Space Shuttle mission STS-119 launched on March 15, 2009, carrying Richard R. Arnold II to deliver the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station. His trajectory from a science teacher in various international locations to an astronaut for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration exemplifies a transition from classroom pedagogy to orbital exploration.
Academic and Teaching Background
Born in Cheverly, Maryland, in 1963, Arnold graduated from Bowie High School in 1981. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Frostburg State University in 1985 and completed his teacher certification there in 1988. He later obtained a Master of Science in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maryland in 1992. His teaching career spanned global institutions, including the Casablanca American School in Morocco, the American International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the International School of Kuala Kencana in Indonesia, and the American International School of Bucharest in Romania.
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Selected as a Mission Specialist-Educator by NASA in May 2004, Arnold completed candidate training in 2006, which included technical briefings, T-38 flight training, and survival courses. His technical contributions included assignments with the Hardware Integration Team, focusing on JAXA components. Beyond orbital missions, he engaged in extreme environment research, serving as an aquanaut during the NEEMO 13 project in 2007 and participating in the NEEMO 15 mission via the DeepWorker submersible. In 2016, he underwent ESA CAVES training in Sardinia, Italy, to simulate planetary exploration.
Spaceflight Missions
Arnold conducted two spacewalks during STS-119, totaling over 12 hours of extravehicular activity to install hardware and maintain station systems. In March 2018, he launched on Soyuz MS-08 for ISS Expeditions 55 and 56. During this mission, he and Drew Feustel performed an EVA on March 29, 2018, lasting 6 hours and 10 minutes to install wireless communications equipment and upgrade external cameras. By the time he returned to Earth on October 4, 2018, his cumulative time performing spacewalks exceeded 18 hours.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Cheverly, Maryland
- Education: Frostburg State University
- Employer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- NASA Selection: May 2004
- First Spaceflight: STS-119
- Second Spaceflight: Soyuz MS-08
- Spacewalk Experience: Over 18 hours total
- Member: Max Q
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Richard R. Arnold teach before becoming an astronaut?
He taught middle and high school science and mathematics, as well as college preparatory Biology and Marine Environmental Science.
What was the purpose of the STS-119 mission?
The mission was tasked with delivering the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Frostburg State University
- Worked as astronaut and teacher
