Commanding the International Space Station during Expedition 46 and 47, Timothy Kopra logged 186 days in orbit during his final long-duration mission. His career transitioned from serving as an army aviator in the Middle East to executing complex technical operations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, culminating in his role as a space station commander.
Military Service and Aviation Training
Commissioned as a second lieutenant from the United States Military Academy in 1985, Kopra qualified as an army aviator the following year. He held posts at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, serving with the 101st Airborne Division as an aeroscout platoon leader. In 1990, he deployed to the Middle East for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Later stationed in Hanau, Germany, he functioned as an attack helicopter company commander before retiring from the United States Army in 2010 with the rank of colonel.
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Kopra joined the Johnson Space Center in 1998, working initially as a vehicle integration test engineer. His responsibilities included acting as an engineering liaison for space station hardware testing and Space Shuttle launch operations. Selected as a mission specialist in 2000, he completed intensive training involving the T-38 jet. He gained further experience as an aquanaut in 2006 during the NEEMO 11 mission, living for seven days in the Aquarius underwater laboratory.
International Space Station Expeditions
His first time aboard the International Space Station occurred during Expedition 20 in 2009. He arrived via the Space Shuttle Endeavour and returned on Discovery. Years later, he returned to the station for Expedition 46 and 47. During a 2016 spacewalk, he experienced a water leak in his helmet, forcing an early return to the airlock. He eventually retired from NASA and, in 2020, took on a leadership role as vice president of robotics and space operations at MDA Corporation.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Austin
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Education: United States Military Academy, Georgia Tech, London Business School, Columbia Business School
- NEEMO 11 Aquanaut: 2006
- Expedition 46/47 Commander: 2016
- Notable Awards: NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit
Questions readers ask
Did Timothy Kopra serve in combat?
Yes, he deployed to the Middle East during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
What academic degrees does he hold?
He earned a Bachelor of Science from West Point, Master of Science from Georgia Tech, Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College, and dual MBAs from London Business School and Columbia Business School.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at United States Military Academy, United States Army War College and Columbia Business School
- Worked as astronaut and aircraft pilot
