Mark L. Polansky

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Mark Polansky
NASA astronaut
Time in space
41d 10h 50m
SelectionNASA Group 16 (1996)
MissionsSTS-98
STS-116
STS-127
Mission insignia

Mark Lewis "Roman" Polansky (born June 2, 1956, in Paterson, New Jersey) is an American aerospace engineer and research pilot and a former NASA astronaut. Polansky received the nickname "Roman" as a joke, because he shares a last name with director Roman Polanski. He flew on three Space Shuttle missions: STS-98, STS-116, and STS-127 and was first person of Korean ancestry in space.[1]

Background

Polansky's father, Irving, was

Jewish. His mother, Edith, is originally from Hawaii and is of Korean descent.[1] Polansky was raised as a Jew, and honored his father's heritage by taking a teddy bear from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum along for the ride on STS-116.[2] He is married and has two kids[3]
- one daughter and one son.

Education

Polansky graduated from J. P. Stevens High School, Edison, New Jersey in 1974, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics, from Purdue University, both in 1978.[4]

Military career

Polansky received an Air Force commission upon graduation from Purdue University in 1978.

A-10 aircraft. Polansky left active duty in 1992 to pursue a career at NASA. He has logged over 5,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft.[6]

NASA career

Polansky joined NASA in August 1992, as an aerospace engineer and research pilot. He was assigned to the Aircraft Operations Division of the

T-38 aircraft. Polansky also conducted flight testing of the NASA T-38 avionics upgrade aircraft.[6]

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Polansky reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he was initially assigned as a member of the Astronaut Support Personnel team at the Kennedy Space Center, supporting Space Shuttle launches and landings. He served as pilot on

CAPCOM. Polansky was Chief of the CAPCOM Branch from April 2002 to December 2002. He served as Chief Instructor Astronaut from April 2003 to January 2004. He has also served as Chief of the Return to Flight and Orbiter Repair Branches. Polansky's last shuttle flight as commander of Mission STS-127, an assembly flight to the International Space Station.[6]

Polansky retired from the Astronaut Corps on June 30, 2012.[6] "Mark is a remarkably talented individual," said Peggy Whitson, Chief of the Astronaut Office. "His skills as an aviator coupled with his engineering expertise were a valuable contribution to our team. We wish him well in his future endeavors."[7]

Spaceflights

STS-98 Atlantis (February 9–20, 2001)

The STS-98 crew continued the task of building and enhancing the

Destiny Laboratory Module. The Shuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached and three spacewalks were conducted to complete its assembly. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition 1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.[8]

STS-116 Discovery (December 9–22, 2006)

The seven-member crew on this 12-day mission continued construction of the ISS outpost by adding the

P5 Truss Segment during the first of four spacewalks. The next two spacewalks rewired the station's power system, preparing it to support the addition of European and Japanese science modules by future shuttle crews. The fourth spacewalk was added to allow the crew to coax and retract a stubborn solar panel to fold up accordion-style into its box. Discovery also delivered a new crew member and more than two tons of equipment and supplies to the station. Almost two tons of items no longer needed on the station returned to Earth with STS-116. Mission duration was 12 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes.[9]

STS-127 Endeavour (July 15–31, 2009)

Polansky was the commander of the

Michael J. Massimino's lead, Mark began posting public updates and replies to Twitter on May 7, 2009, during his training for STS-127, and continued to do so throughout the mission.[11]

Organizations

Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Awards and honors

Distinguished Graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School (1987). Distinguished Graduate of USAF

Air Force Commendation Medal
with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

In his hometown of Edison, NJ, a park is named for him on Grove Ave., across the street from his alma mater of J. P. Stevens High School.[12] Recently in June 2006 the township officials unveiled a sign for Mark Polansky Park while his friends and family were there with him for this presentation. He frequently returns to Edison for programs at the local library for the kids.

See also

  • List of Asian American astronauts

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
.

  1. ^ a b "Meet the astronauts of color before NASA's Artemis team". www.cnn.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  2. ^ Houston Chronicle (2007). "Teddy bear comes home after journey into space". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  3. ^ "Astronaut Biography: Mark Polansky". www.spacefacts.de. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Purdue alumnus named astronaut candidate". Purdue University. 1996. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "Polansky, Mark Lewis 'Roman'". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d "NASA Biography, Mark L. Polansky NASA Astronaut (Former)" (PDF). NASA. July 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Joshua Buck; Jay Bolden (July 11, 2012). "NASA Astronaut Mark Polansky Leaves Agency". Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  8. ^ "STS-98 Atlantis". spacefacts.de. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  9. ^ "STS-116 Discovery". spacefacts.de. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  10. ^ "STS-127 Endeavour". spacefacts.de. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Polansky, Mark (May 7, 2009). "Astro_127". Twitter. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  12. ^ Kathy Chang (March 29, 2021). "Edison Council supports renaming Dismal Swamp Conservation Area in honor of Peter J. Barnes III". centraljersey.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.

External links

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