Michael Scott Hopkins, a United States Space Force colonel, reached space as the first member of his NASA astronaut class to fly. Born in 1968 in Lebanon, Missouri, he transitioned from a military test pilot career to become a central figure in international space exploration, ultimately conducting multiple spacewalks and serving as a key participant in both Soyuz and SpaceX missions.
Academic and Early Military Foundations
Hopkins graduated from the School of the Osage High School in 1987 before attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He earned a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering in 1991 and played defensive back for the university football team, receiving the Big Ten Medal of Honor. He subsequently completed a Master of Science in aerospace engineering at Stanford University in 1992. Commissioned as an Air Force officer that same year, he trained at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, graduating as a distinguished flight test engineer. His early career included assignments testing C-17 and C-130 aircraft and working with the Rapid Capabilities Project Office at the Pentagon.
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Selected for NASA Astronaut Group 20 in 2009, Hopkins completed two years of intensive training in robotics, spacewalks, and station systems. In September 2013, he launched on Soyuz TMA-10M to join Expedition 37 and 38. During this 166-day mission, he performed two spacewalks with Rick Mastracchio to conduct maintenance on the International Space Station exterior. He returned to Earth in March 2014, landing in Kazakhstan, and was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal later that year.
SpaceX Crew-1 and Space Force Transfer
In 2018, Hopkins was assigned to SpaceX Crew-1, the first operational mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon. The mission launched in November 2020 with Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi. While aboard the station on December 18, 2020, Hopkins participated in a ceremony to transfer from the United States Air Force to the United States Space Force, becoming the first astronaut to do so. In January 2021, he completed his third spacewalk alongside Glover to upgrade the Columbus module.
Fast facts
- Born: 1968, Lebanon, Missouri
- Military Rank: Colonel, United States Space Force
- Education: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Stanford University
- First Spaceflight: Soyuz TMA-10M (2013)
- NASA Selection: 2009 (Astronaut Group 20)
- Awards: NASA Distinguished Service Medal (2014)
- Primary Occupation: Astronaut, Test Pilot
Questions readers ask
Was Mike Hopkins a member of the Air Force?
Yes, he served over 27 years in the United States Air Force before transferring to the United States Space Force in 2020.
Which spacecraft did he pilot?
He flew on the Russian Soyuz TMA-10M for his first mission and the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience for his second mission.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Stanford University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Osage High School
- Worked as air force officer, astronaut and test pilot
