ROBERT L. SATCHER, JR. (PH.D., M.D.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born September 22, 1965, in Hampton, Virginia. Married to 

the former D’Juanna O. White, MPH, MD, of New York, New York. They have two 

children. He enjoys running, scuba diving and reading. His parents, Robert and 

Marian, reside in Lawerenceville, Virginia. Her parents, Edward and Geraldine, 

reside in New York, New York.

EDUCATION: Dr. Satcher graduated from Denmark-Olar High School, Denmark, 

South Carolina, in 1982. He received a bachelor of science degree in chemical 

engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1986; a doctor of 

philosophy in chemical engineering from MIT in 1993 and a doctor of medicine 

degree from Harvard Medical School in 1994. Dr. Satcher completed his internship 

and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco,

in 2000; postdoctoral research fellowships at MIT in 1994 and University of 

California, Berkeley in 1998; and a fellowship in musculoskeletal oncology at the 

University of Florida in 2001.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery; Illinois Medical License; Texas 

Medical License; Medical Board of California: Physicians and Surgeon’s Certificate; National Board of Medical Examiners;

DEA Authorization; Medical Board of California: Physician Assistant Supervisor; California Fluoroscopy X-Ray Supervisor 

and Operator; ATLS and CPR Certifications; Professional Association of Divers International (SCUBA)

ORGANIZATIONS: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, American Academy 

of Cancer Research, Connective Tissue Oncology Society, National Medical Association, Society of Black Academic 

Surgeons, Doctors United in Medical Missions, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Orthopaedic Research Society, 

MIT Alumni Association, Black Alumni at MIT, Harvard Alumni Association

SPECIAL HONORS: Leadership Fellow of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, ABC Fellow of American 

Orthopaedic Association, UNCF/Merck Research Fellow, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Fellow, Bloomberg Leadership 

Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society

Dr. Satcher completed 12 research grants from 1991 to 2004. He has 15 peer-reviewed publications and more than 

25 presentations at national and international research meetings.

NON-MEDICAL ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS: Dr. Satcher has been active in numerous community organizations 

including Big Brother for Youth at Risk Counseling Program, Department of Corrections, San Francisco, California; Tutor 

for Black Student’s Union Tutorial Program, MIT; National Society of Black Engineers; American Institute of Chemical 

Engineering; Supervising Adult for Cub Scout Camp for Boys, Nashville, Tennessee; Open Airways Tutor (asthma 

awareness); Proctor for Freshman Dormitory at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Lay Episcopal Minister 

(primary responsibility is visiting sick and shut-in members of the church) at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church, Chicago, 

Illinois and at St. James Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas.

EXPERIENCE: Assistant Professor at The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, in the Department of 

Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Satcher also held an appointment as an Attending Physician in Orthopaedic Surgery at Children’s 

Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in Musculoskeletal Oncology and an Adjunct Appointment in 

The Biomedical Engineering Department at Northeastern University School of Engineering. Dr. Satcher was also a member 

of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Advanced 

Medicine at Northwestern University. Prior to this, he completed clinical fellowships in Musculoskeletal Oncology at the 

University of Florida and as a Schweitzer Fellow at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambarene, Gabon. Dr. Satcher also 

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National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
completed numerous medical missions for outreach care to underserved areas in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nigeria, Burkina 

Faso, and Gabon. Prior experience in engineering includes internships at E.I. DuPont deNemours & Company, Inc., 

Wilmington, Delaware, in the Textile Fibers Research Group, and the Polymer Products Division.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Dr. Satcher was selected by NASA in May 2004 to be an Astronaut Candidate. In February 2006,

he completed Astronaut Candidate Training that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in shuttle 

and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training and water and wilderness survival 

training. Dr. Satcher flew on STS-129 in November 2009 and has logged more than 259 hours in space, including 12 hours 

and 19 minutes in two EVAs. Dr. Satcher left NASA in September 2011 and currently is on staff as a Surgical Oncologist at 

MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-129 (November 16 to November 29, 2009) was the 31st shuttle flight to the 

International Space Station. During the mission, the crew delivered two Express Logistics Carriers (ELC racks) to the 

International Space Station and approximately 30,000 pounds of replacement parts for systems that provide power to the 

station, keep it from overheating, and maintain proper orientation in space. During the mission, Dr. Satcher performed two 

spacewalks for a total of 12 hours and 19 minutes of EVA. The STS-129 mission was completed in 10 days, 19 hours, 

16 minutes and 13 seconds, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits, and returned to Earth, bringing back NASA Astronaut 

Nicole Stott, following her tour of duty aboard the International Space Station.

SEPTEMBER 2011