SpaceX Crew-6 launched on March 2, 2023, carrying pilot Warren Hoburg into orbit. Selected for NASA Astronaut Group 22 in 2017, he remains a central figure in American space flight. His path from rocketry competitions in high school to the Artemis program represents a commitment to engineering and exploration that defines his professional career within the United States.
Academic and Early Training
Born in Pittsburgh in 1985, Hoburg graduated from North Allegheny Senior High School, where he participated in the inaugural Team America Rocketry Challenge. He pursued higher education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science in aeronautics and astronautics in 2008. He later completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley in 2013, focusing on electrical engineering and computer science.
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Before joining NASA, Hoburg spent time in product development at Boeing until 2014. He returned to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an assistant professor. During his academic tenure, he managed the Python-based geometric programming package GPKit and served as a sponsor for Jungle Hawk Owl, a UAV project supported by the United States Air Force. His research work earned him a National Science Foundation fellowship between 2009 and 2013.
NASA Missions and Selection
Hoburg entered the space program in August 2017 to begin a two-year training cycle. In December 2020, NASA included him among the eighteen astronauts assigned to the Artemis program for a planned lunar mission. His spaceflight career reached a milestone with his role as pilot for the SpaceX Crew-6 mission, which launched in the spring of 2023.
Extracurricular Interests
Outside of his engineering and astronautical duties, Hoburg maintains an active lifestyle as a pilot, mountaineer, and rock climber. His technical skills in navigation and physical endurance led to service roles with the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit as well as Yosemite Search & Rescue.
Fast facts
- Born: 1985, Pittsburgh
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: MIT (BS 2008); UC Berkeley (MS 2011, PhD 2013)
- NASA Selection: 2017, Astronaut Group 22
- Space Mission: SpaceX Crew-6, March 2, 2023
- Academic Tenure: Assistant Professor, MIT
- Awards: Two-time AIAA Aeronautics and Astronautics Teaching Award recipient
Questions readers ask
What is Warren Hoburg's current profession?
He serves as a NASA astronaut and military flight engineer.
Was he part of the Artemis program?
Yes, he was selected as one of the eighteen astronauts for the Artemis program in December 2020.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley and North Allegheny Senior High School
- Worked as astronaut and military flight engineer
