As NASA nears deciding on its first crew to fly to the moon in additional than 50 years, the space company has a brand new chief for its astronaut corps.
Joe Acaba, a former educator who has flown thrice to space together with two long-duration stays on board the International Space Station, has been named the new chief of the Astronaut Office (opens in new tab) at NASA’s Johnson House Heart in Houston. Acaba succeeds Reid Wiseman, who held the place for 2 years, and Drew Feustel, who served as appearing chief since Wisemen stepped down on Nov. 14 to return to energetic flight obligation.
“Congratulations to Joe Acaba on being named the brand new chief of the astronaut workplace!” mentioned NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson in a statement (opens in new tab) launched on Thursday (Feb. 2). “Joe is an skilled space flyer and a confirmed chief, and he’ll undoubtedly encourage the following technology of NASA astronauts.”
“As we construct on the Worldwide House Station’s unparalleled success in low Earth orbit with our eyes on the moon after which Mars, Joe will play an integral position in making certain our NASA astronauts are ready for the challenges forward,” mentioned Nelson. “I additionally need to thank Reid Wiseman for his steady leadership (opens in new tab), and to Drew Feustel for leaping in to proceed the workplace’s lengthy legacy of excellence and integrity.”
Associated: NASA may need more astronauts for space station, moon missions
As chief, Acaba can be liable for deciding on astronauts for future missions, together with business flights to the Worldwide House Station and Artemis missions to orbit and land on the moon. NASA is predicted to call the Artemis 2 crew — the primary astronauts to fly to the moon because the finish of the Apollo program in 1972 — this spring for a launch as quickly as late 2024.
Relying on the standing of the Artemis 2 crew choice, Acaba might have enter into that history-making choice.
“Our Johnson Space Center group congratulates Joe Acaba on his appointment to chief of the astronaut workplace,” mentioned heart director Vanessa Wyche. “We want him nicely as he takes on this new and thrilling management position.”
Acaba will now lead the 41 energetic U.S. astronauts and 10 astronaut candidates (opens in new tab) within the corps and can coordinate missions and actions with the extra 15 worldwide astronauts from Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates who practice as a part of NASA’s human spaceflight program.
Chosen with “The Peacocks,” NASA’s nineteenth astronaut class chosen in 2004, Acaba is a geologist, former highschool instructor and the primary individual of Puerto Rican heritage to hitch NASA’s corps. As an educator-astronaut, Acaba has spent 306 days in space.
In 2009, he served as a mission specialist on space shuttle Discovery’s STS-119 crew, who delivered the fourth set of solar arrays for the Worldwide House Station. He subsequent flew on two Russian Soyuz flights to the space station, serving as a flight engineer on Expeditions 31/32 and 53/54 in 2012 and 2018, respectively.
When he was not in space, Acaba joined analog missions inside rock formations (ESA’s CAVES) and aboard an underwater laboratory (NASA’s SEATEST). He additionally served as department chief for the space station operations department and director of operations in Star Metropolis exterior Moscow, supporting crew coaching in Russia.
“Joe is a wonderful chief who brings a wealth of expertise to the astronaut workplace,” mentioned NASA’s Director of Flight Operations Norm Knight, who made the choice. “Realizing the importance of this place and the integrity of those that have beforehand served, I’m assured Joe can be an excellent chief for the astronaut workplace who will efficiently lead our astronauts by way of an thrilling future.”
Acaba is NASA’s 18th chief astronaut, a place that was first created for and held by Mercury astronaut Deke Slayton in 1962 (the title “chief astronaut” or “chief of the astronaut workplace” was not established till late 1963, when Alan Shepard took over the position). Acaba is the primary individual of Hispanic heritage chosen for the put up.
The prior chief astronauts have included: Slayton (1962-1963); Shepard (1963-1969); Thomas Stafford (1969-1971); Shepard (1971-1974); John Younger (1974-1987); Dan Brandenstein (1987-1992); Robert “Hoot” Gibson (1992-1994); Robert Cabana (1994-1997); Kenneth Cockrell (1997-1998); Charles Precourt (1998-2002); Kent Rominger (2002-2006); Steven Lindsey (2006-2009); Peggy Whitson (2009-2012); Robert Behnken (2012-2015); Christopher Cassidy (2015-2017); Patrick Forrester (2017-2020) and Wiseman (2020-2022).
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