STS-98 Mission Specialist 1: Robert Curbeam

Crew Member

Robert L. Curbeam

NAME: Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., (Commander, USN)
NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: Born March 5, 1962, in Baltimore, Maryland. Married to the former Julie Dawn Lein; they have two children. He enjoys weightlifting, biking, and family activities.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Woodlawn High School, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1980. Bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Naval Academy, 1984. Master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, 1990. Degree of aeronautical & astronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, 1991.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and the Association of Old Crows.

SPECIAL HONORS: Fighter Wing One Radar Intercept Officer of the Year for 1989, U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Best Developmental Thesis (DT-II) Award, two Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Battle Efficiency Award, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

EXPERIENCE: Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, Curbeam commenced Naval Flight Officer training in 1984. In 1986 he reported to Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11) and made overseas deployments to the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, and the Arctic and Indian Oceans on board the USS Forrestal (CV-59). During his tour in VF-11, he also attended Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun). Upon completion of Test Pilot School in December 1991, he reported to the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate where he was the project officer for the F-14A/B Air-to-Ground Weapons Separation Program. In August 1994, he returned to the U.S. Naval Academy as an instructor in the Weapons and Systems Engineering Department.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in December 1994, Curbeam reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. He completed a year of training and evaluation and was assigned to the Computer Support Branch of the Astronaut Office. In 1997 he flew as a mission specialist on STS-85. In completing his first flight Curbeam logged 284 hours and 27 minutes in space. More recently, he served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) responsible for relaying all voice communication between Mission Control and crews aboard the Space Shuttle. Currently, Curbeam is assigned to STS-98, Space Station Assembly Mission 5A, targeted for launch in 2001. The STS-98 crew will deliver the U.S. Laboratory Module to the Space Station, and Curbeam will help install the Lab with a series of three spacewalks. The STS-98 mission will provide the station with science research facilities and expand its power, life support and control capabilities.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-85 (August 7-19, 1997) was a 12-day mission during which the crew deployed and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS payload, operated the Japanese Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm, studied changes in the Earth's atmosphere and tested technology destined for use on the future International Space Station. The mission was accomplished in 189 Earth orbits, traveling 4.7 million miles in 284 hours and 27 minutes.

MAY 2000

Updated: 01/11/2001

Editorial/Technical Comments: ShuttlePresskit