RUSSELL L. SCHWEICKART

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

Russell L. (Rusty) Schweickart is a retired business and government executive and 

serves today as Chairman of the Board of the B612 Foundation. The organization, a 

non-profit private foundation, champions the development and testing of a spaceflight

concept to protect the Earth from future asteroid impacts.

Schweickart retired from ALOHA Networks, Inc. in 1998 where he served as President 

and CEO from 1996 through 1998. ALOHA was a data communications company 

specializing in high performance, wireless internet access equipment.

Schweickart was formerly the Executive Vice President of CTA Commercial Systems, 

Inc. and Director of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Systems. Schweickart led CTA’s efforts in 

developing the GEMnet system, a second generation LEO communication satellite 

constellation designed to provide regular commercial electronic messaging services on a 

global basis. Prior to his CTA work Schweickart founded and was president of Courier Satellite Services, Inc., a global satellite 

communications company which developed LEO satellites to provide worldwide affordable data services

Schweickart's satellite and telecommunications work involved him in the development of international communications 

regulations and policies, including participation in the 1992 and 1995 World Radiocommunications Conferences (WRC) of the 

International Telecommunications Union (ITU). He served at the 1995 WRC as a U.S. delegate. He also worked extensively in 

Russia and the former Soviet Union on scientific and telecommunications matters.

Schweickart is the founder and past president of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), the international professional 

society of astronauts and cosmonauts. The organization promotes the cooperative exploration and development of space and the 

use of space technology for human benefit. The ASE has a current membership of over 300 astronauts and cosmonauts from 29 

nations. The Association's first book, The Home Planet, with a preface by Schweickart, was published simultaneously in 10 

nations in the Fall of 1988 and was an immediate international best seller.

In 1987-88, Schweickart chaired the United States Antarctic Program Safety Review Panel for the Director of the National 

Science Foundation (NSF) in Washington, DC. The resulting report, Safety in Antarctica, a comprehensive on-site review of all 

U.S. activities in Antarctica, led to a restructuring of the program, increasing the safety of operations in that hazardous 

environment. At the request of the National Science Foundation, Schweickart also served on the 1997-1998 United States 

Antarctic Program Outside Review Panel, which reported to the Whitehouse (OSTP) and Congress on the future of US facilities 

in Antarctica. The US’ Amundson-Scott South Pole station has recently been fully rebuilt as a result of this work.

In 1977 Schweickart joined the staff of Governor Jerry Brown of California, and served in the Governor's office for two years as 

his assistant for science and technology. In 1979 Schweickart was appointed to the post of Commissioner of Energy for the State 

of California and served on the Commission for five and a half years. The Commission, which was chaired by Schweickart for 

three and a half years, was responsible for all aspects of energy regulation in the state other than rate setting, including energy 

demand forecasting, alternative energy development, powerplant siting and energy performance regulation for appliances and 

buildings.

Schweickart joined NASA as one of 14 astronauts named in October 1963, the third group of astronauts selected. He served as 

lunar module pilot for Apollo 9, March 3-13, 1969, logging 241 hours in space. This was the third manned flight of the Apollo 

series and the first manned flight of the lunar module. During a 46 minute EVA Schweickart tested the portable life support 

backpack which was subsequently used on the lunar surface explorations. On the mission with Schweickart were commander 

James A. McDivitt and command module pilot David R. Scott.

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National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
Schweickart served as backup commander for the first Skylab mission which flew in the Spring of 1973. Following the loss of 

the thermal shield during the launch of the Skylab vehicle, he assumed responsibility for the development of hardware and 

procedures associated with erecting the emergency solar shade and deployment of the jammed solar array wing, operations 

which transformed Skylab from an imminent disaster to a highly successful program.

After the Skylab program, Schweickart went to NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC as Director of User Affairs in the 

Office of Applications. In this position he was responsible for transferring NASA technology to the outside world and working

with technology users to bring an understanding of their needs into NASA.

Prior to joining NASA, Schweickart was a research scientist at the Experimental Astronomy Laboratory of the Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology (MIT). His work at MIT involved research in upper atmospheric physics, star tracking and the 

stabilization of stellar images. His thesis for a master's degree at MIT was an experimental validation of theoretical models of 

stratospheric radiance.

Schweickart served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force and the Massachusetts Air National Guard from 1956 to 1963. He has 

logged over 4000 hours of flight time, including 3500 hours in high performance jet aircraft.

Schweickart was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1969) and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale De La 

Vaux Medal (1970) for his Apollo 9 flight. He also received the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special 

Trustees Award (Emmy) in 1969 for transmitting the first live TV pictures from space. In 1973 Schweickart was awarded the 

NASA Exceptional Service Medal for his leadership role in the Skylab rescue efforts.

He is a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society and the International Academy of Astronautics, and an Associate Fellow 

of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Schweickart is an Honorary Trustee and a Fellow of the California 

Academy of Sciences.

Schweickart was born on 25 October 1935 in Neptune, NJ. He is married to Nancy Ramsey of West Hartford, CT. He has seven 

children and eleven grandchildren. He graduated from Manasquan High School, NJ; received his Bachelor of Science degree in 

1956 and his Master of Science degree in 1963, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

His hobbies include golf, bicycling, and hiking. 

SEPTEMBER 2006

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