On January 22, 2010, Timothy Creamer became the first astronaut to post a message to Twitter from orbit while aboard the International Space Station. His technical background in chemistry and physics, paired with a career as a United States Army officer, facilitated his transition from military aviation into the specialized world of NASA space operations and mission control.
Military Service and Academic Training
Born at Fort Huachuca in 1959, Creamer graduated from Bishop McNamara High School in 1978. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Loyola University Maryland in 1982, receiving his commission through the ROTC program. He trained at the U.S. Army Aviation School and served as a section leader with the 1st Armored Division and as a commander of an air cavalry troop in the 17th Cavalry Regiment. In 1992, he completed a Master of Science in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before serving as an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Early Career at NASA
In July 1995, Creamer began working at the Johnson Space Center as a vehicle integration test engineer for the Space Shuttle program. He supported eight missions by managing the integration of systems and coordinating information technologies for the Astronaut Office. Following his selection as an astronaut candidate in June 1998, he focused on command and control computers for the Space Station. By 2002, he led the Hardware Integration Section and later directed computer-based robotics operations.
Expeditions and Flight Control
Creamer launched on Soyuz TMA-17 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 20, 2009, as part of the Expedition 22 and 23 crews. During this time, he became the first flown astronaut to certify as a payload operations director in Huntsville, Alabama, to assist in science event coordination. In August 2016, he achieved a further milestone by becoming the first astronaut to earn certification as a NASA flight director at the Johnson Space Center.
Fast facts
- Born: 1959, Fort Huachuca
- Education: Loyola University Maryland, MIT
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Spaceflight: Expedition 22/23
- NEEMO Mission: NEEMO 11 (2006)
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal: 2010
- First tweet from space: 2010
Questions readers ask
What was Creamer's primary role during his spaceflight?
He served as a flight engineer for Expedition 22 and Expedition 23, launching in December 2009.
Did Creamer continue working for NASA after his time as an astronaut?
Yes, he was certified as a NASA flight director in 2016.
Achievements
- Affiliated with United States Military Academy
- Educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States Army Command and General Staff College and Loyola University Maryland
- Worked as astronaut
.jpg)
