Camarda Credit - www.spacefacts.de

Personal: Male, married, four children. Born in Queens, New York, USA.

Astronaut Career

Astronaut Group: NASA Group 16 - 1996. Active Entered space service: 1 May 1996. Number of Flights: 1.00. Total Time: 13.90 days.

NAME: Charles J. Camarda (Ph.D.)

NASA Astronaut Candidate (Mission Specialist)

PERSONAL DATA:

Born May 8, 1952, in Queens, New York. Single. He has one child. He enjoys racquetball, running, weightlifting, boxing. His parents, Ray and Jack Camarda, reside in Queens, New York. His brother, Barney Camarda, and his family reside in Valley Stream, Long Island.

EDUCATION:

Graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School, Jamaica, New York, in 1970; received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1974; a master of science degree in engineering science from George Washington University in 1980; and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1990.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

AWARDS:

NASA Certificates of Recognition (10); Sustained Superior Performance Awards (2); Special Achievement Awards (2); Technology Commercialization Awards (2); Research and Development 100 Award from Industrial Research Magazine for one of the top 100 technical innovations in 1983 - A Heat-Pipe-Cooled Sandwich Panel.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

Upon completing his B.S. degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Camarda began work for NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, in 1974. He was a research scientist in the Thermal Structures Branch of the Structures and Materials Division and was responsible for demonstrating the feasibility of a heat-pipe-cooled leading edge for Space Shuttle by analysis, laboratory experiments, and aerothermal testing in Langley's 8-foot High Temperature Tunnel. He conducted analytical and experimental research in heat pipes, structural mechanics and dynamics, heat transfer, and numerical optimization for aircraft, spacecraft, and space launch vehicles. While at Langley, Camarda earned his masters degree from George Washington University in Engineering Science with emphasis on mechanics of composite structures at elevated temperature and his doctorate degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with emphasis on the development of advanced modal methods for efficiently predicting transient thermal and structural performance. In 1989, Camarda was selected to lead the Structures and Materials Technology Maturation Team for the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program which was responsible for maturing materials and structures technologies necessary to enable the development of an airbreathing hypersonic vehicle capable of horizontal take-off to orbit. Camarda was selected to head the Thermal Structures Branch (TSB) in 1994 with responsibility for a research engineering staff, two major focused programs (the high-speed research (HSR) and reusable launch vehicle (RLV) programs), and several structural test facilities including the Thermal Structures Laboratory. Some of the primary responsibilities of the TSB is the development of durable, lightweight metallic thermal protection systems (TPS), reusable cryogenic tank systems, and graphite-composite primary structure for RLV. Camarda has received over 18 NASA awards for technical innovations and accomplishments. He also received a Research and Development 100 award from Industrial Research Magazine for one of the top 100 technical innovations of 1983 entitled "Heat-Pipe-Cooled Sandwich Panel." He holds four patents and has two patents pending.

Dr. Camarda was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996. He reported to the NASA Johnson Space Center in August 1996 to begin two years of training and evaluation. Successful completion of initial training will qualify him for various technical assignments leading to selection as a mission specialist on a Space Shuttle flight crew.

JANUARY 1997

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Camarda Spaceflight Log

• 26 July 2005 Flight: STS-114. Flight Up: STS-114. Flight Back: STS-114. Flight Time: 13.90 days.

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Camarda Chronology

5 December 1983 - NASA Astronaut Training Group 16 selected.. The group was selected to provide pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights.. Qualifications: Pilots: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Advanced degree desirable. At least 1,000 flight-hours of pilot-in-command time. Flight test experience desirable. Excellent health. Vision minimum 20/50 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 vision; maximum sitting blood pressure 140/90. Height between 163 and 193 cm.

Mission Specialists: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics and minimum three years of related experience or an advanced degree. Vision minimum 20/150 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. Maximum sitting blood pressure of 140/90. Height between 150 and 193 cm.. 10 pilots and 25 mission specialists selected from over 2,400 applicants. 9 additional international astronauts.

