Space Shuttle Endeavour carried Eric Boe into orbit on November 14, 2008, marking his debut mission as a pilot. A career military aviator and engineer, Boe moved from combat operations over Iraq to the specialized technical demands of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, accumulating more than 6,000 flight hours across over 50 different aircraft types during his professional tenure.
Military Aviation Background
Boe graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1987. His early military service included pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base and flying the F-4 Phantom II in the Philippines. By 1994, he had transitioned to the F-15 Eagle. During his service, he executed 55 combat missions in Iraq to support Operation Southern Watch. His career later shifted toward developmental testing after he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in 1997. As a director of test at Eglin Air Force Base, he evaluated multiple iterations of the F-15 alongside the UH-1N helicopter.
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Selected as an astronaut candidate in July 2000, Boe joined the Johnson Space Center for two years of evaluation. His first mission, STS-126, utilized Space Shuttle Endeavour. He returned to space as a pilot on STS-133, which served as the final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery and neared the conclusion of the Space Shuttle program. Following these missions, his technical responsibilities within the Astronaut Office included the development of displays and controls for next-generation space vehicles.
Commercial Crew Development
In 2015, NASA designated Boe as one of the initial astronauts tasked with preparing for U.S. commercial spaceflights. He began collaborative training with Boeing and SpaceX to evaluate their respective crew vehicles. By August 2018, he received an assignment for the Boe-CFT mission, intended to be the maiden test flight of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner. In January 2019, NASA announced that medical requirements prevented him from participating in the flight, resulting in his replacement by Michael Fincke.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Miami
- Education: United States Air Force Academy, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Primary Employer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Total Flight Hours: Over 6,000
- Space Missions: STS-126, STS-133
- Military Aircraft Flown: F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle
- Notable Awards: Air Medal
Questions readers ask
Which Space Shuttle missions did Eric Boe pilot?
He served as the pilot for STS-126 and STS-133.
Why did Eric Boe not fly on the Boeing CST-100 Starliner test flight?
NASA announced in January 2019 that he was unable to fly the mission due to medical reasons.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, United States Air Force Academy and Georgia Tech
- Worked as military officer, astronaut and engineer
