Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-73 launched on October 20, 1995, carrying Albert Sacco as a payload specialist. This flight, which concluded with a landing at the Kennedy Space Center on November 5, 1995, marked a significant intersection between academic chemical engineering and the practical demands of orbital space exploration for the Boston-born professional.
Academic Foundations and Research
Sacco earned his Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering at Northeastern University in 1973. He continued his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, completing his Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 1977. His early career focused on faculty roles at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he attained the rank of full professor and served as department head starting in 1989.
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Following his contributions to the STS-73 mission, Sacco was later selected as a payload specialist for the STS-107 flight. He underwent two months of intensive training with the mission crew before NASA and the United States government replaced him with Ilan Ramon. The STS-107 mission ultimately resulted in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
Administrative Leadership
In his professional life outside of active astronaut service, Sacco moved into higher education leadership. He held the position of Dean of the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech University for over a decade, serving from January 1, 2011, until August 16, 2022. Beginning in August 2023, he assumed duties as the Provost and Dean of the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering.
Fast facts
- Born: 1949, Boston
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: Northeastern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Space Mission: STS-73, Space Shuttle Columbia
- Academic Role: Provost and Dean, Olin College of Engineering
- Previous Institution: Texas Tech University
Questions readers ask
What was Albert Sacco's role on STS-73?
He served as a payload specialist during the flight which occurred in 1995.
Did Sacco fly on the STS-107 mission?
No, although he trained for two months as a payload specialist, he was replaced by Ilan Ramon before the flight took place.
Achievements
- Recorded as astronaut and professor
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