http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

August 2020

Rex J. Walheim

(Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Ret.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Rex J. Walheim is a veteran of three space flights. He has logged more than 36 days in space, with over 36 hours in five 

spacewalks. Walheim served on STS-110 in 2002, STS-122 in 2008 and STS-135, the final flight of the Space Shuttle 

Program in 2011. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, 

Berkeley and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Houston.

Personal Data:

Born October 10, 1962, in Redwood City, California, but considers San Carlos, California, his hometown. Married to the 

former Margie Dotson of Villa Park, California. They have two children. He enjoys snow skiing, hiking, softball and 

football. 

Education:

Graduated from San Carlos High School, San Carlos, California, in 1980; received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical 

Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1984, and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from 

the University of Houston in 1989.

Experience:

Walheim was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in May 1984. In April 1985, he was assigned to 

Cavalier Air Force Station in Cavalier, North Dakota, where he worked as a Missile Warning Operations Crew 

Commander. In October 1986, he was reassigned to the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, where he worked as a 

mechanical systems Flight Controller and was the lead Operations Engineer for the space shuttle landing gear, brakes, 

and emergency runway barrier. Walheim was transferred to Headquarters Air Force Space Command in Colorado 

Springs, Colorado, in August 1989, where he was manager of a program upgrading missile warning radars. He was 

selected for the Flight Test Engineer course at the Air Force Test Pilot School in 1991, and attended the course at 

Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1992. Following his graduation, he was assigned to the F-16 Combined Test Force 

at Edwards where he was a project manager and then commander of the avionics and armament flight. In January 1996, 

Walheim became an instructor at the Air Force Test Pilot School, where he served until he commenced astronaut 

training.

NASA Experience:

Walheim served as a Flight Controller and Operations Engineer at the Johnson Space Center from October 1986 to 

January 1989. He was selected by NASA as an astronaut in March 1996, and reported to the Johnson Space Center in 

August 1996. After completing 2 years of training and evaluation, he qualified for flight assignment as a Mission 

Specialist. Walheim has been assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations branch, where 

he helped develop the initial procedures and displays used on the International Space Station. He served as CAPCOM in 
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Rex J. Walheim

the Mission Control Center and was also the Chief of the spacewalking branch. A veteran of three space flights, he has 

logged over 36 days in space, including more than 36 hours in five spacewalks. Walheim served on the spacewalk crew 

of both STS-110 in 2002 and STS-122 in 2008. Walheim was also a Mission Specialist on the crew of STS-135, a station 

cargo delivery mission, which was the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program. Subsequent to his flight, Walheim served 

as Chief of the Exploration branch of the Astronaut Office, where he worked as the astronaut representative to the 

Orion Program. In 2015, he became the Assistant Director for Operations for the Flight Operations Directorate. He then 

served as the Deputy Director of Safety and Mission Assurance at the Johnson Space Center.

Rex Walheim retired from NASA August 2020.

Spaceflight Experience:

STS-110 (April 8 to April 19, 2002). This was the 13th shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. Atlantis 

delivered the S0 (S-Zero) Truss, the first time the station robotic arm was used to maneuver spacewalkers around the 

station and the first time that all of a shuttle crew’s spacewalks were based from the station’s Quest Airlock. Walheim 

performed two spacewalks totaling 14 hours and 5 minutes. The crew mechanically attached and powered up the new 

truss and spent 1 week in joint operations with the station Expedition 4 crew. The mission duration was 10 days, 19 

hours and 42 minutes.

STS-122 (February 7 to February 20, 2008). This was the 24th shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. 

Atlantis delivered European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Columbus Laboratory. Walheim performed three spacewalks to help 

prepare the Columbus Laboratory for its scientific work and to replace an expended nitrogen tank on the station P-1 

Truss. STS-122 was also a crew replacement mission, delivering Expedition 16 Flight Engineer, ESA astronaut Léopold 

Eyharts, and returning home with Expedition 16 Flight Engineer, NASA astronaut Daniel Tani. The STS-122 mission was 

accomplished in 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds, and traveled 5,296,832 statute miles in 203 Earth orbits. 

STS-135 (July 8 to July 21, 2011). Atlantis carried the Raffaello MPLM to deliver supplies, logistics and spare parts to the 

International Space Station. The mission also flew a system to investigate the potential for robotically refueling existing 

spacecraft and returned a failed ammonia pump module to help NASA better understand the failure mechanism and 

improve pump designs for future systems. STS-135 was the 135th and final mission of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. 

The mission was accomplished in 200 orbits of the Earth, traveling 5,284,862 miles in 12 days, 18 hours, 27 minutes and 

56 seconds.

Awards/Honors

Distinguished Graduate, Reserve Officers Training Corps, University of California, Berkeley. Distinguished Graduate and 

top flight test engineer in the United States Air Force Test Pilot School Class 92A. Defense Superior Service Medal, 

Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, and various service awards.

Pronunciation: 

RECKS WALL-hime