The mission STS-135, which served as the final flight of the Space Shuttle program, featured Sandra Magnus as a mission specialist among a crew of four. Before reaching this milestone, she developed a career spanning stealth aircraft engineering, undersea habitat command, and extensive orbital operations as a NASA astronaut and materials science expert.
Academic and Early Engineering Foundations
Raised in Belleville, Illinois, Magnus attended Belleville High School-West and Southwestern Illinois College before completing degrees in physics and electrical engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She later earned a PhD in materials science and engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1996. Her research on thermionic cathodes received support from the NASA Lewis Research Center. During the 1980s, she worked for McDonnell Douglas, contributing to the design of stealth aircraft and the propulsion system for the A-12 Avenger II.
Astronaut Selection and Orbital Missions
Selected as an astronaut candidate in 1996, Magnus underwent two years of training before joining the Astronaut Office. Her first spaceflight occurred in October 2002 aboard STS-112, where she operated the International Space Station's robotic arm to install the S1 truss. In 2008, she served as a flight engineer during Expedition 18, spending 133 days in orbit. She returned to space for the final time in July 2011 on STS-135, concluding her service as a mission specialist.
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Beyond standard orbital flight, Magnus engaged in rigorous operational environments. In 2006, she completed survival training in forests near Moscow, preparing for potential emergency landings of the Soyuz module. That same year, she commanded the NEEMO 11 mission at the Aquarius undersea laboratory in Florida. During this expedition, she and her crew simulated lunar gravity maneuvers, including communication and navigation testing. She later served as deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office in 2012.
Post-NASA Professional Tenure
Upon leaving the NASA Astronaut corps in 2012, Magnus transitioned to executive leadership, serving as the executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics until 2018. Following a tenure as a principal at AstroPlanetView, she became the deputy director for Engineering for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in 2019. In 2021, she joined the Space Advisory Board for Virgin Galactic.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Belleville, United States
- Education: PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Space missions: STS-112, Expedition 18, STS-135
- AIAA Executive Director: 2012-2018
- Amateur radio call sign: KE5FYE
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal: 2009
- Virgin Galactic Space Advisory Board: 2021
- Field: Engineering
Questions readers ask
What was Sandra Magnus's role on STS-112?
She served as a mission specialist and operated the International Space Station's robotic arm during the S1 truss installation.
Did Sandra Magnus work in the private sector before becoming an astronaut?
Yes, she worked as an engineer for McDonnell Douglas in the 1980s, focusing on stealth aircraft and A-12 Avenger II propulsion systems.
What did Magnus do during the NEEMO 11 mission?
She served as mission commander at the Aquarius undersea laboratory, testing lunar mobility and construction techniques.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Georgia Tech, Missouri University of Science and Technology and Belleville High School-West
- Worked as astronaut and engineer