Rick Husband

Rick Douglas Husband (July 12, 1957 – February 1, 2003) was an American astronaut and fighter pilot. He traveled into space twice: as pilot of STS-96 and commander of STS-107. Husband and the rest of the crew of STS-107 were killed when Columbia disintegrated during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. He is also a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Early life, education and training Husband was born on July 12, 1957, in Amarillo, Texas. At age 17, he earned his pilot's license while flying out of Tradewind Airport. Husband graduated with honors from Amarillo High School in 1975.

Husband earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University in 1980 after five years of study. He earned his Master of Science degree from Fresno State University. Upon graduation, Husband was commissioned as a pilot in the United States Air Force, having been enrolled in ROTC his last two years of college. Husband underwent pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, in Enid, Oklahoma. This was followed by Land Survival School at Fairchild Air Force Base, in Spokane, Washington, and Fighter Lead-in School in New Mexico. After he got married on February 27, 1982, Husband trained in the F-4 at Homestead Air Force Base next.

U.S. Air Force career Husband was assigned to a squadron at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia, flying the F-4E. He then transferred to George AFB, in Victorville, California in December 1985, where Husband became an F-4 instructor. By then, he had accumulated 1000 hours of flying time. run by the Ramon Foundation in memory of Ilan Ramon. Involves the writing of new Wikipedia entries on a variety of space and STEM related topics. Husband Hill, one of the Columbia Hills on Mars. Asteroid 51823 Rickhusband. Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, in his hometown of Amarillo, Texas. Husband Auditorium, Squadron Officer School building, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Rick Husband Boulevard Howardwick, Texas. Rick Husband Drive, El Paso, Texas. Husband-Boeing Engineering Honors Program at California State University, Fresno S.S. Rick Husband, the Cygnus CRS OA-6 uncrewed resupply spacecraft. The lunar crater Husband is named after Husband.

Personal life

Husband's wife, Evelyn (born September 18, 1958), details her Christian life with Rick and his struggles to fulfill his lifelong dream to become an astronaut in the 2004 book High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband co-written with Donna VanLiere. They had two children together: Laura Marie (born October 5, 1990) and Matthew (born August 3, 1995). Evelyn married Bill Thompson in January 2008 and was the keynote speaker for the memorial ceremony at the Astronaut Memorial "Space Mirror" at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, five years after the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy.

In popular culture American actor Brian David portrayed Rick Husband in the American TV series Seconds from Disaster Season 2: Episode 1 (2005) called "Space Shuttle Columbia".