JOHN M. FABIAN (COLONEL, USAF, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born January 28, 1939, in Goosecreek, Texas, but considers 

Pullman, Washington, to be his hometown. Married to the former, Donna Kay Buboltz 

of Spokane, Washington. They have two grown children. Recreational interests 

include skiing, stamp collecting, and jogging.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Pullman High School, Pullman, Washington, in 1957; 

received a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington 

State University in 1962; a master of science in Aerospace Engineering from the Air 

Force Institute of Technology in 1964; and a doctorate in Aeronautics and Astronautics 

from the University of Washington in 1974.

ORGANIZATIONS: Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and 

Astronautics; Fellow, American Astronautical Society; President, Association of Space 

Explorers; Corresponding Member, International Academy of Astronautics.

SPECIAL HONORS: Air Force Astronaut Wings; NASA Space Flight Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Federation 

Aeronautique Internationale - Komarov Diploma; Air Force Meritorious Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal 

Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, French Legion of Honor, Saudi Arabian King Abdul Aziz Medal; Air 

Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal; Washington State University Sloan Engineering Award 

(1961); Air Training Command Academic Training Award (1966); Squadron Officer School Commandant's Trophy (1968); 

Squadron Officer School Chief of Staff Award (1968); Washington State University Distinguished Alumnus Award (1983); 

Washington State Service to Humanity Award (1983); Distinguished Alumnus Award (1985); Medallion of Merit (1987); Phi 

Sigma Kappa.

EXPERIENCE: Fabian, an Air Force ROTC student at Washington State University, was commissioned upon graduation in 

1962. After an assignment at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, he was assigned 

as an aeronautics engineer in the service engineering division, San Antonio Air Material Area, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. He 

then attended flight training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and subsequently spent 5 years as a KC-135 pilot at 

Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan. He saw action in Southeast Asia, flying 90 combat missions. Following additional 

graduate work at the University of Washington, he served 4 years on the faculty of the Aeronautics Department at the USAF 

Academy in Colorado. He has logged 4,000 hours flying time, including 3,400 hours in jet aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, and became an astronaut in August 

1979. During the following years, he worked extensively on satellite deployment and retrieval activities, including development 

of the Canadian Remote Manipulator System. A veteran of two space flights, he has logged over 316 hours in space. He served 

as a mission specialist on STS-7 (June 18-24, 1983) and STS-51G (June 17-24, 1985). He was scheduled to fly next in May 

1986 on STS-61G. This flight was one of several deferred by NASA in the wake of the Challenger accident . Fabian left 

NASA on January 1, 1986 to become Director of Space, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters USAF. 

Colonel Fabian retired from the USAF in June 1987 and joined Analytic Services Inc (ANSER), a non-profit aerospace 

professional services firm in Arlington, Virginia, where he is now President and Chief Executive Officer.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: Fabian first flew as a mission specialist on STS-7, which launched from Kennedy Space 

Center, Florida, on June 18, 1983. This was the second flight for the Orbiter Challenger and for the first mission with a 

5-person crew. During the mission, the crew deployed satellites for Canada (ANIK C-2) and Indonesia (PALAPA B-1); 

operated the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) to perform the first deployment and retrieval exercise with 

- more -

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS-01); conducted the first formation flying of the Orbiter with a free-flying satellite (SPAS-01); 

carried and operated the first U.S./German cooperative materials science payload (OSTA-2): and operated the Continuous Flow 

Electrophoresis System (CFES) and the Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR) experiments, in addition to activating seven 

Getaway Specials, Mission duration was 147 hours before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on June 24, 1983.

On his second mission, Fabian flew on STS 51-G which launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on June 17, 1985, 

and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on June 24, 1985, after completing approximately 170 hours of space flight. 

This international crew deployed communications satellites for Mexico (Morelos), the Arab League (Arabsat), and the United 

Stated (AT&T Telstar). They used the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) to deploy and later retrieve the SPARTAN satellite 

which performed 17 hours of x-ray astronomy experiments while separated from the Space Shuttle. In addition, the crew 

activated the Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (ADSF), six Getaway Specials, participated in biomedical 

experiments, and conducted a laser tracking experiment as part of the Strategic Defense Initiative.

DECEMBER 1993

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