Bernard A. Harris Jr.
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Bernard Harris | |
---|---|
NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 18d 6h 8m |
Selection | NASA Group 13 (1990) |
Total EVAs | 1 |
Total EVA time | 4h 39m |
Missions | STS-55 STS-63 |
Mission insignia |
Bernard Anthony Harris Jr. (born June 26, 1956) is a former
Early life
Harris was born on June 26, 1956 in
Harris first became interested in being an astronaut after watching the Apollo 11 mission on TV in 1969 at 13 years old. With the help of his science teacher, he formed a science club and a rocket club with some other students.[3]
Education
Harris graduated from Sam Houston High School in
Harris completed a
He also trained as a
After completing his fellowship at NASA Ames, he joined NASA's
He was the first African American man to go in space as one of NASA's research teams and he was involved in the construction of the space rovers.[citation needed]
Astronaut experience
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Harris became an astronaut in July 1991, and qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on future Space Shuttle flight crews. He served as the crew representative for Shuttle Software in the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch. Harris was assigned as a mission specialist on STS-55, Spacelab D-2, in August 1991. He flew on board Columbia for ten days, (26 April 1993 – 6 May 1993); on the mission the Shuttle reached one year of accumulated flight time. Harris was part of the payload crew of Spacelab D-2, conducting a variety of research in physical and life sciences. During this flight, Harris logged over 239 hours and 4,164,183 miles in space.[5]
His second mission was as the payload commander on
Post-NASA career
In 1998, he founded The Harris Foundation, a Houston, Texas-based non-profit organization, whose stated mission is "to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. THF supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and other economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams."[8]
In 2008, he appeared in Microsoft's "I'm a P.C." ad campaign.[citation needed] Harris also gave a keynote speech at the Exxon Mobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair.[citation needed]
In 2009, he was elected Vice President of the American Telemedicine Association.[citation needed] He was elected President of the American Telemedicine Association in 2011, serving for a one-year term that ended in 2012.[9]
In 2010, he was part of the Dream Tour where he travelled to over 30 schools around the country.[citation needed]
Currently, Dr. Harris is CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative and President and Chief Executive Officer of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a venture capital accelerator, that invests in early-stage companies in Medical Informatics and Technology.[10][11]
As of April 19, 2021, Harris serves on the board of directors for commercial aerospace and weapons manufacturer
Organizations and honors
Harris is a member of many professional, academic and service organizations, including the following:
He has served as a board member for the following organizations:
- Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System (late 1990s)[15]
- Boys and Girls Club of Houston[16]
- National Math and Science Initiative (CEO)[17]
- Medical Informatics[6]
- Technology and Applications Center[6]
- Houston Technology Center[6]
- National Space Biomedical Research Institute[6]
- Board of Scientific Counselors[6]
He has been recognized several times by NASA and other organizations for his professional and academic achievements. Harris has also received a number of other honorary doctorates from the following institutions:
- New Jersey Institute of Technology[18]
- Indiana Institute of Technology[18]
- Morehouse College School of Medicine (1996)[5]
- University of Hartford (2008)[19]
- Stonybrook University (2006)[20]
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Washington & Jefferson College (2013)[21]
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2015)[22][23]
- University of Houston (2021)[24]
- University of Houston[25]
- University of the Sciences, now called St. Joseph's University (2021)[26][18]
He has also received the following awards:
- a NASA Space flight medal (1993, 1995)[5]
- a NASA Award of Merit (1996)[5]
- a fellow of the American College of Physicians[5]
- Horatio Alger Award (2000)[4]
- James Bryant Conant Award (2021)[17]
- National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award (2022)[27]
In 2005, the North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas named a middle school under construction after Harris.[28] Bernard Harris Middle School opened August 14, 2006, to have a capacity of 1500 students.[29]
Personal life
In 1989, Harris married Sandra Fay Lewis. In 1992, the couple had a daughter named Brooke Alexandria Harris. Harris and Lewis divorced in 2008.[30]
See also
References
- ^ "Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr". History Makers. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "NASA Astronaut Looks to Inspire Next Generation". The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Holeywell, Ryan (2019-06-28). "Astronaut and TMC Board Member Bernard A. Harris Jr. reflects on the moon landing". TMC News. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ a b c "Bernard A. Harris". Horatio Alger. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "BERNARD A. HARRIS, JR., (M.D.) NASA ASTRONAUT" (PDF). NASA. January 1999. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Bernard Harris Jr. | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University". business.rice.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "1995: Space pioneers take first small steps". On This Day: February 9. London: BBC. 1995-02-09. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Bernard Harris, ExxonMobil Announce 20 New Summer Camps". ExxonMobil. Business Wire. 2 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Past Presidents". ATA. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ "National Math and Science Initiative - Bernard A. Harris, Jr". Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
- ^ "MANAGEMENT TEAM". Vesalius Ventures. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ "Raytheon Technologies Appoints Bernard A. Harris Jr. To Board of Directors".
- ^ "Phi Kappa Phi Celebrates Black History Month". Phi Kappa Phi. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ watchtheyard (2017-02-21). "The First Black Person to Walk in Outer Space was a Member of Kappa Alpha Psi". Watch The Yard. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Adam, Young (2010-12-03). "First black space walker, former Texas Tech regents talks education with Lubbock audience". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
- ^ "Learn about Spacewalker Bernard Harris". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ a b "Congratulations to Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., 2022 Recipient of the James Bryant Conant Award". National Math and Science Initiative. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ a b c "Dr. Bernard Harris". Concordia. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "UHart Celebrates Black History Month". www.hartford.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Honorary Degrees | Special Collections and University Archives". www.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "W&J Receives Select ExxonMobil Grant to Offer Summer Science Camp". Washington & Jefferson College. 2014-04-10. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. Pioneering Astronaut and President of the Harris Foundation, Named WPI's 2015 Commencement Speaker". www.wpi.edu. 2015-04-24. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Gonsalves, Susan (2015-05-16). "WPI graduation: Astronaut tells Class of 2015 to pursue 'infinite possibilities'". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Honorary Degree - University of Houston". www.uh.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Honorary Doctoral Degree Recipients: University of Houston" (PDF). University of Houston. 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Physician, Astronaut Bernard Harris to Address Graduates at Bicentennial Commencement | Saint Joseph's University". www.sju.edu. 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ^ "National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award". National Space Grant Foundation. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Our Campus / Harris Campus Tour". www.neisd.net. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Harris Middle School". neisd.net. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Wilson, Claire (2022-01-11). "From Trekkie to Space Traveler: Texas Astronaut Inspires Youth to Dream Big". Texasliving. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
External links
- "BERNARD A. HARRIS, JR., (M.D.) NASA ASTRONAUT" (PDF). NASA. January 1999. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- Spacefacts biography of Bernard A. Harris Jr.
- Biography at The Harris Foundation