NASA Celebrates 30th Anniversary of 15th Astronaut Group Selection

On December 8, 1994, NASA made a significant announcement regarding their latest selection of astronaut candidates. This marked their 15th class, a diverse and talented group of 19 individuals comprising 10 pilot candidates and nine mission specialists. Within this cohort were five women, two African Americans, one Asian American, as well as the first astronauts of Peruvian and Indian descent. The group was further enriched with the inclusion of four international astronauts: one each from Canada and Japan, along with two from France. Notably, the French astronauts had already accrued experience in spaceflight through collaborative missions with Russia. After undergoing rigorous training, all 23 members of this group became eligible for spaceflight assignments. Over time, each member of the group successfully completed at least one spaceflight, contributing significantly to the construction and maintenance of the International Space Station (ISS) and undertaking vital scientific missions. Tragically, three members of this esteemed group were lost in the Columbia space shuttle accident.

The newest class of NASA astronaut candidates was an impressive mix of talents from various backgrounds. The pilot candidates included Scott D. Altman, Jeffrey S. Ashby, Michael J. Bloomfield, Joe F. Edwards, Dominic L.P. Gorie, Rick D. Husband, Steven W. Lindsey, Pamela A. Melroy, Susan L. Still, and Frederick “Rick” W. Sturckow. The mission specialist candidates were Michael P. Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, Robert L. Curbeam, Kathryn “Kay” P. Hire, Janet L. Kavandi, Edward T. Lu, Carlos I. Noriega, James F. Reilly, and Steven K. Robinson. This class also included international astronauts Dafydd “Dave” R. Williams from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Takao Doi from the National Space Development Agency (NASDA), now known as the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Jean-Loup Chrétien and Michel Tognini, both from the French space agency CNES, also joined this group, bringing with them valuable experience from previous missions with Russia, contributing to NASA’s Shuttle-Mir Program.

In March 1995, the 19 NASA candidates, along with Williams and Doi, began their one-year training program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The French astronauts joined them later in the year. This training was extensive, covering a wide range of applied sciences such as space shuttle and space station systems, space medicine, Earth and planetary sciences, and materials sciences. The candidates visited each of the NASA centers to gain a comprehensive understanding of their operations. They also received training in flying the T-38 Talon aircraft, practicing high-altitude and ground egress systems, survival skills, parasail flights, and scuba diving. One of the more unique experiences was the short-duration weightlessness sessions aboard NASA’s KC-135 aircraft, humorously nicknamed the Vomit Comet. Completing this rigorous training qualified the candidates for various technical roles within the astronaut office, eventually leading to assignments on space shuttle crews.

Traditionally, the previous astronaut class bestows a nickname upon the new group. Group 15 was initially dubbed “The Snails” by the Class of 1992, known as The Hogs, due to delays in their announcement. However, with the addition of the French astronauts, the nickname evolved to “The Flying Escargots,” reflecting both the delayed introduction and the international flavor of the group. The Group 15 patch symbolically featured an astronaut pin rising from Earth, the orbiting space shuttle and space station, alongside the flags of the United States, Canada, France, and Japan.

Each member of this class went on to have a remarkable space career. For instance, Scott D. Altman, initially a U.S. Navy pilot from Illinois, became a decorated astronaut. He served as pilot for STS-90, a 16-day Neurolab mission in 1998, and again for STS-106, a 12-day ISS resupply mission in 2000. Altman commanded the STS-109 mission in 2002, which was the fourth Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing mission, and later led the final HST servicing mission, STS-125, in 2009, accumulating a total of 51 days in space.

Michael P. Anderson, hailing from upstate New York and a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, was another distinguished member of this group. He served as a mission specialist on STS-89, the ninth docking with the Mir space station, and as payload commander on the 16-day STS-107 Spacehab research mission. Anderson was the only African American astronaut to visit Mir and tragically lost his life in the Columbia accident, having logged nearly 25 days in space.

