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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

January 2017

Michael E. Fossum

(Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Ret.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Michael E. Fossum was selected as an astronaut in 1998. He is a veteran of three space flights; STS-121 in 2006, STS-124 

in 2008 and Expedition 28/29 in 2011. Fossum has logged more than 194 days in space, including more than 48 hours in 

seven spacewalks. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 

Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and Master of Science degrees in Systems Engineering and Physical 

Science from the Air Force Institute of Technology and the University of Houston - Clear Lake, respectively. After 

completing graduate work, he was detailed to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where he supported space shuttle flight 

operations, beginning with STS-3. Fossum left active duty in 1992, and retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Air Force

Reserves in 2010. Michael Fossum retired from NASA January 2017.

Personal Data:

Born December 19, 1957, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and grew up in McAllen, Texas. Married to the former Melanie J. 

London. They have four children and one grandchild. He enjoys family activities, motorcycle riding and backpacking. 

Mike’s main hobby is serving as Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop. His parents, Merlyn E. Fossum and Patricia A. 

Fossum, are deceased.

Education:

McAllen High School, McAllen, Texas, 1976; Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1980; 

Master of Science in Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, 1981; Master of Science in Physical Science 

(Space Science), University of Houston – Clear Lake, 1997.

Experience:

Fossum received his commission in the U.S. Air Force from Texas A&M University in May 1980. After completing his 

graduate work at the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1981, he was detailed to NASA Johnson Space Center, where 

he supported space shuttle flight operations, beginning with STS-3. He was selected for Air Force Test Pilot School at 

Edwards Air Force Base, California, where he graduated in 1985. After graduation, Fossum served at Edwards Air Force 

Base as a Flight Test Engineer in the F-16 Test Squadron, working on a variety of airframe, avionics and armament 

development programs. From 1989 to 1992, he served as a Flight Test Manager at Detachment 3, Air Force Flight Test 

Center. Fossum resigned from active duty in 1992 to work for NASA and retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Air Force

Reserves in 2010. He has logged more than 1,800 hours in 35 different aircraft.

NASA Experience:

In January 1993, Fossum was employed by NASA as a Systems Engineer. His primary responsibilities were to evaluate 

the Russian Soyuz spacecraft for use as an emergency escape vehicle for the new space station. Later in 1993, Fossum 

was selected to represent the Flight Crew Operations Directorate in an extensive redesign of the International Space 

Station. After this, he continued work for the crew office and Mission Operations Directorate in the area of assembly 
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Michael E. Fossum

operations. In 1996, Fossum supported the Astronaut Office as a Technical Assistant for the space shuttle, supporting 

design and management reviews. In 1997, he served as a Flight Test Engineer on the X-38, a prototype crew escape 

vehicle for the station, which was under development in house by the Engineering Directorate at NASA-JSC and flight 

tested at NASA Dryden.

Selected by NASA as an Astronaut Candidate in June 1998, he reported for training in August 1998. Astronaut Candidate 

Training included orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in 

shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight 

training as well as water and wilderness survival training. Fossum previously served as the Astronaut Office Lead for 

International Space Station flight software development. As a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control, 

Fossum supported several flights, including Lead CAPCOM for International Space Station Expedition 6. A veteran of 

three space flights, STS-121 in 2006, STS-124 in 2008 and Expedition 28/29 in 2011, Fossum has logged more than 194 

days in space, including more than 48 hours over seven spacewalks. In 2016, he served as the Safety Branch Chief in the 

Astronaut Office.

Spaceflight Experience:

STS-121 (July 4 to July 17, 2006). This was a return-to-flight test mission and assembly flight to the space station. During 

the 13-day flight, the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery tested new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of 

space shuttles and produced never-before-seen, high-resolution images of the shuttle during and after its July 4th 

launch. The crew also performed station maintenance and delivered and transferred more than 28,000 pounds of 

supplies and equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew member to the station. Fossum and Piers Sellers performed 

three spacewalks to test the 50-foot robotic arm boom extension as a work platform. They removed and replaced a 

cable that provides power, command and data and video connections to the station’s mobile transporter rail car. They 

also tested techniques for inspecting and repairing the reinforced carbon-carbon segments that protect the shuttle’s 

nose cone and leading edge of the wings. The STS-121 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, traveling 5,293,923 

miles in 12 days, 18 hours, 37 minutes and 54 seconds.

STS-124 (May 31 to June 14, 2008). This was the 123rd space shuttle flight and the 26th shuttle flight to the station. The 

Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and docked with the station on June 2, 2008, to 

deliver the Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module (JEM-PM) and the Japanese Remote Manipulator System. 

STS-124 astronauts delivered the 37-foot (11-meter) Kibo lab, added its rooftop storage room and Fossum accumulated 

20 hours and 32 minutes of time in three spacewalks required to maintain the station and to prime the new Japanese 

module’s robotic arm for work during nine days docked at the orbiting laboratory. STS-124 also delivered a new station 

crew member, Expedition 17 Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff. He replaced Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Garrett 

Reisman, who returned to Earth with the STS-124 crew. The STS-124 mission was completed in 218 orbits, traveling 

5,735,643 miles in 13 days, 18 hours, 13 minutes and 7 seconds. 

Expedition 28/29 (June 7 through November 21, 2011). Fossum’s third spaceflight began when he and Russian 

cosmonaut Sergei Volkov and Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa launched to the station on June 7, 2011, from the 

Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio arrived at the station on June 9. They spent 167 days in space and 165 

days on the complex, during which NASA and its international partners celebrated the 11th anniversary of continuous 

residence and work aboard the station. Expedition 28 Commander Andrey Borisenko handed over station command 

duties to Fossum on September 14, 2011. Fossum’s spacewalk during STS-135/ULF-7 brought him to a total of seven in 

his career for a total of 48 hours, 32 minutes of time, seventh on the all-time list for cumulative spacewalk time. 

Expedition 29 Commander Fossum, Flight Engineers Satoshi Furukawa of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and 
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Michael E. Fossum

Sergei Volkov of the Russian Federal Space Agency landed their Soyuz spacecraft in frigid conditions on the central 

steppe of Kazakhstan on November 21, 2011. Before leaving the station, Fossum handed over command to NASA 

astronaut Dan Burbank. Expedition 28/29 was completed in 2,672 orbits, traveling 66,535,472 miles in 167 days.

Michael Fossum retired from NASA January 2017.

Awards/Honors:

NASA Exceptional Service Medal and two NASA Spaceflight Medals. Scouting awards include Distinguished Eagle Scout, 

Silver Beaver and Vigil Member of the Order of the Arrow. Distinguished Military Graduate from Texas A&M University 

and Squadron Commander in the Corps of Cadets. Awarded the U.S. Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak 

Leaf Clusters and various other service awards. Distinguished Graduate from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Class 

85A.

Pronunciation: 

MY-kull FOS-um