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Richard M. Linnehan

b. 1957

American astronaut

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About Richard M. Linnehan

Born 1957. Richard M. Linnehan is an American astronaut and veterinarian.

Spaceflight experience STS-78 LMS (June 20 to July 7, 1996). The Life Sciences and Microgravity Spacelab mission was flown aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. The 17-day flight included studies sponsored by ten nations and five space agencies, and was the first mission to combine both a full microgravity studies agenda and a comprehensive life sciences payload. STS-78 orbited the Earth 271 times, and covered in 405 hours and 48 minutes.

STS-90 Neurolab (April 17 to May 3, 1998) was Linnehan's second Spacelab mission. During the 16-day flight the seven-person crew aboard Space Shuttle Columbia served as both experimental subjects and operators for 26 individual life science experiments focusing on the effects of microgravity on the brain and nervous system. STS-90 orbited the Earth 256 times, and covered in 381 hours and 50 minutes. Both missions served as a model for future life sciences studies on board the International Space Station.

STS-109 HST Servicing Mission 3B (March 1 to March 12, 2002) was the fourth Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing mission and Linnehan's third flight aboard Columbia. The crew of STS-109 successfully upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope's systems over the course of five consecutive EVAs, leaving it with a new power control unit, improved solar arrays, the new Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), and an experimental refrigeration unit for cooling the dormant Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS). With his teammate John Grunsfeld, Linnehan performed three of the five spacewalks totaling 21 hours and 9 minutes. STS-109 orbited the Earth 165 times and covered in just over 262 hours.

STS-123 (March 11 to March 26, 2008) was Linnehan's fourth spaceflight, and his first aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission delivered the Japanese Logistics Module and the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator to the International Space Station. Linnehan performed three of the five scheduled spacewalks on STS-123 with Garrett Reisman, Mike Foreman and Bob Behnken.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Ohio State University, University of New Hampshire, Pelham High School
Employers
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, North Carolina State University
Awards
NASA Distinguished Service Medal; NASA Space Flight Medal; NASA Exceptional Service Medal; NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
Also known as
Richard Michael Linnehan

People in Richard M. Linnehan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Richard M. Linnehan's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Richard M. Linnehan?

American astronaut

When was Richard M. Linnehan born?

Richard M. Linnehan was born on 19 September 1957 in Lowell.

What is Richard M. Linnehan's occupation?

Richard M. Linnehan is an astronaut and veterinarian.

What nationality is Richard M. Linnehan?

Richard M. Linnehan is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Richard M. Linnehan

· Wikidata: Q520618

· DBpedia: Richard M. Linnehan

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Richard M. Linnehan. https://biography.guide/richard-m-linnehan/

MLA: "Richard M. Linnehan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/richard-m-linnehan/.

Chicago: "Richard M. Linnehan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/richard-m-linnehan/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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