- Robert L. Behnken
- Astronaut
Johnson Space Center
I grew up in St. Ann, Missouri and graduated from High School in 1988. I attended Washington University in St. Louis, and graduated with B.S. degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering. While an undergraduate, I participated in Air Force ROTC and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation. The summer following graduation, I worked at the Institute for Rehabilitation Research at the Medical Center in Houston, Texas, investigating artificial implant materials. In the fall of 1992, I started graduate school in Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. I completed an M.S. degree in 1993 and a Ph.D. in 1997.
After completing my Ph.D. thesis, I entered active duty in the United States Air Force and served as a development engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. In 1998 I was selected to attend the Air Force Test Pilot School and upon graduation I started work at the F-22 Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in California. I worked as a test engineer flying in F-15 and F-16 test support aircraft until my selection into the Astronaut office in 2000.
After selection as an Astronaut I completed training on Space Shuttle and Space Station systems, spacewalking techniques, and on-orbit robotics operations. Following this initial training, I began working as what’s known as a “Cape Crusader.” The Cape Crusaders are a team of astronauts that support operations of the Space Shuttle before launch and after landing. We configure the shuttle so that the crew that will launch can be well rested on launch day. We also take over operations of the shuttle after landing. Most recently, I supported launch operations for the STS-121 mission which launched on 4 July 2006. I have also spent time training on Space Station systems in Star City, Russia, and on supporting development of the Japanese H2 Transfer Vehicle in Tsukuba, Japan.
I feel that learning is a life long activity and continue to strive to learn new things and find new experiences. My current job allows for quite a bit of this! One day it’s learning Russian language or space walk training in Houston, and the next could be supporting a shuttle launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida or cross country flying in a high performance jet airplane. I always find these challenges exciting, and I look forward to experiencing life as an “aquanaut”.
