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Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)

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Jeffrey Williams
Williams in 2009
Born
Jeffrey Nels Williams

(1958-01-18)January 18, 1958(age 66)
Superior, Wisconsin,U.S.
EducationUnited States Military Academy(BS)
Space career
NASA astronaut
RankColonel,USA
Time in space
534d 2hm
SelectionNASA Group 16 (1996)
TotalEVAs
5
Total EVA time
31h 55m
MissionsSTS-101
Soyuz TMA-8(Expedition 13)
Soyuz TMA-16(Expedition 21/22)
Soyuz TMA-20M(Expedition 47/48)
Mission insignia

Jeffrey Nels Williams(born January 18, 1958) is a retiredUnited States Armyofficer and aNASAastronaut.He is a veteran of fourspace flightsand formerly held the American record for most days spent in space, which was surpassed in April 2017 by his colleaguePeggy Whitson.[1]He still holds the record of the longest time in space for an American man.

Early life and education[edit]

Williams was born inSuperior, Wisconsin,and raised inWinter, Wisconsin.During his childhood, Williams reached the rank of Star Scout, the third-highest in theBoy Scouts of America.[2][3]During theJamboree on the Airin October 2009 he communicated with Boy Scouts in theNational Scouting MuseuminTexasfrom the International Space Station.[3]Williams graduated from Winter High School in Winter, Wisconsin, in 1976. He earned a degree in applied science and engineering from theU.S. Military Academyin 1980, receiving his commission in theUnited States Army.

NASA career[edit]

Williams served with the Army atJohnson Space Centerfrom 1987 to 1992 before training as atest pilot.In 1996, he was selected byNASAas an astronaut candidate. In July 2002, Williams served as the commander of theNEEMO 3mission aboard theAquariusunderwater laboratory,living and working underwater for six days.[4][5]

Williams in theDestinylaboratory module during Expedition 21

STS-101[edit]

In 2000, Williams launched to space for the first time onSTS-101.STS-101 delivered supplies to theInternational Space Station,hauled up using a Spacehab double module and an Integrated Cargo Carrier pallet. Williams and fellow crew memberJames Vossperformed a spacewalk and then reboosted the station from 230 miles (370 km) to 250 miles (400 km). They returned to Earth after over 9 days on orbit.

Expedition 13[edit]

Williams onboard Soyuz TMA-8

Williams also flew aboard theSoyuz TMA-8mission, replacingExpedition 12astronautWilliam S. McArthur.He was previously inorbitas the Expedition 13 flight engineer and science officer aboard the International Space Station. He returned to Earth on September 28, 2006.[6]

During his six-month stint at theInternational Space Stationin 2006, Williams orbited the Earth more than 2,800 times. DuringExpedition 13,he worked on hundreds of experiments,walked in spacetwice, and captured more photographs of the Earth than any other astronaut in history. Many of his photos are found in his bookThe Work of His Hands: A View of God's Creation from Space,where he shares personal narrative and vivid photos of the Earth.

On August 24, 2006, a taped message made by him to be played at an official NASA press conference was accidentally played over the air-to-ground loop,[7]the tape revealing that theCrew Exploration Vehicleunder development to replace theSpace Shuttleafter 2010 would be namedOrionafter thefamed wintertime constellation.

Expedition 21/22[edit]

Williams also served as a flight engineer forExpedition 21and assumed command ofExpedition 22in November 2009[8]having arrived on the International Space Station with his crew mates viaSoyuz TMA-16which launched on September 30, 2009.[9]Williams with Expedition 22 Flight EngineerMaksim Surayevlanded their Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft on the steppes ofKazakhstanon March 18, 2010, wrapping up a 167-day stay aboard the Space Station.

First live tweetup from space[edit]

Williams at work in theDestinylaboratory

On October 21, 2009, Williams and his Expedition 21 crewmate,Nicole Stott,participated in the firstNASA Tweetupfrom the station with members of the public gathered atNASAHeadquarters inWashington, D.C.[10]This involved the firstliveTwitterconnection for the astronauts.[11]Previously, astronauts on board the Space Shuttle or ISS have sent the messages they desire to send as tweets down toMission Controlwhich then posted the message via theInternetto Twitter.[12]

Expedition 47/48[edit]

Williams with crew mates Tim Peake and Tim Kopra at the entrance to the BEAM

Williams returned to space station in 2016[13]as part ofExpedition 47/48.[14]Upon the departure ofSoyuz TMA-19Mhe became commander of Expedition 48.[15]Williams was returned to Earth safely on 6 September 2016.

