Commanding five distinct spaceflight missions, James Donald Wetherbee remains the only American to achieve that specific operational milestone during his career with NASA. A former United States Navy captain and test pilot, he spent decades integrating complex aerospace systems and navigating the Shuttle program through critical logistics and docking maneuvers before his transition into private safety consultancy.
Naval Aviation and Test Pilot Training
Born in Flushing, New York, in 1952, Wetherbee earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1974. He received his commission in the United States Navy the following year and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1976. After flying the A-7E with Attack Squadron 72, he attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1981. His work at the Systems Engineering Test Directorate involved weapons delivery and avionics integration for F/A-18 aircraft, contributing to his total of over 7,000 flight hours and 345 carrier landings.
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Selected as an astronaut candidate in 1984, Wetherbee piloted STS-32 in 1990. He subsequently commanded five missions: STS-52, STS-63, STS-86, STS-102, and STS-113. His flight history included the deployment of the LAGEOS satellite and the first joint flight of the Russian-American Space Program. His final mission, STS-113, concluded in December 2002 as the last Shuttle flight before the Columbia disaster.
Administrative Leadership and Safety
Wetherbee served as the deputy director of the Johnson Space Center between 1995 and 2000 and led the Flight Crew Operations Directorate from 2000 to 2002. He later acted as a technical assistant to the Director of the Safety & Mission Assurance Directorate. Following his retirement from the Navy in 2003 and departure from NASA in 2005, he joined BP as a safety auditor, serving until 2014. He now functions as a consultant for leadership in hazardous environments and as a professional drummer.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Flushing, New York
- Education: University of Notre Dame, U.S. Naval Test Pilot School
- Military Rank: Captain
- Space Missions: Six
- NASA Distinguished Service Medals: Four
- Current Occupation: Consultant, Musician
- Hall of Fame: United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- Shuttle Record: Five successful command missions
Questions readers ask
How many space missions did Jim Wetherbee command?
He commanded five separate spaceflight missions.
Did he serve on the International Space Station?
Yes, he piloted missions that conducted docking operations with both the Mir space station and the International Space Station.
Achievements
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at University of Notre Dame and United States Naval Test Pilot School
- Worked as military officer, astronaut and military flight engineer
