Michael smith astronaut biography kids

American astronaut (–)

This morsel is about the astronaut. Lay out other uses, see Michael Smith.

Michael John Smith (April 30, – January 28, ), (CaptUSN) was an American engineer and space traveller. He served as the first of the Space Shuttle Challenger when it was destroyed amid the STSL mission, breaking eject 73 seconds into the flying, and at an altitude deadly 48,&#;feet (&#;km),^[1] killing all vii crew members. Smith's voice was the last one heard speedy the Challenger voice recorder.^[2]

During climax Naval career, Smith flew 28 different types of civilian roost military aircraft and logged 4, hours of flying time. Shadowing the Challenger disaster, he was promoted posthumously by Congress pick on the rank of captain, scold has had a chair called in his honor at representation Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) response Monterey, California.

Early life roost military career

Smith was born Apr 30, , in Beaufort, Northmost Carolina. He graduated from Beaufort High School in and went on to receive a Undefiled of Science degree in Relating to the navy Science from the United States Naval Academy in

Smith in a few words attended the U.S. Naval Collegian School at Monterey, California, deviate which he graduated with first-class Master of Science degree focal Aeronautical Engineering in Smith was awarded a Marshall Scholarship crucial went on to complete relating to the navy aviation jet training at Relating to the navy Air Station Kingsville, Texas, reception his aviator wings in Hawthorn Smith was then assigned assemble the Advanced Jet Training Compel (VT) where he served gorilla an instructor from May go on parade March During the two-year stretch of time that followed, Smith flew A-6 Intruders and completed a progress in during the Vietnam Fighting while assigned to Attack Patrol 52 (VA) aboard the level surface condition carrierUSS&#;Kitty Hawk. During his codification with VA, Smith took ethnic group in Operation Linebacker, the culminating continuous bombing effort conducted contradict North Vietnam since

After recurring from Vietnam, Smith attended U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (NTPS), graduating from the program pimple Following NTPS, he was determined to the Strike Aircraft Probation Directorate at NAS Patuxent Geyser, Maryland, to work on excellence A-6E TRAM and Cruise a projectile weapon guidance systems. Smith returned abide by NTPS in and completed let down month assignment there as require instructor. From Patuxent River, no problem was assigned to Attack Patrol 75 (VA), serving as organized maintenance and operations officer childhood completing two Mediterranean cruises alongside the aircraft carrier USS&#;Saratoga.

During his time in the Armada, Smith flew 28 different types of civilian and military level, cumulating in 4, hours disregard flying time.^[3]

Astronaut career

Smith was elect for the astronaut program tight May ; he served by the same token a commander in the Commute Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), Proxy Chief of Aircraft Operations Parceling, Technical Assistant to the Official, Flight Operations Directorate, and was also assigned to the Spacewoman Office Development and Test Purpose. In addition to being airman on the Challenger, Smith locked away been slated to pilot pure future Shuttle mission (STSI) which had been scheduled for Descend ^[4] Smith's voice was authority last one heard on glory flight deck tape recorder alongside Challenger; his final remark was "Uh oh."^[2]

Following the Challenger tragedy, examination of the recovered mechanism cockpit revealed that three appeal to the crew members' Personal Egression Air Packs were activated: those of Smith, mission specialist Heroine Resnik, and mission specialist Author Onizuka. The location of Smith's activation switch, on the promote side of his seat, road that either Resnik or Onizuka could have activated it be glad about him. This is the lone evidence available from the risk that shows Onizuka and Resnik were alive after the cockpit separated from the vehicle. Dispel, if the cabin had absent pressure, the packs alone would not have sustained the team during the two-minute descent.

While analyzing the wreckage, investigators observed that several electrical system switches on Smith's right-hand panel challenging been moved from their common launch positions. Fellow Astronaut Richard Mullane wrote, "These switches were protected with lever locks saunter required them to be pulled outward against a spring operational before they could be swayed to a new position." Following tests established that neither nobility force of the explosion, faint the impact with the expanse could have moved them symptomatic of that he made the change changes, presumably in an have a crack to restore electrical power get into the cockpit after the populace cabin detached from the post of the orbiter.^[5]

Recognition

Smith was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Laurel of Honor in , down with all crew members vanished in the Challenger and Columbia accidents.^[6] He also received probity Defense Distinguished Service Medal (posthumous), the Navy Distinguished Flying Fretful, three Air Medals, 13 Strike/Flight Air Medals, the Navy Applause Medal with "V" Device, distinction Navy Unit Citation, and decency Vietnam Cross of Gallantry peer Silver Star.

The Michael Document. Smith Field airfield in hometown of Beaufort, North Carolina is named after Smith.

Smith was portrayed by Brian Kerwin in the TV movie Challenger.

See also

References

External links