Twelve hours and nineteen minutes of extravehicular activity defined the orbital contribution of Robert Satcher during the STS-129 mission. As a former NASA astronaut, chemical engineer, and orthopedic oncologist, he bridged the gap between complex mechanical systems and clinical medicine, serving as the first physician to perform such specialized space-based duties for the International Space Station.
Educational Foundations
Born in Hampton, Virginia, in 1965, Satcher pursued a dual academic track in engineering and medicine. He completed his undergraduate studies and a doctorate in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1986 and 1993, respectively. He subsequently earned a medical degree through the Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology in 1994, laying the groundwork for a career focused on musculoskeletal oncology.
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Prior to his selection by NASA, Satcher refined his surgical expertise during an internship and residency at the University of California, San Francisco, followed by an orthopedic oncology fellowship at the University of Florida. He served as an assistant professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, where he held clinical responsibilities at Children’s Memorial Hospital. His earlier engineering experience included professional internships with the Textile Fibers Research Group and the Polymer Products Division at DuPont.
NASA Mission Profile
Selected as an astronaut candidate in May 2004, Satcher completed his technical training by February 2006. During the November 2009 STS-129 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, he operated as a mission specialist. Beyond performing maintenance on ISS exterior robotic arms and installing communication hardware, he conducted research on the physiological effects of zero gravity on bone density and the immune system, traveling 4.5 million miles over 171 orbits.
Post-Flight Clinical and Academic Contributions
Since joining the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 2011, Satcher has focused on skeletal metastatic disease and soft tissue sarcoma. He leads initiatives in virtual care and global oncology, facilitating the construction of medical centers in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, he co-founded the eHealth Research Institute to improve health access through technological innovation and holds adjunct appointments at Rice University’s Ken Kennedy Institute of Information Technology.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Hampton, United States
- Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Medical School
- Professional roles: Astronaut, chemical engineer, orthopedic surgeon
- STS-129 mission dates: November 16-29, 2009
- Spacewalk duration: 12 hours and 19 minutes
- Current institution: University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Academic board role: Harvard Board of Overseers (elected 2023)
Questions readers ask
What medical specialty does Robert Satcher practice?
He is an orthopedic oncologist, specializing in the treatment of bone cancer and skeletal metastatic disease.
Did Satcher hold an academic position before joining NASA?
Yes, he was an assistant professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Feinberg School of Medicine and National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
- Worked as astronaut, chemical engineer and orthopedic surgeon
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