Three separate missions aboard the Space Shuttle define the operational career of Rex J. Walheim, a retired United States Air Force colonel and veteran engineer. With over 566 hours logged in space and more than 36 hours of extravehicular activity, he played a critical role in the assembly of the International Space Station before participating in the final shuttle flight.
Military and Engineering Foundations
Commissioned into the Air Force in 1984, Walheim began his service at Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota, managing missile warning operations. By 1986, he moved to the Johnson Space Center to serve as a mechanical systems flight controller, focusing on shuttle landing gear and emergency barriers. He later managed missile warning radar upgrades before attending the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in 1991, eventually serving there as an instructor until his selection by NASA in 1996.
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Walheim's flight career included missions STS-110, STS-122, and STS-135. On STS-110, he spent over 14 hours outside the station to install the S0 truss segment. During STS-122, he performed three spacewalks totaling 22 hours to assist in delivering the Columbus module. His final flight, STS-135, marked the conclusion of the Space Shuttle program in July 2011.
Research and Professional Service
Beyond orbital missions, Walheim participated in the 2002 NEEMO 4 expedition. As an aquanaut, he spent five days living in the Aquarius undersea laboratory near Key Largo to simulate extreme environment operations. His expertise also extended to the design of the Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit, which he served as an astronaut office representative for following his debut spaceflight.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Redwood City
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Education: University of California, Berkeley (B.S.); University of Houston (M.S.)
- NASA Career: 1996–2020
- Total Spaceflight Time: Over 566 hours
- Spacewalk Time: 36 hours and 23 minutes
- Final Shuttle Mission: STS-135
Questions readers ask
Did Rex J. Walheim participate in the final Space Shuttle mission?
Yes, he served as a mission specialist and flight engineer on STS-135, which concluded in July 2011.
What was his role during the NEEMO 4 expedition?
He served as an aquanaut in the Aquarius undersea laboratory to conduct research on space-analogue environmental conditions.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, University of Houston and University of California, Berkeley
- Worked as military officer, astronaut and engineer
