http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/richard-r-arnold http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

October 2018

Richard R. Arnold II

NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Richard R. Arnold II was selected by NASA in May 2004. Before his NASA career, the Maryland native worked in the 

marine sciences and as a teacher in places like Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. During STS-119, he accumulated 

more than 12 days in space. The objective of the mission was for the delivery of the final pair of power-generating solar 

array wings and a truss element for the International Space Station. While onboard, he conducted more than 12 hours 

of spacewalks. Arnold most recently served as served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for 

Expedition 55 and 56.

Personal Data:

Born in Cheverly and raised in Bowie, Maryland. Married to Eloise Miller Arnold of Bowie, Maryland. They have two 

daughters. Enjoys running, fishing, reading, kayaking, bicycling and guitar.

Education:

Bachelor of Science from Frostburg State University, Maryland, 1985; Completed teacher certification program at 

Frostburg State; University, Maryland, 1988; Master of Science in Marine, Estuarine & Environmental Science, 

University of Maryland, 1992.

Experience:

Arnold began working at the United States Naval Academy in 1987 as an Oceanographic Technician. Upon completing 

his teacher certification program, he accepted a position as a science teacher at John Hanson Middle School in Waldorf, 

Maryland. During his tenure, he completed a Masters program while conducting research in biostratigraphy utilizing 

radiometric dating at the Horn Point Environmental Laboratory in Cambridge, Maryland. Upon matriculation, Arnold 

spent another year working in the Marine Sciences including time at the Cape Cod National Seashore and aboard a sail 

training/oceanographic vessel headquartered in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. In 1993, Arnold joined the faculty at the 

Casablanca American School in Casablanca, Morocco, teaching college preparatory Biology and Marine Environmental 

Science. In 1996, he and his family moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he was employed as a middle and high school 

science teacher and Department Chair at the American International School. In 2001, Arnold was hired by International 

School Services to teach middle school mathematics and science at the International School of Kuala Kencana in West 

Papua, Indonesia. In 2003, he accepted a similar teaching position at the American International School of Bucharest in 

Bucharest, Romania.

NASA Experience:

Selected as a Mission Specialist by NASA in May 2004. In February 2006 he completed Astronaut Candidate Training that 

included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in shuttle and space station systems, physiological training, 

T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. In August 2007, he completed aquanaut training and served 
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Richard R. Arnold II 

as a mission specialist on a joint NASA-NOAA mission, NEEMO 13 (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Objectives), where 

he lived and worked in and around Aquarius - the world’s only undersea laboratory. During the 10 day mission, the crew 

of NEEMO 13 conducted experiments and operations in a simulated lunar outpost. In 2009, he completed training as a 

Deep Worker submersible pilot and has supported underwater operations for the Pavillion Lake Research Project and 

NASA NEEMO. In 2016, Arnold led a multinational crew in a European Space Agency 6 day mission mapping and exploring 

a large cave network in Sardinia. Arnold has served as a Capsule Communicator (Capcom) in Mission Control. Arnold has 

accumulated over 1000 hours in multiple aircraft.

Spaceflight Experience:

STS-119 Discovery (March 15-28, 2009) was the 125th shuttle flight, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 28th shuttle 

flight to the space station. The primary objective of this flight was to deliver the final pair of power-generating solar 

array wings and a truss element to the station. The mission also delivered and returned with an expedition crew 

member. During this mission, Arnold accumulated 12 hours and 34 minutes during 2 spacewalks. Discovery landed at 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida, having traveled 202 orbits and 5.3 million miles in 12 days 19 hours and 29 minutes.

Expedition 55/56 (March 21 through October 4, 2018). The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard

Soyuz spacecraft. Arnold, who served as Flight Engineer, was joined by Astronaut Drew Feustel and Russian Cosmonaut

Oleg Artemyev. Arnold saw the arrival and departure of 6 visiting vehicles, participated in dozens of educational 

downlink events and ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks to perform maintenance and upgrades. 

Arnolds three spacewalks totaled 19 hour and 30 minutes; he now has conducted 5 spacewalks in his career with a total 

of 32 hours and 4 minutes. Ricky Arnold logged in 197 days in space during Expeditions 55 and 56 and will have totaled 

209 days in space on his two flights.

Pronunciation: 

RICH-urd AR-nuld