Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-39 launched on April 28, 1991, carrying L. Blaine Hammond as pilot for the first unclassified Department of Defense mission. This assignment marked the beginning of a spaceflight career that included extensive technical development roles at NASA and over 4,500 flight hours logged across 25 different aircraft types.
Academic and Military Foundation
Born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1952, Hammond graduated from Kirkwood High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in engineering, science, and mechanics from the United States Air Force Academy in 1973. He completed a Master of Science in the same disciplines at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1974. His military flight training concluded in 1975 at Reese Air Force Base, Texas. Between 1976 and 1979, he served with the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn Air Base in Germany, piloting F4E aircraft. He later returned to the United States to serve as an instructor pilot at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and eventually attended the Empire Test Pilots' School in the United Kingdom.
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In 1982, Hammond transitioned to Edwards Air Force Base, California, managing projects within the 6512 Test Squadron and instructing at the USAF Test Pilot School. Selected by NASA in May 1984, he qualified for flight crew assignment by June 1985. His technical contributions included serving as a spacecraft communicator in Mission Control and acting as an Astronaut Support Person during Kennedy Space Center operations. He led efforts for the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, overseeing software verification and upgrades, including the integration of Global Positioning System avionics and the Multifunctional Electronic Display System.
Spaceflight Missions
Hammond participated in two space flights. During STS-39, he logged 199 hours and 23 minutes of flight time as the seven-man crew conducted atmospheric research and supported the Strategic Defense Initiative Office. In 1994, he flew on STS-64 aboard Discovery. This mission involved the first use of lasers for environmental research, the deployment and retrieval of a solar science satellite, and the first untethered spacewalk in a decade to evaluate a self-rescue jetpack. He logged over 462 hours in space throughout his NASA career.
Post-NASA Professional Life
Following his second mission, Hammond completed five months of Russian language training in preparation for an operations role. He later served as the NASA liaison to the Air Force Space Command at Colorado Springs. His final assignments involved supervising flight support activities and monitoring safety issues for T-38, Shuttle, and Space Station operations. He currently works as a test pilot for Gulfstream Aerospace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Savannah
- Education: United States Air Force Academy, Georgia Tech
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Selected by NASA: May 1984
- Space Missions: STS-39, STS-64
- Total Space Flight Time: Over 462 hours
- Total Flight Time: Over 4,500 hours
- Current Occupation: Test pilot for Gulfstream Aerospace
Questions readers ask
What specific roles did Hammond hold at NASA besides flying?
He served as a spacecraft communicator in Mission Control, an Astronaut Support Person, and as a lead for software development, including cockpit display upgrades and GPS integration.
Which aircraft did Hammond pilot as an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School?
He flew the F-4, A-7 Corsair II, and A-37, and specialized in teaching stall/spin theory and High Angle of Attack programs.
Achievements
- Recorded as military officer and astronaut
