Space Shuttle mission STS-51-F carried John-David F. Bartoe into orbit between July 29 and August 6, 1985. As a civilian payload specialist for the United States Navy, he logged over 190 hours in space. During this mission, he traveled more than 2.8 million miles across 126 Earth orbits while conducting research on solar physics.
Academic Foundation
Born in 1944 in Abington Township, Pennsylvania, Bartoe pursued his education at two major institutions. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Lehigh University in 1966. Subsequently, he attended Georgetown University, where he completed his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in physics in 1974 and 1976, respectively.
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Between 1966 and 1988, Bartoe maintained a tenure as an astrophysicist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. His professional output during these two decades included the publication of more than 60 papers focused on solar physics observations and instrumentation. His expertise in this field served as the basis for his selection as a co-investigator on two specific solar physics investigations conducted during the Spacelab 2 flight.
NASA Leadership Roles
Following his transition from research to administrative oversight, Bartoe held several key positions within NASA. He served as the Chief Scientist for the Space Station from 1987 to 1990. Following this, he functioned as the Director of Operations and Utilization in the Space Station Office at NASA Headquarters from 1990 until 1994. Currently, he serves as the Research Manager at the Johnson Space Center, where he provides oversight regarding research capability, hardware, and planning.
Professional Affiliations and Recognition
Bartoe is an active member of the Association of Space Explorers and serves as Chairman of the Space Stations Committee within the International Astronautical Federation. His career has been marked by several formal recognitions, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Flight Achievement Award from the American Astronautical Society, the NASA Space Flight Medal, and the NASA Skylab Achievement Award.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Abington Township, Pennsylvania
- Education: Lehigh University, Georgetown University
- Occupation: Astrophysicist, Astronaut, Physicist
- Space Mission: STS-51-F
- Spaceflight duration: Over 190 hours
- Research output: Over 60 papers
Questions readers ask
What was the focus of Bartoe's research during his 1985 spaceflight?
He served as a co-investigator for two solar physics investigations during the Spacelab 2 flight, which aimed to study the features of the outer layers of the Sun.
What are Bartoe's current responsibilities at NASA?
As the Research Manager at the Johnson Space Center, he oversees research plans, research hardware, and research capabilities.
Achievements
- Educated at Georgetown University and Lehigh University
- Worked as astronaut, astrophysicist and physicist
