Richard E. Eckelkamp

From The Space Library

Richard (Rick) E. Eckelkamp received a B.A. in physics at the University of Dallas with minors in mathematics, philosophy, theology, and foreign language, and did graduate work in physics at the University of Houston. At NASA, from 1967-1987, in NASA's Mission and Planning Analysis Division, he developed extensive experience in Earth orbit, lunar, and interplanetary guidance, navigation and control, engineering analysis, and flight techniques, performed flight software verification and data production, performed Apollo through Shuttle flight control, serving as Shuttle console leads for both onboard and ground navigation, was a major designer of Shuttle onboard navigation and fault management software, as well as developed ground control center software and techniques. From 1987-1995, he performed Mars and advanced lunar program software/hardware design, performed station automated operations systems analysis and prototyping, and served as the Systems Development Manager for the Space Station Freedom command and control system. From 1995 to the present, he has worked in Advanced Life Support command and control, is serving as the Software Integration Manger for the International Space Station Robotics, and is performing systems engineering for exploration era robotics and integrated operations control.