Christopher Cassidy

Christopher John "Chris" Cassidy (born January 4, 1970, in Salem, Massachusetts) is a NASA astronaut and United States Navy SEAL. Chris Cassidy achieved the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy. His first spaceflight was on a Space Shuttle mission in 2009. He was the Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA from July 2015 until June 2017.

Christopher Cassidy
Born
Christopher John Cassidy

(1970-01-04) January 4, 1970
Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.
Spouse(s)Peggy Yancer Cassidy[1]
StatusActive
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy (B.S.)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.S.)
OccupationNavy SEAL
Space career
NASA Astronaut
RankCaptain, USN
Time in space
377d 17h 49m
Selection2004 NASA Group 19
Total EVAs
10
Total EVA time
54 hours and 51 minutes
MissionsSTS-127, Soyuz TMA-08M (Expedition 35/36), Soyuz MS-16 (Expedition 62/63)
Mission insignia

Early life and education

Cassidy was born in Salem, Massachusetts on January 4, 1970. He attended York High School, in York, Maine.[2] He then graduated from the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1989. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at the United States Naval Academy in 1993 and a Master of Science degree in ocean engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000.

Military experience

Cassidy graduated from BUD/S class 192 in 1993 as Honor man. He served for ten years as a member of the Navy SEALs. His specializations in military tactics include long range special reconnaissance (vehicular and foot patrols), direct action building assaults, non-compliant ship-boardings, desert reconnaissance patrols, combat diving, underwater explosives, and a variety of air operations, including parachuting, fast roping, and rappelling. He made four six-month deployments: two to Afghanistan, and two to the Mediterranean Sea. Cassidy served as Executive Officer and Operations Officer of Special Boat Team 20 in Norfolk, Virginia, and SEAL Platoon Commander at SEAL Team 3 in Coronado, California. He deployed to the Afghanistan region two weeks after the September 11 attacks. He served as Ground Assault Force Commander for international and U.S.-only combat missions in Afghanistan. Cassidy led two months of non-compliant ship-boardings in the Northern Persian Gulf. Cassidy was also a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) platoon commander at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two in Norfolk. He accumulated over 200 hours underwater as pilot, navigator, or mission commander of a two-man flooded submersible SDV, which is launched and recovered from a host-ship submarine. He also served as drydeck shelter platoon commander at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two in Norfolk. Cassidy volunteered for and completed a week-long, 180-mile (290 km) charity kayak paddle from Norfolk, Virginia to Washington, D.C. to raise money and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.[2]

NASA career
Cassidy participating in the third EVA of the STS-127 mission.

Cassidy was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in May 2004. In February 2006 he completed Astronaut Candidate Training, which included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Space Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 Talon flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. Completion of this initial training qualified him for various technical assignments within the Astronaut Office and future flight assignment as a mission specialist.[2]

STS-127

In February 2008, Cassidy was assigned to his first spaceflight as a mission specialist on STS-127, a Space Shuttle mission to deliver the Exposed Facility of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM-EF) to the ISS aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour.[3]

Cassidy and his six fellow crew members lifted off aboard Endeavour from the Kennedy Space Center on 15 July 2009.[4] The seven astronauts docked with the ISS on 17 July, joining the six-person Expedition 20 crew commanded by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka. This marked the first time that 13 people had been in space together, a record that has not been surpassed since.[5] On 22 July 2009, Cassidy stepped outside the ISS with NASA astronaut David Wolf for his first spacewalk. The two began work replacing batteries on the P6 Truss and continued work on installing the JEM-EF. The EVA was called off after 5 hours and 59 minutes for excess carbon dioxide in Cassidy's suit.[6]

Cassidy's space selfie.

Over the course of STS-127, Cassidy participated in two more spacewalks with NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn. The two completed replacing the batteries on the P6 truss and completed the installation of the JEM-EF during two excursions lasting 7 hours and 12 minutes and 4 hours and 57 minutes, respectively.[7] Cassidy's third spacewalk marked the completion of the Japanese Experiment Module, a feat that took three space shuttle missions starting with STS-123.