Jeffrey S. Ashby from Texas, a U.S. Navy captain, made significant contributions as well. He piloted STS-93, a mission to deploy the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and STS-100, which delivered the Canadarm2 robotic arm to the ISS. Ashby commanded STS-112, a space station assembly mission, spending nearly 28 days in space over three missions.

Michael J. Bloomfield, from Michigan and a U.S. Air Force Colonel, served as pilot on several missions, including STS-86 and STS-97, which were crucial for Mir docking and ISS assembly, respectively. Bloomfield commanded STS-110, adding the S0 truss segment to the ISS, and logged 32 days in space over his career.

Kalpana Chawla, born in India and a renowned aerospace engineer, was the first Indian-born woman to fly in space. She flew on STS-87 and STS-107, the latter resulting in the tragic Columbia disaster. Despite her untimely death, Chawla left a lasting legacy, having spent nearly 32 days in space.

Robert L. Curbeam, a U.S. Navy commander from Baltimore, completed multiple missions, including STS-85 and STS-98, during which he participated in several spacewalks to enhance the ISS’s capabilities. Curbeam accumulated more than 37 days in space, with extensive EVA experience.

Joe F. Edwards, a U.S. Navy commander from Virginia, flew as pilot of STS-89, marking his sole mission to the Mir space station, where he spent nine days.

Dominic L.P. Gorie, from Louisiana and a U.S. Navy captain, participated in missions such as STS-91 and STS-99, which were pivotal for Mir docking and radar topography mapping. Gorie commanded later missions and accumulated more than 48 days in space.

Kathryn “Kay” P. Hire, a U.S. Navy Reserve captain from Alabama, served on STS-90 and STS-130, focusing on Neurolab research and ISS assembly, respectively, spending nearly 30 days in space.

Rick D. Husband, a U.S. Air Force colonel from Texas, flew on STS-96 and commanded STS-107, tragically losing his life in the Columbia disaster after logging nearly 26 days in space.

Janet L. Kavandi from Missouri, with a background in chemistry, flew on STS-91, STS-99, and STS-104, contributing significantly to the Shuttle-Mir program and ISS assembly, with 34 days logged in space.

Steven W. Lindsey, a U.S. Air Force colonel from California, was the only member of his class to fly five missions, including STS-87 and STS-95, accumulating nearly 63 days in space.

Edward T. Lu, with a doctorate in applied physics, participated in STS-84 and STS-106, and spent 185 days in space as part of Expedition 7, totaling 206 days in space across his missions.

Pamela A. Melroy, a U.S. Air Force colonel from California, flew as pilot on STS-92 and STS-112, and commanded STS-120, becoming one of the few female commanders in space history, with nearly 39 days in space.

Carlos I. Noriega, the first Peruvian-born astronaut, served on STS-84 and STS-97, participating in several spacewalks and spending 20 days in space.

James F. Reilly, with a background in geosciences, flew on STS-89, STS-104, and STS-117, contributing to Mir docking and ISS assembly, with more than 35 days in space.

Steven K. Robinson, with a doctorate in mechanical engineering, served on STS-85, STS-95, STS-114, and STS-130, participating in several spacewalks and logging 48 days in space.

Susan L. Still, a U.S. Navy commander from Georgia, flew as pilot on STS-83 and its reflight STS-94, spending 20 days in space.

Frederick “Rick” W. Sturckow, a U.S. Marine Corps colonel from California, participated in STS-88, STS-105, STS-117, and STS-128, contributing significantly to ISS assembly and logging more than 51 days in space.

International astronauts like Jean-Loup Chrétien, Takao Doi, Michel Tognini, and Dafydd “Dave” R. Williams also made substantial contributions to space exploration through their missions, bringing diverse perspectives and expertise to NASA’s endeavors.

Overall, the Group 15 astronauts collectively amassed 888 days in space, with substantial contributions to ISS assembly, scientific research, and international collaboration. Their work not only advanced space exploration but also strengthened international partnerships in space missions, leaving a lasting impact on the field of human spaceflight.
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