GREGORY J. HARBAUGH (MR.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born April 15, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio. Grew up in 

Willoughby, Ohio. Married. Three children. Enjoys building his own airplane, 

flying, running, and snow skiing.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Willoughby South High School in 1974; received 

a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from 

Purdue University in 1978, and a master of science degree in physical science from 

University of Houston-Clear Lake in 1986.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa, 

Sigma Gamma Tau.

SPECIAL HONORS: Recipient of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, four 

NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the 1999 

Rotary National Award for Space Achievement “Stellar” Award for Outstanding Leadership, the 1995 American 

Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award, the Johns Hopkins University Presidential Medal, the Purdue University 

Outstanding Aerospace Engineer and Astronaut Alumnus Awards, Aviation Week and Space Technology Laurels for 1991 

(STS 39) and 1995 (STS 71), and the Sigma Chi Fraternity Significant Sig Award.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Mr. Harbaugh came to NASA’s Johnson Space Center after graduation from Purdue University in 

1978. He held engineering and technical management positions in Space Shuttle flight operations, and supported Shuttle 

flight operations from Mission Control for most of the flights from STS-1 through STS 51-L. He served as Lead Data 

Processing Systems (DPS) Officer for STS-9 (Spacelab-1) and STS 41-D, Orbit DPS for STS 41-B and STS 41-C, and 

Ascent/Entry DPS for STS 41-G. Mr. Harbaugh also served as a senior flight controller addressing issues requiring realtime resolution, for several flights from STS 51-A through STS 51-L. 

Mr. Harbaugh has a commercial pilot’s license with instrument rating, and over 1600 hours total flying time. 

Selected by NASA in June 1987, Mr. Harbaugh became an astronaut in August 1988. His technical assignments included 

work in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (RMS), telerobotics 

systems development for Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission development, spacecraft 

communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control, and extravehicular activity (EVA) for the International Space Station (ISS). 

He was assigned as the backup EVA crew member and capsule communicator (Capcom) for STS-61, the first Hubble Space 

Telescope servicing mission. 

A veteran of four space flights, Mr. Harbaugh has logged a total of 818 hours in space, including 18 hours, 29 minutes EVA. 

He served aboard STS-39 (April 28 through May 6, 1991), STS-54 (January 13-19, 1993), STS-71 (June 27 to July 7, 1995) 

and STS-82 (February 11-21, 1997). 

From 1997-2001 Mr. Harbaugh served as Manager of the Extravehicular Activity Project Office, with program management 

responsibility for all aspects of NASA’s spacewalk industry, including spacesuits, tools, training, tasks and operations for the 

Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, and future planetary missions.

Mr. Harbaugh left NASA in March 2001. 

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National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-39 Discovery (April 28 through May 6, 1991) was an eight-day unclassified 

Department of Defense mission involving research for the Strategic Defense Initiative. Mr. Harbaugh flew as a mission 

specialist and was responsible for operation of the RMS and the Infrared Background Signature Survey (IBSS) spacecraft, 

and he was one of two crewmen trained for EVA in the event of a contingency requiring a space walk. Mission duration was 

199 hours, 22 minutes. 

STS-54 Endeavour (January 13-19, 1993) was a six-day mission which featured the deployment of TDRS-F, and a 4-hour 

28-minute space walk by Mr. Harbaugh. Mission duration was 143 hours 38 minutes.

STS-71 Atlantis (June 27 to July 7, 1995) was the first docking.mission with the Russian Space Station Mir, and involved an 

exchange of crews. On this mission, .Mr. Harbaugh served as the Flight Engineer (Mission Specialist) on a seven-member 

(up) eight-member (down) crew. Space Shuttle Atlantis was modified to carry a docking system compatible with the Russian 

Mir Space Station, and Mr. Harbaugh was responsible for the inflight operation of the docking system. He was also assigned 

to perform any contingency EVA. Mission duration was 235 hours, 23 minutes.

STS-82 Discovery (February 11-21, 1997) the second Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing mission. It was a night 

launch and landing flight. During the 10-day mission, the crew retrieved and secured the HST in Discovery’s payload bay. 

In five spacewalks, two teams installed two new spectrometers and eight replacement instruments, and placed insulation 

patches over several compartments containing key data processing, electronics and scientific instrument telemetry packages. 

Mr. Harbaugh participated in two space walks, totaling 14 hours and 01 minute. Following completion of upgrades and 

repairs, HST was redeployed and boosted to its highest orbit ever. Mission duration was 239 hours, 37 minutes.

APRIL 2001

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.