Robert Shane Kimbrough flew his third space mission in 2021 as the commander of SpaceX Crew-2, concluding a 199-day tenure aboard the International Space Station. His career spans military service as an Apache helicopter pilot during Operation Desert Storm to a multifaceted tenure as a NASA astronaut and flight simulation engineer.
Military and Academic Foundation
Born in Killeen, Texas, in 1967, Kimbrough attended The Lovett School in Atlanta, graduating in 1985. He continued his education at the United States Military Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering in 1989. During his time at West Point, he served as captain of the baseball team. His military career included piloting Apache helicopters during the first Gulf War in 1991. Later, he returned to academic study, obtaining a Master of Science in operations research from Georgia Tech in 1998 before eventually retiring from the Army as a colonel.
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Kimbrough joined NASA in 2000, serving initially as a flight simulation engineer for the Shuttle Training Aircraft. In this capacity, he trained astronauts on landing procedures. He was selected for astronaut training in 2004, shortly after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. His inaugural spaceflight, STS-126, launched on November 14, 2008. During this mission, he conducted two spacewalks, totaling 12 hours and 52 minutes of extravehicular activity.
International Space Station Expeditions
In October 2016, Kimbrough launched on a Soyuz MS-02 craft for an extended mission involving Expedition 49 and 50. During this period, he performed four additional spacewalks, assisting in critical tasks such as installing adapter plates and preparing infrastructure for new battery installations. During one of these EVAs, he transported a soccer ball salvaged from the Space Shuttle Challenger wreckage, which was later returned to the family of astronaut Ellison Onizuka. By the end of his Expedition 50 duties, he had completed significant maintenance on the station's truss and external power systems.
Final Missions and Retirement
Kimbrough served as the commander for the SpaceX Crew-2 mission, which docked with the ISS in April 2021. Throughout this six-month mission, he and his crew conducted research including protein crystal growth and agricultural experiments involving cotton and peppers. He also performed three additional spacewalks with Thomas Pesquet to install iROSA solar arrays. Following a splashdown off the Florida coast in November 2021, Kimbrough retired from NASA on July 31, 2022.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967, Killeen, Texas
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Education: United States Military Academy (1989), Georgia Tech (1998)
- Space Missions: STS-126, Soyuz MS-02, SpaceX Crew-2
- First Spaceflight: 2008
- NASA Retirement: July 31, 2022
Questions readers ask
What was Kimbrough's role during his final space mission?
He served as the commander of the SpaceX Crew-2 mission, which lasted 199 days.
How many spacewalks did Kimbrough perform in total?
He completed nine extravehicular activities during his career as an astronaut.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration and United States Military Academy
- Educated at United States Military Academy, Georgia Tech and The Lovett School
- Worked as astronaut and engineer