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26 July 2005 - STS-114. Assignment: Prime Crew. Flight: STS-114, ISS EO-11. Return to flight after loss of Columbia. Delayed extensively as NASA attempted to fix the external tank foam-shedding problem that resulted in the loss of Columbia (first planned for September 12, 2004, the launch slipped to March; May 14, 15 and 22; July 13, 2005). Discovery safely reached orbit at a total mass of 121,485 kg, but extensive video coverage detected external tank foam shedding during ascent. Discovery docked at the Pirs module of the ISS on 28 July 28 at 11:18 GMT. Following replenishment of the station (using the Raffaello MPLM-6 module with 8240 kg of supplies), a series of spacewalks verified the integrity of the shuttle's heat shield and tested repair techniques, Discovery undocked from the ISS at 07:24 GMT on 6 August and landed safely on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base at 12:11 GMT on 9 August. However the shuttle fleet was immediately grounded again while NASA attempted to find a permanent fix to the external tank foam woes.

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26 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #01. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Discovery launched into a clear Florida sky this morning, returning the Shuttle fleet to space and beginning a journey of exploration to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Discovery lifted off at 9:39 a.m. central time today following a flawless countdown. ...more...

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27 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #04. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Visitors on a Space Shuttle will arrive at the International Space Station for the first time in over two years today. The Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to catch up and dock to the Station at 6:18 a.m. CDT Thursday.

During Discovery's approach to the Station, Commander Eileen Collins will pause ...more...

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27 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #02. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. The crew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery has awakened to its first full day in space. Today it will focus on thermal protection system inspections, preparing for docking to the International Space Station and getting spacesuits ready for three spacewalks.

Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi, ...more...

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27 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #03. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Discovery crewmembers completed a camera survey of the heat shields of the leading edges of the orbiter's wings and its nose cone Wednesday. They also began preparations for Thursday's docking with the International Space Station and the mission's spacewalks.

Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi, ...more...

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28 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #05. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. The Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station smoothly and right on time Thursday morning, after doing a planned back flip so Station crewmembers could photograph its thermal protection system.

Discovery Commander Eileen Collins and Pilot Jim Kelly flew Discovery through the ...more...

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28 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #06. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. The first full day of joint Space Shuttle and International Space Station operations will be highlighted by installation of a cargo transportation module, additional orbiter heat shield inspections and spacewalk preparations.

Discovery's crew was awakened at 10:39 p.m. CDT by the song "Vertigo" by U2 played ...more...

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29 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #07. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Space Shuttle and International Space Station crewmembers installed the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and began unloading the pressurized cargo carrier Friday. They also carried out a survey of selected areas of Discovery's thermal protection system and continued preparations for Saturday's spacewalk.

Engineering analysis continues on the imagery collected so far, but no apparently ...more...

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29 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #08. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will step outside for their first spacewalk, and the first of this mission, early Saturday. The six and a half hour spacewalk is scheduled to begin from Discovery's airlock at 3:44 a.m. CDT.

Discovery's crew was awakened at 10:43 p.m. CDT by the Japanese song "Sanpo," sung ...more...

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30 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #09. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Space Shuttle Discovery's heat protective tiles and thermal blankets have been pronounced fit for entry after engineers reviewed the imagery and other data to judge their health. Analysis remains on the reinforced carbon-carbon wing leading edges and the protruding gap fillers identified earlier. Aerodynamics experts are evaluating the effect on surface heating that the gap fillers may cause to decide whether any work is necessary to reduce their size.

Mission managers today also decided to extend Discovery's mission by one day to ...more...

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30 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #10. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Transfers of additional water and supplies to the International Space Station will continue Sunday as the crew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery begins Flight Day 6. The STS-114 mission was formally extended by one day as mission managers Saturday decided to spend one more day docked to the ISS.

Two additional collapsible water containers holding more than 10 gallons each are ...more...

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31 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #11. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. The transfer of equipment and supplies from Discovery to the International Space Station and preparations for Monday's planned spacewalk by Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson were the focus of today's activities in space.

