SUSAN KILRAIN (COMMANDER, USN, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born October, 24, 1961, in Augusta, Georgia. Married to Colin 

James Kilrain of Braintree, Massachusetts. She enjoys triathlons, martial arts, and playing 

the piano. Her parents, Joe and Sue Still, reside in Martinez, Georgia. Colin’s mother, 

Mrs. Terry Kilrain, resides in Braintree, Massachusetts.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Walnut Hill High School, Natick, Massachusetts, in 

1979. Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Institute of 

Technology, 1985.

ORGANIZATIONS: Association of Naval Aviation. Association of Space Explorers. 

The Georgia Tech Foundation.

SPECIAL HONORS: Distinguished Naval Graduate of Aviation Officer Candidate 

School; Distinguished Graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School, Class 103; Awarded the Defense Superior Service 

Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, NASA Space Flight Medals 

(2), and the National Defense Service Medal. Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award by the United States Junior Chamber of

Commerce. Daughter of the American Revolution, Good Scout Award, 1997.

EXPERIENCE: After graduating from undergraduate school, Susan worked as a Wind Tunnel Project Officer for Lockheed 

Corporation in Marietta, Georgia and earned her graduate degree. She was commissioned in 1985 and designated a naval aviator in 

1987. Susan was selected to be a flight instructor in the TA-4J Skyhawk. She later flew EA-6A Electric Intruders for Tactical 

Electronic Warfare Squadron 33 in Key West, Florida. After completing Test Pilot School, she reported to Fighter Squadron 101 

in Virginia Beach, Virginia for F-14 Tomcat training. She has logged over 3,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. 

NASA EXPERIENCE: Susan reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. Following a year of training, she worked 

technical issues for the Vehicle Systems and Operations Branch of the Astronaut Office. She also served as spacecraft 

communicator (CAPCOM) in mission control during launch and entry for numerous missions. A veteran of two space flights, she 

has logged over 471 hours in space. She flew as pilot on STS-83 (April 4-8, 1997) and STS-94 (July 1-17, 1997). She most 

recently was the Legislative Specialist for Shuttle for the Office of Legislative Affairs at NASA Headquarters, Washington D.C. 

Susan retired from the Astronaut Office in December 2002 and from the Navy in June 2005.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: Her first mission, STS-83 (April 4-8, 1997), was cut short because of problems with one of 

the Shuttle’s three fuel cell power generation units. Mission duration was 95 hours and 12 minutes, traveling 1.5 million miles in 

63 orbits of the Earth. 

STS-94 (July 1-17, 1997) was a re-flight of the Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) Spacelab mission, and focused on 

materials and combustion science research in microgravity. Mission duration was 376 hours and 45 minutes, traveling 6.3 million 

miles in 251 orbits of the Earth. 

JUNE 2005

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

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058