Peter Wisoff

Peter Jeffrey Kelsay Wisoff (born August 16, 1958) is an American physicist and former NASA astronaut. Wisoff qualified as mission specialist and flew in four Space Shuttle missions, with his first launch in 1993 and his last in 2000.

Career Wisoff graduated from Norfolk Academy, Norfolk, Virginia, in 1976, received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics (with highest distinction) from University of Virginia in 1980, a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University in 1982 and 1986 respectively.

NASA career

Selected by NASA in January 1990, Wisoff became an astronaut in July 1991. He is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. His technical assignments to date include: spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control; flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); coordinating flight crew equipment; evaluating extravehicular activity (EVA) equipment and techniques for the construction of Space Station; lead for the Payloads and Habitability Branch of the Astronaut Office. A veteran of four space flights, STS-57 in 1993, STS-68 in 1994, STS-81 in 1997 and STS-92 in 2000, Wisoff has logged a total of 42 days, 56 hours, 1 minute and 48 seconds in space, including 19 hours and 53 minutes of EVA time in three space walks. He totaled 13 hours and 16 minutes of EVA time in two spacewalks. The STS-92 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, traveling 5.3 million miles in 12 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds.

He is related to Charles Wisoff.

Awards and honors NASA Space Flight Medals (1993, 1994, 1997) NCR Faculty Award of Excellence (1989) National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship 1980-1983 Physics Prize and Shannon Award from the University of Virginia (1980) Selected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1979

Personal life He is married to fellow astronaut Tamara Jernigan.