Vance D. Brand
Vance Brand | |
---|---|
NASA astronaut | |
Rank | Major, USMCR |
Time in space | 31d 2h 02m |
Selection | NASA Group 5 (1966) |
Missions | |
Mission insignia | |
Retirement | January 2008 |
Signature | |
Vance DeVoe Brand (born May 9, 1931) is an American
Brand’s flight experience includes 9,669 flying hours, which includes 8,089 hours in jets, 391 hours in helicopters, 746 hours in spacecraft, and checkout in more than 30 types of military aircraft. As of March 18, 2024, he is the last surviving crew member of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
Early life and education
Brand was born May 9, 1931, in
Military service
Brand was a commissioned officer and
Civilian test pilot
Employed as a civilian by the
NASA career
One of the
Brand departed the Astronaut Office in 1992 to become Chief of Plans at the
Apollo–Soyuz Test Project
Brand was launched on his first space flight on July 15, 1975, as Apollo Command Module Pilot on the
STS-5
Brand was commander of
STS-41-B
Brand commanded
Brand was training initially for STS-51-H on Atlantis in November 1985. That mission was canceled and re-manifested as STS-61-K, a Spacelab mission which would have launched on Columbia in October 1986. That mission was canceled by the Challenger disaster.
STS-35
Brand again commanded Columbia on the 38th flight of the shuttle, this time with a crew of seven, on
Awards and honors
- JSCCertificate of Commendation (1970)
- Two NASA Distinguished Service Medals (1975 & 1992)[6]
- Two NASA Exceptional Service Medals (1974 & 1988)[6]
- Zeta Beta Tau's Richard Gottheil Medal (1975)
- Wright Brothers International Manned Space Flight Award (1975)
- two VFW National Space Award (1976 & 1984)
- Sigma Nu Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award (1976)
- University of Colorado Alumnus of the Century (1 of 12) (1976)[6]
- AIAA Special Presidential Citation (1977)[7]
- two American Astronautical Society's Flight Achievement Award for 1976[7]
- AIAA Haley Astronautics Award (1978)
- JSC Special Achievement Award (1978)
- Harmon Trophy (Astronaut) (1993)[6]
- FAI De la Vaulx Medal (1983)[7]
- Three NASA Space Flight Medals (1983,[7] 1984,[7] 1992)
- Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at University of Colorado(1984)
- Longmont, COnamed in his honor (1988)
- De Molay Hall of Honor (1989)
- two FAI V. M. Komarov Diplomas (1983 & 1991)
- University of ColoradoGeorge Norlin Award (1991)
- De Molay Legion of Honor (1993)
- International Space Hall of Fame (1996)[8][9]
- Meritorious Executive, U.S. Senior Executive Service (1997)
- University of Colorado (2000)[6]
- International Aerospace Hall of Fame (2001)[6]
- Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame (2005)
- Tsiolkovsky Gold Medal of the International Aeronautical Federation(2005)
- ASE Crystal Helmet Award (2005)
- Sigma Nu Hall of Fame (2010)
- Honorary Citizen of Kaliningrad
- DeMolay International Hall of Fame[12]
Personal life
Brand is married to the former Beverly Ann Whitnel and has two daughters and four sons: Susan Nancy (born April 30, 1954), Stephanie Brand Lowery (born August 6, 1955), Patrick Richard (born March 22, 1958), Kevin Stephen (born December 1, 1963), Erik Ryan (May 11, 1981), and Dane Vance (born October 1, 1985). He currently resides with his wife in Tehachapi, California.[13][14]
Philanthropy
In 2019, Brand donated 40 acres of land to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, which is the nonprofit arm of Rocky Mountain National Park, hoping to expand the national park that he has visited throughout his life. He had purchased the land in 1967. The 40 acres of rugged terrain, located near Estes Cone and roughly 4 miles from Longs Peak, borders Rocky Mountain National Park on two sides. The United States Congress will need to approve the boundary change for this acreage to be officially incorporated into the national park.[15][16]
See also
- Apollo–Soyuz Commemorative stamp
- List of spaceflight records
- The Astronaut Monument
References
This article incorporates
- ^ a b c d e f "Biographical Data: Vance DeVoe Brand" (PDF). NASA. February 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Ronald (April 5, 1966). "19 New Spacemen Are Named". The High Point Enterprise. High Point, North Carolina. p. 2A – via Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 0-395-67029-2.
- ^ Stanley, Rick (February 4, 1984). "Backed Up Cars; Broken Down Bus; a Beautiful Launch". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 3A – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Columbia Makes Successful Night Launch". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. Gannett News Service. December 2, 1990. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Vance DeVoe Brand". NASA. February 1, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Halvorson, Todd; Banke, Jim (March 15, 1992). "Veteran Astronaut Hangs up Spacesuit". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 57.
- ^ "Flew on the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project and the first operational flight of the Space Shuttle". New Mexico Museum of Space History. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ "Alamogordo". El Paso Times. El Paso, Texas. September 10, 1996. p. 11.
- ^ "Vance Brand". Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ Meyer, Marilyn (October 2, 1997). "Ceremony to Honor Astronauts". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vince Brand on the DeMolay International Hall of Fame". DeMolay International.
- ^ "Former astronaut wants to make Rocky Mountain National Park a bit bigger. But first, Congress needs to pass legislation". December 17, 2019.
- ^ "Former astronaut wants to make Rocky Mountain National Park a bit bigger. But first, Congress needs to pass legislation". December 17, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Pamela (November 12, 2019). "Former astronaut Vance Brand donates 40 acres to Rocky Mountain National Park". denverpost.com. Denver Post. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Pamela (November 12, 2019). "Former astronaut Vance Brand donates 40 acres to Rocky Mountain National Park". reporterherald.com. Loveeland Reporter-Herald. Retrieved November 13, 2019.