On Expedition 47, Williams surpassedScott Kelly's record of 520 cumulative days in space which was set when he returned from space on March 1, 2016; Williams beat this record with 534 cumulative days.[16]

Personal life[edit]

Williams is a committed Christian.[17]Following his return from the Expedition 21 mission, he wrote the bookThe Work of His Hands: A View Of God's Creation From Spaceabout his experience in space. The book reflects in Williams words the "vivid lessons about the meticulous goodness of divine providence, God's care for His creation, and His wisdom in ordering the universe".[18] He is married to Anne-Marie Williams.[19]

Awards and decorations[edit]

Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Defense Superior Service Medalwithoak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Legion of Meritwith oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Meritorious Service Medalwith oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Bronze star
 National Defense Service Medalwith award star
Army Service Ribbon
NASA Distinguished Service Medal
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 NASA Space Flight Medalwith two oak leaf clusters

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Public DomainThis article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom websites or documents of theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. ^Amanda Barnett and Eleanor Mueller (April 24, 2017)."Trump congratulates NASA astronaut".CNN.RetrievedAugust 24,2020.
  2. ^"Astronauts and the BSA".Fact sheet.Boy Scouts of America.Archived fromthe originalon April 14, 2009.RetrievedMarch 20,2006.
  3. ^ab"Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet Extravaganza".Boy Scouts of America. Archived fromthe originalon June 20, 2010.RetrievedJune 8,2010.
  4. ^NASA (April 21, 2011)."Life Sciences Data Archive: Experiment".NASA. Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 22,2011.
  5. ^Montoya, Donald (Summer 2002)."Army Space Command Astronaut Trains for Life in Space -- Underwater".The Army Space Journal.1(3).Army Space Command.Archived fromthe originalon March 31, 2012.RetrievedDecember 21,2011.
  6. ^"Space Station Crew Back on Earth".NASA. September 28, 2006.RetrievedMarch 19,2016.
  7. ^"NASA lets name of new vehicle slip early".Sarasota Herald Tribune. August 22, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 29,2023.
  8. ^Trinidad, Katherine (November 21, 2008)."NASA Assigns Space Station Crews, Updates Expedition Numbering".NASA.RetrievedJanuary 29,2023.
  9. ^"Expedition 21 Soyuz Launch".NASA TV.September 30, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon December 31, 2009.
  10. ^Carla Cioffi (October 21, 2009)."20091021 NASA Live Tweetup Event with International Space Station".NASA.
  11. ^John Yembrick (October 1, 2009)."NASA Hosts Long-Distance Tweetup with Astronauts on Space Station".NASA.RetrievedOctober 20,2009.
  12. ^Etan Horowitz (May 22, 2009)."The great debate over Astro Mike's 'tweets from space'".The Orlando Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2009.RetrievedOctober 2,2009.
  13. ^Joshua Buck (February 11, 2014)."NASA, International Space Station Partners Announce Future Crew Members".NASA.
  14. ^"Launch, Docking Returns International Space Station Crew to Full Strength".NASA. March 19, 2016.RetrievedMarch 19,2016.
  15. ^Mark Garcia (June 17, 2016)."NASA Astronauts Swap Station Command".blogs.nasa.gov. Archived fromthe originalon May 5, 2022.RetrievedJune 19,2016.
  16. ^"Jeffrey N. Williams, (Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.) NASA Astronaut"(PDF).NASA. May 2019. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 15, 2022.RetrievedDecember 3,2023.
  17. ^Williams, Jeffrey (June 1, 2010).The Work of His Hands: A View Of God's Creation From Space.Concordia Publishing House.p. 149.ISBN978-0758615893.
  18. ^Williams, Jeffrey (June 1, 2010).The Work of His Hands: A View Of God's Creation From Space.Concordia Publishing House. p. back cover.ISBN978-0758615893.
  19. ^"Soyuz Expedition 22 lifts off with Wisconsin astronaut".September 30, 2009.

External links[edit]

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Preceded by ISS Expedition Commander
November 30, 2009 to March 17, 2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by ISS Expedition Commander
June 18, 2016 to September 6, 2016 		Succeeded by
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