In 2002, John Herrington became the first enrolled citizen of a Native American tribe to travel into space. Serving as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, he carried the flag of the Chickasaw Nation on a thirteen-day flight to the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone in both aerospace history and indigenous representation.
Early Life and Naval Service
Born in 1958 in Wetumka, Oklahoma, Herrington spent his formative years in Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas. After graduating from Plano Senior High School, he pursued a degree in applied mathematics at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He received his commission in the United States Navy in 1984, subsequently qualifying as a Naval Aviator. Throughout his military tenure, he served in Patrol Squadron Forty-Eight, accumulating experience as a Patrol Plane Commander and instructor pilot. He later attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School and earned a Master of Science in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1995.
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Selected by NASA in 1996, Herrington underwent two years of specialized training before qualifying as a mission specialist. In November 2002, he launched on mission STS-113 to deliver the P1 Truss segment to the International Space Station. Over the course of the thirteen-day mission, he conducted three spacewalks lasting nearly twenty hours. These activities are featured on the reverse side of the 2019 Sacagawea dollar coin. He remained with the agency until 2005, during which time he participated in the NEEMO 6 mission, spending ten days as a commander aboard an underwater laboratory.
Post-NASA Endeavors
Following his retirement from NASA and the Navy in 2005, Herrington accepted a position as the Director of Flight Operations for Rocketplane Limited, Inc. In 2008, he completed a cross-country bicycle trip spanning from Cape Flattery, Washington, to Cape Canaveral, Florida. Beyond his professional transition into the private sector, Herrington has focused on public speaking and education. In 2014, he earned a PhD in education from the University of Idaho. He authored the 2016 children's book Mission to Space, which introduces young readers to astronaut training and includes a glossary of space terms translated into the Chickasaw language.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Wetumka
- Citizenship: United States
- Military Rank: Commander
- Spaceflight: STS-113 (2002)
- Underwater Mission: NEEMO 6 (2004)
- Education: PhD in Education, University of Idaho
- Tribal Affiliation: Chickasaw Nation
- Notable Recognition: Chickasaw Hall of Fame (2002)
Questions readers ask
Was John Herrington the first Native American in space?
Yes, he was the first enrolled citizen of a Native American tribe to fly in space.
What was his role during the STS-113 mission?
He served as a mission specialist and performed three spacewalks to support the installation of the P1 Truss segment on the International Space Station.
Has he participated in any underwater research?
Yes, he commanded the NEEMO 6 mission in 2004, which involved living and working in the Aquarius underwater laboratory for ten days.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Naval Postgraduate School, University of Colorado Colorado Springs and United States Naval Test Pilot School
- Worked as astronaut, United States Naval Aviator and hydronaut
