Gregory C. Johnson
From The Space Library
 Gregory C. Johnson | |
| Birth Name | Gregory C. Johnson |
|---|---|
| Occupation | NASA Astronaut, (Captain, USN, Ret.) |
Contents |
Personal Data
Born in Seattle, Washington. Married to Nanette Faget. Greg has two grown sons, Scott and Kent. Nanette has three children. Recreational interests include running, cycling and swimming. His father, Raleigh O. Johnson, and wife Patsy, reside in Mukilteo, Washington. His mother, Mary Ann Johnson, is deceased.
Education
EDUCATION: West Seattle High School, Seattle, Washington, 1972 B.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Washington, 1977 USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB California, 1984
Experience
Johnson received his commission through the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate Program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fl. in September 1977. He received his Naval Aviator wings in December 1978 and following training was designated an instructor pilot in TA-4J aircraft. In 1980 he transitioned to A-6E aircraft completing 2 deployments in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1984 he reported to the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. After graduation he reported to the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California, performing flight tests in A-6E and F/A-18A aircraft. Following his flight test tour he reported to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Washington as the maintenance department head in an operational A-6 squadron. During this tour he completed another Western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment as well as a Northern Pacific deployment. He resigned his commission in 1990 and accepted a position at the NASA JSC Aircraft Operations Division. From 1990-2007 Johnson served as a Captain in the United States Navy, reserve component, and was the Commanding Officer of four Naval Reserve units. He served as a senior research officer in Office of Naval Research 113, a science and technology unit based at the Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He has logged over 9500 flying hours in 50 aircraft and over 500 carrier landings.
Spaceflight Experience
NASA EXPERIENCE: In April 1990, Johnson was accepted as an aerospace engineer and research pilot at the NASA JSC Aircraft Operations Division, Ellington Field, Texas. He qualified as a T-38 instructor, functional check flight and examiner pilot, as well as Gulfstream I aircraft commander, WB-57 high altitude research pilot and KC-135 co-pilot. Additionally, he conducted flight test programs in the T-38 aircraft including JET-A airstart testing, T-38N avionics upgrade testing and the first flight of the T-38 inlet redesign aircraft. In 1994 he assumed duties as the Chief, Maintenance & Engineering Branch responsible for all maintenance and engineering modifications on NASA JSCs 44 aircraft. Selected by NASA in June 1998, he reported for training in August 1998. Johnson was the class leader for the seventeenth group of astronauts comprised of 31 U.S. and international members. Astronaut Candidate Training included orientation briefings, tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, and physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training. Johnson was initially assigned as an Astronaut Support Personnel (ASP) responsible for configuring the Orbiter switches prior to launch and strapping astronauts in their seats for launch. More recently he served as the astronaut office representative for all technical aspects of orbiter landing and roll out issues. From June 2004 to November 2005, Johnson served as Manager, Launch Integration, for the Space Shuttle Program at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. He also served as the astronaut office Deputy, Shuttle Branch and Return to Flight Representative. Johnson served as the pilot the final Space Shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. The mission successfully extended and improved the observatorys capabilities through 2014. In completing STS-125, Johnson logged almost 13-days in space. STS-125 Atlantis (May 11-24, 2009) was the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission. The 19 year old telescope spent six days in the Shuttles cargo bay undergoing an overhaul conducted by four spacewalkers over five daily spacewalks, with the assistance of crewmates inside the Atlantis. The space walkers overcame frozen bolts, stripped screws, and stuck handrails. The refurbished Hubble Telescope now has four new or rejuvenated scientific instruments, new batteries, new gyroscopes, and a new computer. The STS-125 mission was accomplished in 12 days, 21 hours, 37 minutes and 09 seconds, traveling 5,276,000 miles in 197 Earth orbits.
Special Honours
NASA James A. Korkowski Excellence in Achievement Award, VA-128 Attack Pilot of the Year, Carrier Airwing Fifteen Top Ten Tailhook Pilot, Carrier Airwing Fourteen Top Ten Tailhook Pilot, Navy Meritorious Service Medals (3), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and numerous other USN decorations.
Other Information
Jun-09
