- Commander Nicholas J. M. Patrick, PhD
- Astronaut
NASA Johnson Space Center
I was born in Yorkshire, in the North of England, and grew up between London, England and Rye, New York. After graduating from high school in London, I attended the University of Cambridge in England, where I earned a bachelor's degree in engineering, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where I earned a Master's degree and a PhD in mechanical engineering. In 1998, after working as an engineer for a large aerospace company in Seattle, I moved to Houston and joined the astronaut corps. The job of an astronaut is made up of equal parts of training and engineering, which makes for a very varied and exciting work week. The part of my job I enjoy the most is being able to work in Mission Control, from which we support ongoing missions to the International Space Station.
Like many of my colleagues, I was inspired by the Apollo landings of the late 1960s, and have been interested in aviation and space ever since then. The sea has also always held a fascination for me. As a young boy I wanted to be a naval architect, and spent much of my time designing, building, and sailing model boats.
I am very excited to be a part of this team of NASA engineers and astronauts aboard Aquarius because it will give me an opportunity to use my engineering, my diving, and my science skills… all in the kind of team environment we need for successful missions in space. I'm also looking forward to seeing the coral reef at night -- as an inhabitant rather than as a guest!
In what little spare time my children leave me, I like to read, fly, dive, and build things.
