Robert L. Behnken (Ph.D., Major, USAF)
NASA Astronaut
Hometown: St. Ann, Missouri
1988 Graduate of Pattonville High School
Washington University Graduate

Biographical Data
Mission Information
Launch & Landing Coverage
www.NASA.gov

Related Stories

Endeavour Returns to Earth, Makes Rare Nighttime Landing after Brief Weather Delay The space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven returned to Earth on Wednesday, making a rare nighttime touchdown to wrap up "a two-week adventure" at the international space station. • Text | Video Space Shuttle Endeavour and Crew Prepare for Homecoming Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour are spending the day preparing for tomorrow's return to Earth. • Text Shuttle Endeavour Undocks from Space Station after Crews Give Each Other Hugs Goodbye Shuttle Endeavour pulled away from the international space station on Monday and headed for home after a heartfelt farewell between the two crews. • Text With Space Station Tasks Done, Endeavour Crew to Get Some Rest before Starting Journey Home With their fifth and final spacewalk under their belt, Endeavour's astronauts planned to take some well-deserved time off on Sunday before starting the journey home. • Text UPDATE: NASA Calls Tile Repair Test a Huge Success NASA says tests of a putty that might be used to repair tiles on space shuttle heat shields have gone better than expected. • Text Spacewalking Astronauts Armed with Caulk Gun and High-Tech Putty for Test Repairs Two spacewalking astronauts pulled out a caulk gun and high-tech kind of Silly Putty on Thursday night and tested a method for patching shuttle thermal tiles. • Text Astronauts Rest Up For Spacewalk No. 4 The astronauts aboard the linked shuttle and space station rested up Wednesday for the fourth spacewalk of their mission, a caulking gun and goo test. • Text Astronauts Move Dextre The Robot To New Perch Astronauts moved Dextre the robot to its new perch outside the international space station on Tuesday after devoting nearly a week to putting together and creating the monster-size machine. • Text More Robot Work in Space Tuesday The international space station's robot arm will be giving a helping hand to its new big brother today. • Text Robot Getting Eyes, Tools in Third Spacewalk of Endeavour's Space Station Visit Spacewalking astronauts stepped outside Monday night and gave the space station's new robot some eyes and a set of tools. • Text

PERSONAL DATA: Born in Creve Coeur, Missouri, he considers St. Ann, Missouri his hometown. Recreational interests include mountain biking, skiing, and backpacking. He has a younger sister and two nephews who resides in Hazelwood, Missouri. His father resides in St. Ann, Missouri.
EDUCATION:
Pattonville High School , Maryland Heights, Missouri, 1988.
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Washington University, 1992.
B.S. Physics, Washington University, 1992.
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1993.
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1997.
SPECIAL HONORS: Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Senior, Washington University (1992); National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (1993-1996); Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate, Eglin AFB Florida Company Grade Officer of the Year (1997); USAF Achievement Medal (1997); USAF Commendation Medal (1998); Distinguished graduate from the USAF Test Pilot School Program (1999); Recipient of the USAF Test Pilot School Colonel Ray Jones Award as the top Flight Test Engineer/Flight Test Navigator in class 98B; USAF Commendation Medal (2000).
EXPERIENCE: Graduate Research in Nonlinear control. Dr. Behnken's thesis research was in the area of nonlinear control applied to stabilizing rotating stall and surge in axial flow compressors. The research included nonlinear analysis, real-time software implementation development, and extensive hardware construction. During his first two years of graduate study, Dr. Behnken developed and implemented real-time control algorithms and hardware for flexible robotic manipulators.
Prior to entering graduate school, Behnken was an Air Force ROTC student at Washington University in St. Louis, and after graduate school was assigned to enter Air Force active duty at Eglin AFB, Florida. While at Eglin, he worked as a technical manager and developmental engineer for new munitions systems. Behnken was next assigned to attend the Air Force Test Pilot School Flight Test Engineer's course at Edwards AFB, California. After graduating, he was assigned to the F-22 Combined Test Force (CTF) and remained at Edwards. While assigned to the F-22 program, Behnken was the lead flight test engineer for Raptor 4004 and a special projects test director. These responsibilities included flight test sortie planning, control room configuration development, and test conduct. Behnken also flew in both the F-15 and F-16 aircraft in support of the F-22 flight test program.
Major Behnken has over 1000 flight hours in more than 25 different aircraft types.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as a mission specialist by NASA in July 2000, Major Behnken reported for training in August 2000. Following the completion of 18 months of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Shuttle Branch supporting launch and landing activities at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. He is assigned to the STS-123 mission that will deliver the Japanese Logistics Module and the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator to the International Space Station. During STS-123 he is scheduled to serve as Mission Specialist 1 for ascent and entry, perform three spacewalks, serve as the IV (internal spacewalk coordinator), and operate the space station robotic arm.

JANUARY 2008