JOHN E. BLAHA (COLONEL, USAF, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born August 26, 1942, in San Antonio, Texas. Married to the 

former Brenda I. Walters of St. Louis, Missouri. They have three grown children and 

two grandchildren. 

EDUCATION: Graduated from Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1960; 

received a bachelor of science in engineering science from the United States Air Force 

Academy in 1965 and a master of science in astronautical engineering from Purdue 

University in 1966.

ORGANIZATIONS: Association of Space Explorers; Purdue Alumni Association; 

Society of Experimental Test Pilots; Air Force Academy Association of Graduates; 

Chairman, Board of Directors Brooks Aerospace Foundation. 

SPECIAL HONORS: Inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, Russian Order of Friendship Medal, 2 NASA Distinguished 

Service Medals, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 5 NASA Space Flight Medals, 

Countdown Magazine Outstanding Astronaut of 1991, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, 2 Air Force 

Distinguished Flying Crosses, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 18 Air Medals, Air Force 

Commendation Medal, the British Royal Air Force Cross, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Purdue Outstanding Aerospace 

Engineer Award, and the Purdue Engineering Alumnus Award. Outstanding Pilot, F-4 Combat Crew Training. Outstanding 

Junior Officer of the Year, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing. Distinguished Graduate Air Force Test Pilot School. Distinguished 

Graduate Air Command and Staff College. University Roundtable Annual Best and Brightest Award. Honorary Grand 

Marshall Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Honorary Grand Marshall Battle of Flowers Parade. Granby High School Hall of Fame. 

Planet Blaha named in his honor by the International Astronomical Union and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

AIR FORCE EXPERIENCE: Blaha received his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, in 1967. He was 

subsequently assigned as an operational pilot flying F-4, F-102, F-106, and A-37 aircraft (completing 361 combat missions in 

Vietnam). He attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1971, and 

piloted the NF-104 research aircraft to 104,400 feet. Following graduation, he served as an F-104 instructor pilot at the test 

pilot school, teaching low lift-to-drag approach, zoom, performance, stability/control, and spin flight test techniques. In 1973, 

he was assigned as a test pilot working with the Royal Air Force at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, 

Boscombe Down, United Kingdom. During a 3-year tour, he flew stability/control, performance, spin, and weapons delivery 

flight tests in the Jaguar, Buccaneer, Hawk, and Jet Provost aircraft. In 1976 he attended the USAF Air Command and Staff 

College. After graduation, he was assigned to work for the Assistant Chief of Staff, Studies and Analyses, at Headquarters 

USAF in the Pentagon. During this tour, he presented F-15 and F-16 study results to Department of Defense, State

Department, and congressional staffs.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut in May 1980, Blaha has logged 161 days in space on 5 space missions. He 

served as pilot on STS-33 and STS 29, was Spacecraft Commander on STS-58 and STS-43, served on Mir-22 as Board 

Engineer 2, and was a Mission Specialist on STS-79 and STS-81. 

In addition to flying 5 space missions, Blaha has served as the Chairman, NASA Space Flight Safety Panel; Weather Manager, 

Mission Management Team; lead spacecraft communicator; member, NASA Space Shuttle Improvement Panel. Blaha also led 

the design, development, and integration of the Orbiter Head Up Display system. Additionally, he led the development of 

contingency abort procedures which significantly improve crew survivability in the event of multiple main engine failures 

during ascent. He has logged more than 7,000 hours of flying time in 34 different aircraft, and has written numerous technical 

articles on spacecraft performance and control. 

John Blaha retired from NASA in September 1997 to return to his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, where he joined the 

Executive Management Group of the United Services Automobile Association. 

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-29 Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on March 13, 1989, 

and landed at Edwards Air Force Base on March 18, 1989. During this very successful mission the five-man crew aboard 

Shuttle Discovery deployed the East Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, and performed eight scientific/medical experiments.

STS-33 Discovery (November 22-27, 1989). Launched at night, this five-day mission carried Department of Defense payloads 

and other secondary payloads. After 79 orbits of the Earth, this highly successful mission concluded with a hard surface 

landing on Runway 4 at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

STS-43 Atlantis (August 2-11, 1991) launched from the Kennedy Space Center carrying a five person crew. During the nineday mission the crew deployed the West Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, and conducted 32 physical, material, and life 

science experiments that supported the development of the Extended Duration Orbiter and Space Station. After 142 orbits of 

the Earth, this very significant mission concluded with a landing on Runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

STS-58 Columbia (October 18 to November 1, 1993) launched from the Kennedy Space Center carrying a seven-person crew. 

This record duration fourteen-day life science research mission has been recognized by NASA management as the most 

successful and efficient Spacelab flight that NASA has flown. The crew performed neurovestibular, cardiovascular, 

cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and musculoskeletal medical experiments on themselves and 48 rats, expanding our knowledge of 

human and animal physiology both on earth and in space flight. In addition, the crew performed 16 engineering tests aboard 

the Orbiter Columbia and 20 Extended Duration Orbiter Medical Project experiments. Landing was at Edwards Air Force 

Base on Runway 22.

Blaha began Russian language training in August 1994 at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, and 

commenced an intensive training program at the Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia in January 1995. He launched 

on STS-79 on September 16, 1996. After docking he transferred to the Mir Space Station. Assigned as a Board Engineer 2, he 

spent the following 4 months with the Mir 22 Cosmonaut crew conducting material science, fluid science, and life science 

research. Blaha returned to earth aboard STS-81 on January 22, 1997. 

MAY 2008

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