Astronaut Bio: Charles J. Camarda (9/2010)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

Biographical Data

Charles J. Camarda (Ph.D.) 

SENIOR ADVISOR FOR INNOVATION, OFFICE OF CHIEF ENGINEER, 

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

PERSONAL DATA: Born in 1952 in Queens, New York. Married. Charlie and his wife Melinda, 

have a total of four children. Charlie enjoys racquetball, running, and weightlifting. His parents, Ray 

and Jack Camarda, reside in Queens, New York.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School, Jamaica, New York, in 1970; 

received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 

1974; a master of science degree in engineering science from George Washington University in 1980; 

and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 

1990.

ORGANIZATIONS: Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

AWARDS: NASA Certificates of Recognition (12); Sustained Superior Performance Awards (2); 

Special Achievement Awards (2); Technology Commercialization Awards (2); Space Station Program 

Team Excellence Award; NASA Group Achievement Award; NASA Superior Accomplishment Award; 

NASA Honor Award; One NASA Peer Award; Research and Development 100 Award from Industrial 

Research Magazine for one of the top 100 technical innovations in 1983 - A Heat-Pipe-Cooled 

Sandwich Panel.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Upon completing his B.S. degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, 

Camarda began work for NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, in 1974. He was a 

research scientist in the Thermal Structures Branch of the Structures and Materials Division and was 

responsible for demonstrating the feasibility of a heat-pipe-cooled leading edge for Space Shuttle by 

analysis, laboratory experiments, and aerothermal testing in Langley’s 8-foot High Temperature Tunnel. 

He conducted analytical and experimental research in heat pipes, structural mechanics and dynamics, 

heat transfer, and numerical optimization for aircraft, spacecraft, and space launch vehicles. While at 

Langley, Camarda earned his masters’ degree from George Washington University in Engineering 

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Astronaut Bio: Charles J. Camarda (9/2010)

Science with emphasis on mechanics of composite structures at elevated temperature and his doctorate 

degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with emphasis on the development of 

advanced modal methods for efficiently predicting transient thermal and structural performance. In 

1989, Camarda was selected to lead the Structures and Materials Technology Maturation Team for the 

National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program, which was responsible for maturing materials and 

structures technologies necessary to enable the development of an airbreathing hypersonic vehicle 

capable of horizontal take-off to orbit. Camarda was selected to head the Thermal Structures Branch 

(TSB) in 1994 with responsibility for a research engineering staff, two major focused programs (the 

high-speed research (HSR) and reusable launch vehicle (RLV) programs), and several structural test 

facilities including the Thermal Structures Laboratory. Some of the primary responsibilities of the TSB 

are the development of durable, lightweight metallic thermal protection systems (TPS), advanced 

leading edges for hypersonic vehicles using carbon carbon material and heat pipes, reusable cryogenic 

tank systems, and graphite-composite primary structure for RLV. Camarda has received over 21 NASA 

awards for technical innovations and accomplishments. He also received a Research and Development 

100 award from Industrial Research Magazine for one of the top 100 technical innovations of 1983 

entitled “Heat-Pipe-Cooled Sandwich Panel.” He holds 7 patents and one patent pending.

Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996, Dr. Camarda reported to the NASA Johnson 

Space Center in August 1996. He completed two years of training and evaluation that qualified him for 

flight assignment as a mission specialist. Dr. Camarda has been assigned technical duties in the 

Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems/Operations Branch, was on the Expedition-8 back-up crew, served 

as Director, Engineering, Johnson Space Center, and was assigned to the NASA Engineering and Safety 

Center (NESC). Through the NESC, Dr. Camarda used his technical expertise to evaluate problems and 

supplement safety and engineering activities for Agency programs. Dr. Camarda flew as MS-5 on the 

Return to Flight mission STS-114 Discovery (July 26-August 9, 2005), and has logged over 333 hours in 

space. He currently serves as Senior Advisor for Innovation to the Office of Chief Engineer, Johnson 

Space Center.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-114 Discovery (July 26-August 9, 2005) was the Return to 

Flight mission during which the Shuttle docked with the International Space Station and the crew tested 

and evaluated new procedures for flight safety and Shuttle inspection and repair techniques. After a 2-

week, 5.8 million mile journey in space, the orbiter and its crew of seven astronauts returned to land at 

Edwards Air Force Base, California.

SEPTEMBER 2010

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