Robert L. Behnken

Robert Behnken

Country:	United States United States
Organization:	NASA
selected on	July 26, 2000 ( 18th NASA Group )
Calls:	3 space flights
Start of the first space flight:	March 11, 2008
Landing of the last space flight:	August 2, 2020, 18:48 UTC
Time in space:	93d 11h 42min
EVA inserts:	10
EVA total duration:	61h 10min
Space flights
STS-123 (2008) STS-130 (2010) SpX-DM2 (2020)

Robert Louis "Bob" Behnken (born July 28, 1970 in Creve Coeur , Missouri ) is an American astronaut .

Behnken received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a second bachelor's degree in physics from Washington University in 1992 . He received a master's degree from the California Institute of Technology the following year and a doctorate in mechanical engineering in 1997 .

After graduating, Behnken went to the United States Air Force . At Eglin Air Force Base in Florida he worked on the development of new ammunition systems. He was then transferred to Edwards Air Force Base in California and trained as a test pilot. He completed the course in 1999 with distinction and then worked on testing the F-22 fighter aircraft .

Astronaut activity

In July 2000 Behnken was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA. After his training as a mission specialist, he was transferred to the Kennedy Space Center to support the take-offs and landings of the space shuttles.

STS-123

Behnken's first space flight took place in March 2008. The STS-123 mission brought part of the Japanese Kibō module and the Canadian robotic hand Dextre to the International Space Station .

STS-130

On December 5, 2008, his participation in the STS-130 mission as a mission specialist was announced. The launch took place on February 8, 2010. Along with Nicholas Patrick led Behnken three spacewalks by. The landing took place on February 22nd.

SpX-DM2

On July 9, 2015, NASA presented Behnken as one of the four test pilots for future commercial spacecraft. On August 3, 2018, he was nominated as a NASA astronaut for the first manned space flight of the Dragon 2 by SpaceX for the SpX-DM2 mission . The launch took place on May 30, 2020, the return to earth on August 2, 2020.

Summary

No.	mission	function	Flight date	Flight duration
1	STS-123	Mission specialist	2008	15d 18h 11min
2	STS-130	Mission specialist	2010	13d 18h 06min
3	SpX-DM2 ( ISS 63 )	Joint Operations Commander / Mission Specialist	2020	63d 23h 25min

NASA chief astronaut

In August 2012 Behnken took over the post of chief astronaut at NASA, after he had previously been the representative of the previous incumbent Peggy Whitson . In July 2015 he was replaced by Chris Cassidy .

Commercial spaceships

On July 9, 2015, NASA presented Behnken as one of the four test pilots for future commercial spacecraft. On August 3, 2018, he was nominated as a NASA astronaut for SpaceX's first manned space flight of the Dragon V2 .

Private

Behnken is married to the astronaut Megan McArthur .

Web links

Commons : Robert L. Behnken - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Robert L. Behnken on the NASA website - biography, pictures and videos (English; PDF)
spacefacts.de: Short biography

swell

↑ NASA Assigns Astronaut Crews for Future Space Shuttle Missions. NASA, December 5, 2008, accessed December 7, 2008 .
^ NASA: NASA Assigns First Crews to Fly Commercial Spacecraft. August 3, 2018, accessed on November 22, 2018 : "The first astronauts who will launch on SpaceX's Crew Dragon are NASA's Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley."
↑ NASA astronauts splash down after journey home aboard SpaceX capsule. In: Reuters. August 2, 2020, accessed on August 2, 2020 .
↑ NASA names new Chief Astronaut: Shuttle veteran succeeds station record setter. collectSPACE, August 13, 2012, accessed on August 14, 2012 .
^ NASA: NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy New Chief of Astronaut Office. In: NASA Press Release J15-015. July 9, 2015, accessed July 9, 2015 .
^ NASA: NASA Assigns First Crews to Fly Commercial Spacecraft. August 3, 2018, accessed on November 22, 2018 : "The first astronauts who will launch on SpaceX's Crew Dragon are NASA's Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley."
↑ Astronauts eager for last Hubble visit: Final telescope servicing mission brings veterans and rookies together May 4, 2009

personal data
SURNAME	Behnken, Robert L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Behnken, Robert Louis; Behnken, Bob
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American astronaut
DATE OF BIRTH	July 28, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH	Creve Coeur , Missouri

[1] NASA Assigns Astronaut Crews for Future Space Shuttle Missions. NASA, December 5, 2008, accessed December 7, 2008 .

[2] NASA: NASA Assigns First Crews to Fly Commercial Spacecraft. August 3, 2018, accessed on November 22, 2018 : "The first astronauts who will launch on SpaceX's Crew Dragon are NASA's Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley."

[3] NASA astronauts splash down after journey home aboard SpaceX capsule. In: Reuters. August 2, 2020, accessed on August 2, 2020 .

[4] NASA names new Chief Astronaut: Shuttle veteran succeeds station record setter. collectSPACE, August 13, 2012, accessed on August 14, 2012 .

[5] NASA: NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy New Chief of Astronaut Office. In: NASA Press Release J15-015. July 9, 2015, accessed July 9, 2015 .

[6] NASA: NASA Assigns First Crews to Fly Commercial Spacecraft. August 3, 2018, accessed on November 22, 2018 : "The first astronauts who will launch on SpaceX's Crew Dragon are NASA's Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley."

[7] Astronauts eager for last Hubble visit: Final telescope servicing mission brings veterans and rookies together May 4, 2009