The final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope in May 2009 relied on three spacewalks conducted by Andrew J. Feustel during the STS-125 flight. Selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in July 2000, he transitioned from a career in geophysics to becoming a veteran of three orbital missions and a commander of the International Space Station.
Academic and Technical Background
Born in 1965 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Feustel spent his youth in Lake Orion, Michigan. He graduated from Lake Orion High School in 1983 and earned an Associate of Science degree from Oakland Community College in 1985. His higher education continued at Purdue University, where he secured a Bachelor of Science in solid earth sciences in 1989 and a Master of Science in geophysics in 1991. He completed his formal education at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, obtaining a PhD in geological sciences in 1995. During his studies, he gained practical experience as an auto mechanic and an industrial glazier.
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Before joining the space program, Feustel built a career in industrial geophysics. He worked for the Engineering Seismology Group in Kingston, Ontario, for three years, focusing on microseismic monitoring equipment in underground mines across the United States and Eastern Canada. In 1997, he transitioned to the Exxon Exploration Company in Houston, Texas. There, he spent five years as an exploration geophysicist, overseeing seismic programs for land, marine, and borehole operations on a global scale.
NASA Service and Spaceflight
Following his selection by NASA in 2000, Feustel underwent extensive training, including missions in the Aquarius underwater laboratory and cave environments. His spaceflight career began with the STS-125 Hubble mission. He later participated in STS-134, the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour, which delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. In 2018, he launched aboard Soyuz MS-08 for a six-month duration, serving as a flight engineer for Expedition 55 and commander for Expedition 56. He concluded his NASA career by serving as Deputy Chief and acting Chief of the Astronaut Office before retiring in July 2023.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Selected as astronaut candidate: July 2000
- First spaceflight: May 2009
- PhD: Queen's University, 1995
- ISS Commander: Expedition 56
- Retired from NASA: July 2023
Questions readers ask
What was Feustel's role in the Hubble Space Telescope mission?
He served as a mission specialist on STS-125 and performed three spacewalks to help repair the telescope.
When did Feustel retire from NASA?
He retired from his position at NASA in July 2023.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Purdue University, Queen's University and Lake Orion High School
- Worked as astronaut, physicist and geophysicist
