Michael R. Clifford logged over 3,400 flight hours as a master aviator before completing three Space Shuttle missions. During his final orbital flight in 1996, he performed a landmark six-hour spacewalk while docked to the Russian space station Mir, marking a significant milestone in international collaborative space exploration between the United States and Russia.
Military Foundation and Training
Born in 1952 in San Bernardino, Clifford pursued a military career following his 1974 graduation from the United States Military Academy. He completed flight training in 1976 and served as an attack troop commander in West Germany. His expertise in aviation led to his selection for the United States Naval Test Pilot School, where he qualified as an experimental test pilot in 1986. He eventually attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before his retirement from the Army in 1995.
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Clifford joined the Johnson Space Center in 1987 as a shuttle integration engineer. Selected for NASA Astronaut Group 13 in 1990, he supported the development of extravehicular activity equipment and served as a payload specialist. His spaceflight career included three missions: STS-53 in 1992, STS-59 in 1994, and STS-76 in 1996. Over these missions, he spent 665 hours in space, conducting research on environmental monitoring and laser energy detection.
Medical Challenges and Transition
Shortly after his 1994 mission aboard Endeavour, Clifford received a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. He continued his flight operations despite the diagnosis, culminating in his historic spacewalk on the Atlantis mission. Following his retirement from the astronaut corps in 1997, he transitioned to the private sector, managing flight operations for the International Space Station at Boeing until 2011. He was honored for his public leadership in neurology in 2012.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, San Bernardino
- Died: 2021, North Myrtle Beach
- Education: United States Military Academy, Georgia Tech
- Military Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Space Flight Hours: 665
- Spacewalk Duration: 6 hours
- NASA Mission Count: 3
- Key Award: Legion of Merit
Questions readers ask
Did Michael R. Clifford continue flying after his Parkinson's diagnosis?
Yes, he completed the STS-76 mission in 1996 after his 1994 diagnosis, but he retired from flight status immediately following that mission.
What specific achievement marked his final space mission?
During STS-76, he became the first person to conduct a spacewalk from a Space Shuttle while it was docked to the Mir space station.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration and United States Military Academy
- Educated at United States Military Academy, Georgia Tech and United States Naval Test Pilot School
- Worked as military officer and astronaut