Noguchi, of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Robinson, along with remaining ...more...

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31 July 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #12. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Now spacewalk veterans, Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will step outside for the second of three planned spacewalks today at 3:14 a.m. CDT. The sole objective of the 6 ½-hour excursion is to replace a failed International Space Station attitude control gyroscope.

The pair will have about an hour of setup time after exiting Space Shuttle Discovery's ...more...

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1 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #13. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. STS-114 mission managers Monday gave the go-ahead for astronauts to remove two protruding gap fillers in Discovery's heat shield during a Wednesday space walk. Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will attempt to simply pull the thin fabric fillers from between tiles in the forward area of the orbiter's underside. If the pull method is unsuccessful, the two will have tools to cut the material flush with the surface.

Spacewalk experts presented a plan to mission managers in Monday's Mission Management ...more...

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2 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #16. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. The Space Shuttle Discovery crew begins their ninth day in space with preparations for the third spacewalk of the mission. This extravehicular activity (EVA) was a preplanned activity for the mission, but now includes a new task -- repair of two protruding gap fillers between tiles on the bottom the Shuttle.

The crew began the day waking up at 10:09 p.m. CDT to "Where My Heart Will Take ...more...

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3 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #17. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Despite days of anticipation and intense planning, space-walking astronaut Steve Robinson made it look easy as he gently pulled two protruding gap fillers from between thermal protection tiles on Discovery's underside Wednesday morning.

"It looks like this big patient is cured," Robinson told delighted flight controllers. ...more...

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3 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #18. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. After an eventful day supporting the third spacewalk of the mission, a light duty day of transfer activities, special events and time off lies ahead for the Space Shuttle Discovery crew as they begin their tenth day in space.

The seven-member Shuttle crew awoke to the well-known country song "Amarillo by ...more...

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4 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #20. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Now in their eleventh day of the mission and with three successful spacewalks behind them, the STS-114 crew of Space Shuttle Discovery is slated to begin preparations for undocking and the final day with their International Space Station counterparts. Their activities for the day include final equipment transfers, stowage and return of the robotic arm, boom and cargo container to the Shuttle payload bay.

"Anchors Aweigh" was the Shuttle crew wake-up song for the day, played at 9:15 p.m. ...more...

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5 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #21. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Discovery astronauts and their hosts on the International Space Station undocked the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module from the Station's Unity Node Friday and reberthed it in the Shuttle's cargo bay.

Discovery Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialists Soichi ...more...

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6 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #22. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. After more than a week of working together in space, the Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews bid each other farewell tonight.

Following a crew farewell ceremony at 11:36 p.m. CDT, hatches between the spacecraft ...more...

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6 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #24. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Discovery's astronauts will begin turning their attention toward coming back to Earth Monday by stowing equipment and verifying operation of the orbiter's flight control surfaces and system.

The crew was awakened at 7:39 p.m. CDT by "The One and Only Flower in the World" ...more...

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6 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #23. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Discovery is flying solo today, following its early morning departure from the International Space Station, concluding nine days of cooperative work between the two crews.

Pilot Jim Kelly was at the controls as latches between the two vehicles were released ...more...

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7 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #25. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Discovery's crew is spending what should be its last night in space, with an early morning landing planned Monday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, concluding a voyage of 5.35 million miles.

In preparation for tomorrow's 3:47 a.m. CDT landing, Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot ...more...

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7 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #26. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Discovery's Return to Flight mission is scheduled to conclude with a landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center early Monday morning.

Discovery has two opportunities to land at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday. The ...more...

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9 August 2005 - STS-114 MCC Status Report #28. Flight: ISS EO-11, STS-114. Discovery glided to a pre-dawn landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California this morning concluding a journey of 5.8 million miles, touching down at 7:11 a.m. CDT.

The landing marked the sixth night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, and the 50th ...more...

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Bibliography and Further Reading

• NASA Astronaut Biographies, Johnson Space Center, NASA, 1995-present. Accessed at: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/.