Operating the world's first amateur radio station from orbit, Owen K. Garriott established a lasting link between space flight and terrestrial hobbyists. This milestone occurred in 1983 during the STS-9 mission, demonstrating that portable, high-frequency technology could function effectively within the confines of a space shuttle, eventually paving the way for consistent communication between orbiting crews and Earth-based stations.
Academic and Military Foundation
Born in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1930, Garriott graduated from Enid High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1953. His technical career began during his service as an electronics officer in the United States Navy from 1953 to 1956. He subsequently pursued advanced studies at Stanford University, completing his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in 1957 and 1960. As an assistant and associate professor at Stanford, he focused his research on ionospheric physics, eventually authoring or co-authoring more than 45 scientific papers and a book.
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Selected as one of NASA's initial group of six scientist-astronauts in 1965, Garriott completed United States Air Force pilot training the following year. His first spaceflight was the 1973 Skylab 3 mission, which spanned over 59 days. During this period, he and his crew conducted extensive experiments concerning human weightlessness adaptation and solar observations. Notably, he orchestrated a recording of his wife, Helen, to surprise mission controllers, an event often remembered as the Skylab stowaway prank. In 1983, he participated in his second flight, the 10-day STS-9 mission aboard Space Shuttle Columbia, which involved over 70 multidisciplinary experiments.
Post-NASA Endeavors
After retiring from NASA in 1986, Garriott served as vice president of space programs at Teledyne Brown Engineering, where he oversaw payload integration for Spacelab projects. He later transitioned into academic research as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. His biological work involved studying extremophilic microbes retrieved from deep-sea hydrothermal vents near the Azores and extreme alkaline lakes. He also conducted field research in Antarctica, leading to the collection of 20 meteorites for scientific study. Garriott passed away in Huntsville, Alabama, on April 15, 2019.
Fast facts
- Born: 1930, Enid, Oklahoma
- Died: 2019, Huntsville, Alabama
- Education: University of Oklahoma (BS), Stanford University (MS, PhD)
- Space Missions: Skylab 3 (1973), STS-9 (1983)
- Notable Achievement: First amateur radio contact from space (1983)
- Military Service: United States Navy electronics officer (1953-1956)
- Notable Awards: NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1973), US Astronaut Hall of Fame
Questions readers ask
What was Owen K. Garriott's role in amateur radio history?
He operated the first amateur radio station in space on December 1, 1983, during the STS-9 mission using a Motorola handheld radio.
Did Garriott have any family members who also became astronauts?
Yes, his son Richard Garriott became a space tourist, launching on Soyuz TMA-13 in 2008.
Achievements
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Stanford University and University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Educated at University of Oklahoma, Enid High School and Stanford University
- Worked as military officer, electrical engineer and astronaut
