Stephen Bowen

Stephen Gerard Bowen (born February 13, 1964) is a United States Navy submariner and a NASA astronaut; he was the second submariner to travel into space. Bowen has been on four spaceflights, the first three of which were Space Shuttle missions to the International Space Station. His first mission, STS-126, took place in November 2008, and his second was STS-132 in May 2010. His third was STS-133 in February 2011, and his fourth was SpaceX Crew-6 in March 2023.

In March 2011, Bowen completed his third spaceflight as a mission specialist on STS-133, which was Space Shuttle Discovery's final planned flight. Having flown on both STS-132 and STS-133, he became the first and only astronaut to fly on consecutive shuttle missions. Originally Tim Kopra was scheduled to fly on STS-133, but had a bicycle injury shortly before the mission, and so he was replaced by Bowen. On December 16, 2021, NASA assigned Bowen as commander of SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the ISS, launched in March 2023.

Personal life and early education Bowen resides in Friendswood, Texas. He is married to Deborah Alden; they have three children. He graduated from Cohasset High School, Cohasset, Massachusetts in 1982, received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1986 and received a Master of Science degree in ocean engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Pi Sigma.

Military career Upon completion of the submarine training pipeline, Bowen spent three years attached to and completed qualification in submarines on . After attending the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Ocean Engineering he reported to for duty as the Engineering Officer. During this tour, he qualified for command of nuclear powered submarines. In 1997, he reported to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in the Office of Plans and Policy and worked on the USSOCOM Future Concepts Working Group. For nine months in 1999, he was the Reactor and Propulsion inspector for the Navy's Submarine Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). In May 2000 he became the first Executive Officer of the Pre-Commissioning Unit , the first of the new s.

STS-126

Bowen was then assigned to the crew of STS-126, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, which launched November 14, 2008, to the International Space Station. STS-126 carried a reusable logistics module that held supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, exercise apparatus, equipment for the regenerative life support system, and spare hardware.

During STS-126, Bowen participated in three spacewalks, for a total time of 19 hours, 56 minutes.

STS-132

Bowen's next mission was STS-132, aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, which launched on May 14, 2010, to the ISS. While docked to the station, Bowen conducted two spacewalks and logged 14 hours and 34 minutes of EVA time. Bowen conducted two spacewalks and logged 12 hours and 48 minutes of EVA time.

SpaceX Crew-6

On December 16, 2021, Bowen was named commander for NASA's SpaceX Crew-6. The flight lifted off on March 2, 2023 to the International Space Station, using Crew Dragon Endeavour.

Awards and honors Defense Meritorious Service Medal Navy Commendation Medals (3) Navy Achievement Medals (2)