Payload Specialist Bio: Roger Crouch (11/2005)

file:///jsc-ird-uweb/jscextern/Bios/PS/crouch.html[5/3/2017 8:21:30 PM]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

Biographical Data

ROGER K. CROUCH (PH.D.)

PAYLOAD SPECIALIST

PERSONAL DATA: Born September 12, 1940, in Jamestown, Tennessee. Currently resides in Washington, DC with

his wife the former Anne Novotny. He has three grown children, Melanie, Kevin and Kenyon. His mother, Maxine

Crouch, resides in Jamestown, Tennessee. Her mother, Helene Novotny, resides in Marston, Maryland. He enjoys

traveling, photography, sports, camping, hiking, fishing and white water rafting.

EDUCATION: Earned a bachelor of science in physics from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in 1962, masters of

science and a doctor of philosophy in physics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1968 and 1971, respectively. He

was a visiting scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1979-80.

EXPERIENCE: Retired from NASA and MIT, currently consults with various firms and delivers inspirational and

informative lectures to a broad range of audience interests. Served as Liaison for Higher Education for the Exploration

Systems Directorate, 2005;Senior Scientist for the International Space Station, 2000-2004; Senior Scientist for the

Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences, NASA-HQ, 1998-2000; crew training, flight and post-flight activities 1996-

1998; Lead Scientist of the Microgravity Space and Applications Division 1985-1996. He served as Program Scientist

on five different Spacelab flights. In addition, he helped organize and has served as co-chair for Microgravity Science

Working Groups between NASA and space agencies from the European Space Agency, France, Germany, Japan, and

Russia. He was the founding co-chair of the International Microgravity Science Strategic Planning group consisting of

these space agencies plus Canada. He was principal investigator on an experiment that flew in the Materials Experiment

Apparatus on the D-1 mission in 1985. Group leader and researcher, NASA Langley Research Center, 1962-1985.

Leader of a research group investigating the effects of convection on semiconductor materials’ properties. He was a

principal investigator in the MSAD flight program from 1977-1985. He has done research in various techniques and

types of semiconductor crystal growth, electric and optical properties of materials, electronic devices for remote sensing

and flat panel displays, and heat shield protection for reentry space vehicles. This research resulted in the publication of

over 40 technical paper and over 50 technical conference reports.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: Payload Specialist on STS-83 (April 4-8, 1997) and STS-94 (July 1-17, 1997) and

has logged over 471 hours in space. STS-83, the Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) Spacelab mission, was cut

short because of problems with one of the Shuttle’s fuel cell power units. Mission duration was 95 hours and 12

minutes, traveling 1.5 million miles in 63 orbits. STS-94 was a reflight of the MSL-1 and focused on materials and

combustion science research. Mission duration was 376 hours and 45 minutes, traveling 6.3 million miles in 251 orbits

of the Earth. He trained as the Alternate Payload Specialist on STS-42 (First International Microgravity Laboratory)

which flew in January 1992.

SPECIAL HONORS: Distinguished Alumni Achievement, Virginia Tech, 1998; Distinguished Alumnus 1997,

Tennessee Technological University; NASA Space Flight Medal (2), 1997; NASA Exceptional Performance Award,

1989; NASA Special Achievement Award, 1983; Certificates for Patents/applications 1975, 85, 86, 87; Certificates for

innovative technology 1973, 76, 79, 80, 81, 85, 86, 87; Floyd Thompson Fellowship 1979-80.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of American Physical Society, American Association for Crystal Growth, Association

of Space Explorers, Sigma Pi Sigma, Kappa Mu Epsilon.
Payload Specialist Bio: Roger Crouch (11/2005)

file:///jsc-ird-uweb/jscextern/Bios/PS/crouch.html[5/3/2017 8:21:30 PM]

NOVEMBER 2005

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