On 31 July 2009, Cassidy returned to the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, wrapping up his first spaceflight after 15 days in space.[8]

Expedition 35/36

Cassidy was assigned to the Expedition 35 crew as a flight engineer and flew to the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-08M (US designation: 34S), which launched on March 28, 2013.[2][9] On May 11, 2013, Cassidy and Thomas Marshburn performed an unplanned spacewalk to replace a pump controller box suspected to be the source of an ammonia coolant leak.[10][11]

Cassidy participated in two US spacewalks from the ISS in June/July 2013.[9] On July 16, 2013, he was joined by Luca Parmitano on a spacewalk. The EVA was cut short when Parmitano reported water floating behind his head inside his helmet.[12] During the EVA, Cassidy took his space selfie. That photo became one of the best selfies of 2013 listed by many news sites.[13][14]

Cassidy (right), pictured with crew member Luca Parmitano

Chief of the Astronaut Office

Cassidy was named Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA in July 2015, succeeding Robert L. Behnken.[15]

On June 2, 2017, Cassidy was replaced by Patrick G. Forrester as Chief of the Astronaut Office and was returned to normal flight status.

Expedition 62/63
Cassidy, Ivanishin and Vagner at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, April 9, 2020

Cassidy launched onboard Soyuz MS-16 on April 9, 2020, as part of Expedition 62. He was the ISS Commander for Expedition 63, which consisted of Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Ivan Vagner and Anatoli Ivanishin.[16][17] Cassidy was joined by fellow NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on May 31, 2020 with the docking of Crew Dragon Demo-2. Cassidy and his crew returned to earth on October 21, 2020. They landed in Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan at 10:54pm.

Awards and honors

Cassidy was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" device and the Presidential Unit Citation for leading a nine-day operation at the Zhawar Kili cave complex, a national priority objective directly on the Afghan–Pakistan border, during Operation Enduring Freedom. Cassidy was a guest speaker at the USNA Combat Leadership Seminars in 2003 and 2004. He was awarded a second Bronze Star for combat leadership service in 2004 during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.[2]

Chris Cassidy is also the 500th person in space. He achieved this when his crewmates so designated him during the STS-127 mission.[18] He is also the second SEAL to fly in space, following William Shepherd, a veteran of four missions.

Awards and decorations
Bronze Star with valor device and award star
Combat Action Ribbon
Presidential Unit Citation
NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
NASA Space Flight Medal
 National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Personal life

Cassidy is married to the former Peggy Yancer from Elyria, Ohio. They have five children between the two of them. Recreational interests include traveling, biking, camping, snow skiing, weight lifting, running, basketball, real estate, and home improvement.[1]

Cassidy is a licensed Amateur Radio operator (ham), holding U.S. Technician level license KF5KDR.[19] Cassidy has participated in several Amateur Radio on the International Space Station events with students in the United States.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. Tonnessen, Heather (February 7, 2016). "Christopher Cassidy (Captain, U.S. Navy) NASA Astronaut". NASA.
  2. "Astronaut Bio: Chris Cassidy (3/2011)". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  3. "NASA - NASA Assigns Crews for STS-127 and Expedition 19 Missions". www.nasa.gov.
  4. "NASA - STS-127". www.nasa.gov.
  5. "STS-127: Endeavour completes RPM and Docks with ISS - TPS latest". July 17, 2009.
  6. "Spaceflight Now | STS-127 Shuttle Report | Extensive spacewalk replanning underway". spaceflightnow.com.
  7. "Spaceflight Now | STS-127 Shuttle Report | Endeavour crew completes fifth and final spacewalk". spaceflightnow.com.
  8. "STS-127 Shuttle Endeavour Landing (200907310003HQ)". July 31, 2009 – via Flickr.
  9. Harding, Pete (March 28, 2013). "Soyuz TMA-08M docks with ISS just six hours after launch". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  10. Pearlman, Robert Z. (May 11, 2013). "Unplanned Spacewalk a 'Precedent-Setting' Move for Space Station Crew". TechMediaNetwork, Inc. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  11. NASA (May 11, 2013). "Astronauts Complete Spacewalk to Repair Ammonia Leak". NASA. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  12. "Astronaut Chris Cassidy Takes a Photo". NASA. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  13. Catcher, Jessica (December 11, 2013). "16 Legendary Selfies of 2013". Mashable. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  14. "The 13 Most Important Selfies of 2013". Daily Life. December 12, 2013. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  15. Nicole, Cloutier-Lemasters. "NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy New Chief of Astronaut Office". NASA. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  16. "SpaceX and Nasa set to launch astronauts after weather all-clear". Express & Star. May 30, 2020.
  17. Potter, Sean (April 9, 2020). "NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy, Crewmates Arrive Safely at Space Station". NASA. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  18. Robert Z. Pearlman (2011). "500th Person to Space Launching on Shuttle Endeavour". SPACE.com. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  19. "KF5KDR". FCC.gov. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
Preceded by
Robert L. Behnken		 Chief of the Astronaut Office
2015–2017		 Succeeded by
Patrick G. Forrester
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