More than 714 hours were logged by G. David Low during his tenure as a mission specialist and payload commander for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Over three shuttle flights, he contributed to critical orbital operations, including the retrieval of satellites and the early structural definition of the International Space Station.
Academic and Technical Foundation
Born in 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio, Low developed an extensive engineering background through a rigorous academic path. He attended Langley High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in physics and engineering from Washington and Lee University in 1978. He continued his studies with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Cornell University in 1980 and a Master of Science in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University in 1983. Additionally, his academic journey included studies at Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University.
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Before joining the astronaut corps, Low served as an engineer in the Spacecraft Systems Engineering Section at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 1980 to 1984. He focused on the design of the Galileo spacecraft and participated in early planning for planetary missions and autonomous maintenance studies. After graduate school, he returned to the facility as the lead systems engineer for the Mars Observer mission.
Spaceflight and EVA Operations
Selected as an astronaut in 1984, Low flew aboard the Space Shuttles Columbia, Atlantis, and Endeavour. His mission history included deploying communication satellites and retrieving hardware like the Long Duration Exposure Facility. During STS-57 in 1993, he performed a spacewalk lasting five hours and fifty minutes to adjust satellite antennas. Beyond flying, he worked in mission control as a spacecraft communicator for four shuttle missions.
Policy and Transition
Low held diverse administrative roles within NASA, including work on the Russian Integration Team to transition from Space Station Freedom to the International Space Station. He served as the manager of the EVA Integration and Operations Office and assisted the Legislative Affairs Office. In 1996, he transitioned to the private sector, joining the Launch Systems Group at Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Virginia.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Cleveland, Ohio
- Died: 2008, Reston, Virginia
- Education: Washington and Lee University, Cornell University, Stanford University
- Spaceflight hours: Over 714
- Notable missions: STS-32, STS-43, STS-57
- Final employer: Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Awards: 3 NASA Space Flight Medals, NASA Exceptional Service Medal
Questions readers ask
What was G. David Low's primary role on his final shuttle flight?
He served as the payload commander on STS-57 in 1993.
How is G. David Low commemorated in the aerospace industry?
The first Cygnus spacecraft to fly, the S.S. G. David Low, was named in his memory.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Harvard University, Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University
- Worked as astronaut and engineer
