Four separate applications were required before Donald A. Thomas successfully joined the NASA astronaut corps in 1990. During a career that spanned nearly two decades, he participated in four distinct Space Shuttle missions, accumulating over 1,040 hours of flight time. His professional trajectory bridges the gap between rigorous materials science research and the operational realities of human space exploration.
Early Scientific Career
Born in Cleveland in 1955, Thomas pursued a foundation in physics and materials science. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Case Western Reserve University in 1977 before completing a Master of Science and a Doctorate at Cornell University by 1982. His initial research centered on the superconducting properties of niobium. Following his graduation, he joined AT&T Bell Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey, where he focused on semiconductor device interconnections. He also gained teaching experience as an adjunct professor at Trenton State College.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Transition to NASA
In 1987, Thomas moved to Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company in Houston, Texas, to evaluate Space Shuttle payloads. He officially joined the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in 1988 as a materials engineer, tasked with projecting the lifespan of composite materials for Space Station Freedom. After being rejected twice from the astronaut program, he undertook flight training and academic advancement to distinguish his application. His persistence was rewarded with selection in January 1990, followed by qualification as an astronaut in July 1991.
Space Flight Experience
Thomas logged over 1,040 hours in space across four missions. His first flight, STS-65 on Columbia in 1994, set a Space Shuttle duration record at the time. In 1995, he served on STS-70, which involved deploying a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. He subsequently flew on two iterations of the Microgravity Science Laboratory mission, STS-83 and STS-94, in 1997. Beyond his flight duties, he served as a spacecraft communicator for multiple missions and as the NASA Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia.
Post-NASA Endeavors
Upon retiring from NASA in 2007, Thomas transitioned into academic leadership and public engagement. He currently serves as the head of the Willard Hackerman Academy of Mathematics and Science at Towson University. His post-NASA work includes authoring a book regarding his 1995 flight experience, titled Orbit of Discovery: The All-Ohio Space Shuttle Mission, published in 2013. He remains an active pilot, accumulating hundreds of flight hours in both jet aircraft and gliders.
Fast facts
- Born: 1955, Cleveland
- Education: Case Western Reserve University, Cornell University
- NASA Retirement: July 2007
- Total Spaceflight Time: Over 1,040 hours
- Key Award: NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1998)
- Current Occupation: University educator and administrator
Questions readers ask
How many times did Donald A. Thomas apply to the NASA astronaut program?
He applied four times before being accepted in 1990.
Which Space Shuttle missions did Thomas fly on?
He flew on STS-65, STS-70, STS-83, and STS-94.
Achievements
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- Recorded as astronaut, university teacher and engineer
