letu vypustili špionážní vojenskou družici, která se po měsíci letu rozpadla na šest částí. Přistáli na základně a kosmodromu Edwards v Kalifornii v (Mohavské poušti)

Za tři roky letěl do vesmíru podruhé v raketoplánu Endeavour na misi STS-54 (COSPAR 1993-003A), tentokrát již jako velitel mise. Spolu s ním na palubě byli: Donald Ray McMonagle, Mario Runco, Gregory Harbaugh a jedna žena – Susan Helmsová. Všichni Američané. Let trval 6 dní a během něj vypustili na orbitu Země spojovací družicí TDRS-F. Přistáli tam kde startovali, na mysu Canaveral.

Třetí let absolvoval v raketoplánu Columbia v březnu 1994. Patnáctidenní mise STS-62 (COSPAR 1994-015A) se spolu s ním, velitelem lodě ve vojenské hodnosti plukovníka , zúčastnila tato pětice zkušených astronautů Andrew Allen, Pierre Thuot, Charles Gemar a Marsha Ivinsová. Raketoplán přistál na Floridě, základna Cape Canaveral.

Čtvrtým letem byla mise STS-77 (COSPAR 1996-032A) s raketoplánem Atlantis v září 1996. Velel šestičlenné mezinárodní posádce ve složení: Curtis Brown, Andrew Thomas, Daniel Bursch, Mario Runco a Marc Garneau. Během letu vypustili a později zas zachytili družici Spartan 207 IAE. Start i přistání byly opět na Floridě.

Jeho lety v kostce

Vyznamenání

  • Defense Superior Service Medal
  • Legion of Merit – uděleno dvakrát
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Air Medal – udělena jedenáctkrát
  • Defense Meritorious Service Medal – udělena dvakrát
  • Air Force Commendation Medal – udělena šestkrát
  • NASA Distinguished Service Medal – udělena dvakrát
  • NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
  • NASA Exceptional Service Medal
  • NASA Space Flight Medal – udělena čtyřikrát (1990, 1993, 1994, 1996)
  • Kříž za statečnost (Jižní Vietnam)

Externí odkazy

Média použitá na této stránce

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NASA Distinguished Service Ribbon
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The STS-77 crew patch displays the Shuttle Endeavour in the lower left and its reflection within the tripod and concave parabolic mirror of the SPARTAN Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE). The center leg of the tripod also delineates the top of the Spacehab's shape, the rest of which is outlined in gold just inside the red perimeter. The Spacehab was carried in the payload bay and housed the Commercial Float Zone Furnace (CFZF). Also depicted within the confines of the IAE mirror are the mission's rendezvous operations with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped satellite (PAM/STU) appears as a bright six-pointed star-like reflection of the sun on the edge of the mirror with Endeavour in position to track it. The sunlight on the mirror's edge, which also appears as an orbital sunset, is located over Goddard Space Flight Center, the development facility for the SPARTAN/IAE and Technology Experiments Advancing Missions in Space (TEAMS) experiments. The reflection of the Earth is oriented to show the individual countries of the crew as well as the ocean which Captain Cook explored in the original Endeavour. The mission number 77 is featured as twin stylized chevrons and an orbiting satellite as adapted from NASA's logo. The stars at the top are arranged as seen in the northern sky in the vicinity of the constellation Ursa Minor. The field of 11 stars represents both the TEAMS cluster of experiments (the four antennae of GPS Attitude and Navigation Experiment (GANE), the single canister of Liquid Metal Thermal Experiment (LMTE), the three canisters of Vented Tank Resupply Experiment (VTRE), and the three canisters of PAM/STU) and the 11th flight of Endeavour. The constellation at the right shows the fourth flight of Spacehab Experiments.
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NASA Exceptional Service Medal ribbon bar
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STS-54 Mission Insignia

Designed by the crewmembers, the STS-54 crew patch depicts the American bald eagle soaring above Earth and is emblematic of the Space Shuttle Endeavour in service to the United States and the world. The eagle is clutching an eightpointed star in its talons and is placing this larger star among a constellation of four others, representing the placement of the fifth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) into orbit to join the four already in service. The blackness of space -- with stars conspicuously absent -- represents the crew's other primary mission in carrying the Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer to orbit to conduct astronomical observations of invisible x-ray sources within the Milky Way Galaxy. The depiction of Earth showing North America is an expression of the crewmembers and NASA's intention that the medical and scientific experiments conducted onboard be for the benefit of mankind. The clouds and blue of Earth represent the crew's part in NASA's Mission to Planet Earth in conducting Earthobservation photography.
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STS-62 Mission Insignia

The STS-62 crew patch depicts the world's first reusable spacecraft on its sixteenth flight. Columbia is in its entry-interface attitude as it prepares to return to Earth. The varied hues of the rainbow on the horizon connote the varied, but complementary, nature of all the payloads united on this mission. The upward-pointing vector shape of the patch is symbolic of America's reach for excellence in its unswerving pursuit to explore the frontiers of space. The brilliant sunrise just beyond Columbia suggests the promise that research in space holds for the hopes and dreams of future generations. The STS-62 insignia was designed by Mark Pestana.
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NASA Outstanding Leadership Ribbon
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portrait astronaut John Casper
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NASA Space Flight Ribbon
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Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon
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STS-36 Mission Insignia

Description: The dominant theme of the STS-36, designed by the five astronaut crewmembers, is, in their words ...the essential role that space plays in preserving the blessings of freedom and liberty for America. The crew used the eagle to symbolize our country's commitment to strength and vigilance; its domain is not bound by the limits of Earth but reaches out to the star. The Shuttle, they express majestically beginning its journey into orbit demonstrates how man and machine work together for the security of our nation. A crew spokesman went on to say the flag represents the patriotism and love for America possessed by each member of the five-man crew and signifies the honor accorded them through participation in national defense.