During the 1996 STS-72 mission, Daniel T. Barry and astronaut Koichi Wakata played the board game Go, marking the first time the game was played in space. For this feat, the Nihon Kiin awarded Barry the honorary rank of Ni Dan, an accolade held by only four Western players in history.
Academic Foundation
Born in 1953 in Norwalk, Barry graduated from Bolton High School in 1971. He earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Cornell University in 1975, followed by a PhD in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University in 1980. His doctoral research examined the intersection of electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction regarding photoreceptor membranes. He subsequently obtained a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Miami in 1982.
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After completing a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan in 1985, Barry joined the faculty there as an assistant professor. His research focused on signal processing within biological systems, including the study of heart sounds and muscle physiology. His efforts were supported by institutions such as the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association of Michigan. He has since been awarded five patents and authored over 50 scientific articles.
NASA Service
Selected by NASA in 1992, Barry served as a mission specialist across three shuttle flights. Between 1996 and 2001, he logged 734 hours in orbit, including four spacewalks totaling nearly 26 hours. His missions included the retrieval of the Space Flyer Unit on STS-72, the first docking with the International Space Station on STS-96, and delivering critical supplies via the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module on STS-105. He retired from the agency in 2005.
Robotics and Media Appearances
Post-NASA, Barry transitioned into the private sector, founding Denbar Robotics and serving as an executive at Singularity University from 2009 to 2012. He also pursued television, appearing as a contestant on Survivor: Panama in 2006 and participating in the robot combat series BattleBots in 2016. In 2021, he provided technical script consultation for the feature film Stowaway.
Fast facts
- Born: 1953, Norwalk
- Undergraduate Degree: Cornell University
- Doctoral Institution: Princeton University
- Medical School: University of Miami
- NASA Selection: March 1992
- Space Missions: STS-72, STS-96, STS-105
- Total Spacewalks: 4
- Spouse: Susan R. Barry
Questions readers ask
How many spacewalks did Daniel T. Barry conduct?
He completed four spacewalks during his career, accumulating a total time of 25 hours and 53 minutes.
What is Barry's educational background?
He holds a BS from Cornell, a PhD from Princeton, and an MD from the University of Miami.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration and University of Michigan
- Educated at Princeton University, Cornell University and Bolton High School
- Worked as astronaut, engineer and reality television participant
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