Andrew M. Allen accumulated over 900 hours in space across three separate missions as a NASA astronaut. Commissioned as a United States Marine Corps officer in 1977, he transitioned from high-performance jet operations to the testing and development of flight control systems and avionics software for the Space Shuttle fleet before commanding his final mission.
Military Service and Flight Training
Allen earned his commission at Villanova University in 1977. His early career involved flying F-4 Phantoms with squadron VMFA-312 in South Carolina. After transitioning to the F/A-18 Hornet with VMFA-531 in California, he completed the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, commonly known as Top Gun. In 1987, he graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, having logged over 6,000 flight hours across more than 30 aircraft types.
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Selected as an astronaut in 1987, Allen assumed technical responsibilities that bridged engineering and operations. He served as a representative for Shuttle landing hardware and as a contributor to the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory. Later, he directed space station requirements at NASA Headquarters and led workforce reviews at the Kennedy Space Center to optimize management structures for the Space Shuttle program.
Spaceflight Missions
Allen flew as a pilot on STS-46 in 1992 and STS-62 in 1994, completing 126 and 224 orbits, respectively. During the 1996 STS-75 mission, he served as mission commander. Over these three flights, he oversaw experiments involving microgravity, tethered satellite systems, and biotechnology, contributing to research on metal alloys and semiconductors.
Post-NASA Business Career
After retiring from the Marine Corps and leaving NASA in 1997, Allen moved into the private sector. Since 2006, he has served as the CEO and owner of Aerodyne Industries, a firm based in Cape Canaveral, Florida, originally established by his father, Dr. Charles Allen, in 1968. He holds an MBA from the University of Florida.
Fast facts
- Born: 1955, Philadelphia
- Flight Hours: Over 6,000
- Space Missions: 3
- Time in Space: Over 900 hours
- Education: Villanova University; University of Florida
- Military Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Current Role: CEO, Aerodyne Industries
- Key Award: Dr. Kurt Debus Award, 2017
Questions readers ask
What aircraft did Allen fly during his military career?
He flew F-4 Phantoms and F/A-18 Hornets, accumulating over 6,000 flight hours in total across more than 30 different aircraft.
Which Space Shuttle missions did he command?
He served as the mission commander for STS-75 in 1996, his final space flight.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at University of Florida, Villanova University and United States Naval Test Pilot School
- Worked as military officer and astronaut
