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Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978,
McBride became an astronaut in August 1979. His NASA assignments
have included lead chase pilot for the maiden voyage of Columbia;
software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration
Laboratory (SAIL); capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-5, STS-6,
and STS-7; Flight Data File (FDF) Manager, and orbital rendezvous
procedures development.
McBride was pilot of STS 41-G, which launched from Kennedy Space
Center, Florida, on October 5, 1984, aboard the Orbiter Challenger.
This was the first crew of seven. During their eight day mission,
crew members deployed the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite,
conducted scientific observations of the earth with the OSTA-3
pallet and Large Format Camera, and demonstrated potential
satellite refueling with an EVA and associated hydrazine transfer.
Mission duration was 197 hours and concluded with a landing at
Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 13, 1984.
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McBride was scheduled to fly next in March 1986, as the
commander of STS 61-E crew. This flight was one of several
deferred by NASA in the wake of the Challenger accident in
January 1986.
On July 30, 1987, McBride was assigned to NASA Headquarters to
serve as Assistant Administrator for Congressional Relations, with
responsibility for NASA's relationship with Congress, and for
providing coordination and direction to all Headquarters and Field
Center communications with Congressional support organizations. He
held this post from September 1987 through March 1989. In 1988
McBride was named to command the crew of the STS-35 (ASTRO-1)
mission, scheduled for launch in March 1990.
In May 1989, Captain McBride retired from NASA and the Navy, in
order to pursue a business career. He is currently President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Flying Eagle Corporation in
Lewisburg, West Virginia; and President of the Constructors’
Labor Council of West Virginia (heavy/highway construction
contractors).s learning over the years to change the educational
landcape in Northern Ireland and beyond!
With the search the for the first Irish
astronaut being announce this month, prospective candidates are
advised to attend this special talk by a veteran NASA astronaut
in Limerick this Friday, organised by Astronomy Ireland.
NASA Astronaut Capt. Jon McBride will give
a FREE Public Lecture in Limerick this Friday evening at 8pm.
This talk will cover the complete history of the NASA Space
Programme from its inception to its plans for Mars and beyond.
The talk will be followed by a 'Question
& Answer' session, so this is your chance to meet someone
who has been to outer space and ask them about the things you
always wanted to know about living in space. How to eat ,
drink, sleep and wash, for example.
" I for one will be listening
carefully to what a Nasa astronaut has to say at this Astronomy
Ireland lecture", said David Moore, Chairman of Astronomy
Ireland, "as I will be applying again for the post of
astronaut with ESA".
Capt. McBride was the pilot on the first
shuttle mission to carry a crew of seven astronauts. He has also
held many other senior positions within the NASA organisation so
he is familiar with space missions from design, communications,
flying and public relations.
Irish Astronaut ?
On Monday, May 19th, the search for an
Irish astronaut will begin. Ireland is a member of the European
Space Agency which has just announced vacancies for its manned
space programme. Any Irish citizen with a pilots license or
science related degree up to the age of 55 can apply. In 1991
over 700 Irish people applied for similar astronaut jobs and ESA
expects 30,000 applications this time round.
Astronomy Ireland will use this event to
launch a series of Beginner's Astronomy Classes in Limerick.
These classes will also be running in Athlone, Belfast,
Cork, Dublin, Letterkenny, Tralee. Thousands of people
have already taken these courses in the past. More details here
Astronomy Ireland, in association with University
of Limerick and Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort are
proud to announce this important event in Limerick.
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