DALE A. GARDNER

NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED)

PERSONAL DATA: Born November 8, 1948 in Fairmont, Minnesota. Died February 19, 

2014 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Grew up in Sherburn, Minnesota and Savanna, 

Illinois. Considered his hometown to be Clinton, Iowa. Married to Sherry Gardner. Two 

children, two step-children, two grandchildren. An avid sports enthusiast, he enjoyed snow 

skiing, golfing, tennis, and jogging. Other interests include woodworking and photography.

EDUCATION: Graduated as Valedictorian of his class from Savanna Community High 

School, Savanna, Illinois, in 1966. Received Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering 

Physics from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) in 1970.

ORGANIZATIONS: Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Tau, and Tau Beta Pi. Fellow, American 

Astronautical Society.

SPECIAL HONORS: Defense Superior Service Medal (1984, 1989, 1990); Distinguished Flying Cross (1989); Meritorious 

Unit Commendation (1976); Humanitarian Service Medal (1979); Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (1984). Other honors include 

the NASA Space Flight Medal (1983 and 1984); Master Space Badge (1989); Lloyd's of London Meritorious Service Medal 

(1984).

EXPERIENCE: Upon graduation from the University of Illinois in 1970, Gardner entered into active duty with the U.S. Navy 

and was assigned to the Aviation Officer Candidate School at Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned an Ensign and was 

selected as the most promising naval officer from his class. In October 1970, he began Basic Naval Flight Officer training with 

the VT-10 squadron at Pensacola, graduating with the highest academic average ever achieved in the history of the squadron. He 

proceeded to the Naval Technical Training Center at Glynco, Georgia, for Advanced Flight Officer training and was selected a 

Distinguished Naval Graduate and awarded his Naval Flight Officer wings on May 5, 1971. At the Naval Air Test Center 

Patuxent River, Maryland, from May 1971 to July 1973, he was assigned to the Weapons Systems Test Division and involved in 

initial F-14 TOMCAT developmental test and evaluation as Project Officer for Inertial Navigation and Avionics Systems. 

Gardner's next assignment was with the first operational F-14 squadron (VF-1) at NAS Miramar, San Diego, California, from 

where he flew the TOMCAT and participated in two Western Pacific and Indian Ocean cruises while deployed aboard the aircraft 

carrier USS ENTERPRISE. From December 1976 until July 1978, he was assigned to the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 

4(VX-4) at NAS Pt. Mugu, California, involved in the operational test and evaluation of Navy fighter aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Gardner was selected as an Astronaut Candidate by NASA in January 1978, reporting to the Johnson 

Space Center in July 1978. In August 1979, he completed a one-year training and evaluation period, making him eligible for 

assignment as a mission specialist astronaut. He subsequently served as the Astronaut Project Manager for the flight software in 

the shuttle onboard computers leading up to the first flight in April 1981. He then served as a support crew astronaut for the 

fourth flight (STS-4). He flew as a mission specialist on STS-8 (August 30 to September 5, 1983) and STS-51A (November 8-16, 

1984). Gardner logged a total of 337 hours in space and 225 orbits of the Earth on these two flights. He logged more than 2300 

hours flying time in over 20 different types of aircraft and spacecraft. Prior to the Challenger accident, Gardner was chosen to be 

a member of the first shuttle mission to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, into a polar orbit. That flight and the 

Vandenberg launch capability itself were canceled after the accident. 

In October 1986, following more than eight years with NASA, Gardner returned to his Navy duties and was assigned to the U.S. 

Space Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He served more than two years as the Deputy Chief, Space Control Operations 

Division in Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base and, after promotion to the rank of Captain in June 1989, became the command's 

Deputy Director for Space Control at Peterson Air Force Base. His space control responsibilities included the surveillance and 

tracking of all man-made objects in Earth orbit and the protection of U.S. and friendly space systems. 

- more -

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
Gardner retired from the U.S. Navy in October 1990 and accepted a position with TRW Inc. in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He 

was a program manager in the Colorado Springs Engineering Operations of TRW's Space and Defense Sector. In that capacity, he 

was involved in the development of both civilian and military space and defense high technology programs. He later became 

Manager of Northrup Grumman’s Colorado Springs operations. After 13 years, he joined the National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado as the Associate Director for Renewable Fuels Science & Technology. He retired from 

that position in January 2013.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-8 launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on August 30, 1983. The crew 

aboard space shuttle Challenger included Richard Truly (spacecraft commander), Daniel Brandenstein (pilot), and fellow mission 

specialists Guion Bluford and William Thornton. This was the third flight of the Orbiter Challenger and the first night launch and 

landing mission of the Shuttle Program. During the flight, the crew of STS-8 deployed the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-1B), 

operated and tested the Canadian-build Remote Manipulator System (RMS) robot arm, and performed numerous Earth resources 

and space science experiments. STS-8 completed 98 Earth orbits in 145 hours before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, 

California on September 5, 1983.

STS-51A, the fourteenth flight of the Shuttle Program, launched on November 8, 1984 (his birthday). The crew aboard space 

shuttle Discovery included Frederick Hauck (spacecraft commander), David Walker (pilot), and fellow Mission Specialists Joseph 

Allen and Anna Fisher. This was the second flight of Discovery. During this mission the crew deployed two satellites, Canada's 

ANIK D-2 (TELESAT-H) and the Hughes LEASAT-1 (SYNCOM IV-1), now in service with the U.S. Navy. In a dramatic 

salvage effort, they also rendezvoused with and returned from space two satellites previously launched into improper orbits, the 

Indonesian PALAPA B-2 and the Western Union WESTAR VI communication satellites. Gardner and Allen completed two 

spacewalks totaling 12 hours and flew the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) backpack during the salvage operation. STS-51A 

completed 127 orbits of the Earth before landing at the Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 1984.

FEBRUARY 2014

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