Alumnus Prepares for Mission in Space

SEAN WESLEY
THE SIGNAL
NASA Expedition 38 is planned to liftoff in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhastan Nov. 6. The expedition will carry three astronauts to the International Space Station, including one UHCL alumnus.

Richard “Rick” Mastracchio began training as an astronaut candidate for NASA in 1996 after a long road of education and work.

Mastracchio was born in Waterbury, Conn., where he graduated from Crosby High School in 1978.

“While growing up, I was always interested in science, math, airplanes and space travel,” Mastracchio recalled. “Though, I never dreamed of being an astronaut until I was 26 years old and saw an ad in a magazine.”

After high school, Mastracchio earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical/computer science from the University of Connecticut in 1982.

After a five-year stint working as an engineer for Hamilton Sundstrand’s Systems Design Group in Conn., Mastracchio came to Houston to work for Rockwell Shuttle Operations Company at NASA in 1987.

It was during this time that Mastracchio came to UHCL to continue his education by pursuing a Master of Science degree in physical science.

“I started at UHCL right after I moved to Houston and began an engineering job at JSC,” Mastracchio said. “It was tough to go to school at night and work all day, but it was worth the effort.”

In 1990, Mastracchio was hired to work directly for NASA as an engineer in the Flight Crew Operations Directorate.

Mastracchio graduated from UHCL in 1991.

In 1993, Mastracchio became an ascent/entry guidance and procedures officer for NASA. He performed this job until 1996 when he was accepted as an astronaut candidate.

After being accepted, Mastracchio still had two years of training before being recognized as an official astronaut.

Mastracchio is not the first UHCL alumnus to achieve great things at NASA and in the wider community.

“Because of UHCL’s unique location in NASA Johnson Space Center’s backyard, we have had the pleasure of several astronaut alumni who have traveled into space,” said UHCL President William Staples.

UHCL has educated astronauts such as Guion Bluford, Gregory Chamitoff, Michael Fincke, Michael Fossum, Gregory Harbaugh, Bruce McCandless II and Story Musgrave.

“Rick is one of 10 astronaut alumni, and we take great pride in their accomplishments as well as the achievements of all of our 57,000 alumni,” said Mindi Funderburg, senior coordinator of outreach and communications of UHCL’s Office of Alumni and Community Relations.

Since becoming an astronaut, Mastracchio has flown three missions for NASA aboard the space shuttle.

In 2000, Mastracchio served as mission specialist on the STS-106 mission. He performed tasks such as ascent/entry engineer and primary operator of the robotic arm.

Mastracchio returned to space in 2007 on the STS-118 mission where he again acted as ascent/entry engineer and mission specialist. It was this mission where Mastracchio performed his first spacewalk, participating in three out of four extravehicular activities (EVAs).

In 2010, Mastracchio flew on the STS-131 mission as mission specialist. Mastracchio participated in all three mission EVAs, putting him at a total time of 38.5 hours of EVA for his career.

In November, Mastracchio will once again visit the International Space Station; however, for Expedition 38, he will launch in the Soyuz spacecraft and serve as flight engineer. He will return to Earth on Expedition 39.

The work done on Expedition 38 will potentially prove to be beneficial for both NASA’s future goals as well as human life on Earth.

“Mr. Mastracchio will be spending his time on ISS doing a broad range of research including research into how materials burn in microgravity which has application back on Earth for combustion processes and how to make them more efficient,” said Marybeth Edeen, deputy manager of the Research Integration Office of NASA’s International Space Station Program. “Research will be done on protein growth which is applicable to developing new drugs. Rick will be a subject himself for the various human research investigations that are done to understand how the human body adapts to microgravity which is critical for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.”

Staples points out that many UHCL alumni have gone on to do many great things.

“I would say that, like astronaut Rick, our students should continue to soar and strive for success in all that they do,” Staples said.

When asked what advice he could offer to current students beginning the new year at UHCL, Mastracchio offered his wisdom.

“The best advice I can give is to study something you enjoy and work hard at it,” Mastracchio said. “The future benefits will be well worth it.”