Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. CST

Join us for a conversation between Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and Robert L. Behnken, BS ’92, BS ’92, PhD, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, NASA Astronaut. The two will discuss Colonel Behnken's experience as a NASA astronaut and his most recent Spaceflight experience as a member of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, Demo-2 mission, which landed August 2, 2020. Following the interview, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions.

A St. Louis native, Colonel Behnken attended WashU as an Air Force ROTC scholar. Behnken earned bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and engineering physics and was the university’s Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Senior. He was awarded the engineering Young Alumni Award in 2009 and the Founder’s Day Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013.  

The webinar is presented by the Washington University Alumni Association and McKelvey School of Engineering. If you have a Zoom account, please register with the email address linked to your account. 

Please respond by Monday, November 9. You will receive a confirmation email on Tuesday, November 10 with the link to the Zoom webinar.

This event will be streamed live on our Washington University Alumni Association YouTube Channel.  
 

About Robert L. Behnken
Robert L. Behnken was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2000 and is a veteran of two space shuttle flights. A native of Missouri, Behnken flew STS-123 in March 2008 and STS-130 in February 2010, logging more than 708 hours in space, and more than 37 hours during six spacewalks. Behnken most recently served as Joint Operations Commander on the first crewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, the Demo-2 mission, which landed August 2, 2020. He also served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 63.

Colonel Behnken’s thesis research was on control of rotating stall and surge in compressor systems. The research included nonlinear analysis, real-time software development, and hardware construction. During his first two years of graduate study, Colonel Behnken developed control algorithms and hardware for flexible robotic manipulators.

Colonel Behnken was commissioned via the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). His first assignment was at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida managing and developing new weapon systems. He next attended the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California with a follow on assignment to the F-22 Combined Test Force (CTF) where he served as the lead Flight Test Engineer for the 4th F-22. He has flown more than 1,500 flight hours in more than 25 different types of aircraft.

NASA Experience:
Colonel Behnken was selected by NASA in July 2000, and following the completion of astronaut candidate training was assigned to support launch and landing activities at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Since then, within the Astronaut Office, he served in the Exploration branch, as Chief of the Space Station Operations Branch, and between July 2012 and July 2015 as NASA’s Chief Astronaut. As Chief Astronaut, he was responsible for flight assignments, mission preparation, and on-orbit support of international space station crews as well as organizing astronaut office support for future launch vehicles.

Colonel Behnken trained as an international space station crew member following the loss of Columbia and as a mission specialist for STS-400 the launch-on-need rescue flight for the last Hubble servicing mission. He flew STS-123 in March 2008 and STS-130 in February 2010, logging more than 708 hours in space, and performing more than 37 hours in six spacewalks. Colonel Behnken is currently assigned to the cadre of astronauts that will train and fly the initial test flights of the Boeing CST-100 or Space X Dragon commercially built spacecraft. 

Spaceflight Experience:
STS-123 Endeavour (March 11 to March 26, 2008) was a night launch/landing and the 25th International Space Station assembly mission. Endeavour’s crew delivered the first component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Kibo Laboratory and the final element of the station’s Mobile Servicing System, the Canadian-built Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, known as Dextre. Colonel Behnken served as flight deck Mission Specialist for ascent and entry, performed three spacewalks, and operated both the station robotic arm and the Dextre robot. The mission was accomplished in 250 orbits of the Earth, traveling 6,577,857 statute miles in 15 days, 18 hours, 10 minutes and 54 seconds.

STS-130 Endeavour (February 8 to February 21, 2010) was a night launch/landing and the 32nd International Space Station assembly mission. Endeavour’s crew delivered and outfitted Node 3 (the station’s habitation module) and the Cupola (the station’s seven window Earth facing observation portal). Colonel Behnken served as a Mission Specialist, operated the space station robotic arm, served as the spacewalking lead and performed three spacewalks. The mission was accomplished in 217 orbits of the Earth, traveling 5,738,991 statute miles in 13 days, 18 hours, 6 minutes and 24 seconds.

Behnken served as Joint Operations Commander on the first crewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, the Demo-2 mission, launching May 20 and landing in Pensacola, Florida on August 2, 2020. He also served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 63. Behnken contributed to more than 110 hours of time to supporting the orbiting laboratory’s investigations. He participated in a number of scientific experiments, spacewalks and public engagement events during his 62 days aboard station. Behnken helped work on numerous sample switch outs for the Electrolysis Measurement (EM) experiment, as well as contributing images to the Crew Earth Observations (CEO) study.  While on board, Behnken conducted four spacewalks and is now tied for most spacewalks by an American astronaut with Michael Lopez-Alegria, Peggy Whitson, and Chris Cassidy, each of whom has completed 10 spacewalks.

This event will be streamed live on our Washington University Alumni Association YouTube Channel.