PAUL J. WEITZ (PRONOUNCED WHITES) (MR.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED)

 PERSONAL DATA: Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on July 25, 1932. Died on October 

 24, 2017. He is survived by his wife and two children.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Harborcreek High School in Harborcreek, 

Pennsylvania; received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from 

Pennsylvania State University in 1954 and a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering 

from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, in 1964.

ORGANIZATIONS: Fellow, American Astronautical Association.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy 

Distinguished Service Medal, Astronaut Wings, Air Medal (5 awards), and 

Commendation Medal (for combat flights in Vietnam), the Los Angeles Chamber of 

Commerce Kitty Hawk Award (1973), the Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1973 (1974), the 

Pennsylvania State University Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award, named a Pennsylvania State University 

Alumni Fellow (1974), the AIAA Haley Astronautics Award for 1974, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale’s V. M. 

Komarov Diploma for 1973 (1974), the Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy for 1975, the 1974 Harmon International 

Aviation Trophy for Astronaut (1975), NASA Space Flight Medal (1983), the 1984 Harmon International Award (1989).

EXPERIENCE: Weitz received his commission as an ensign through the NROTC program at Pennsylvania State University. 

He served for one year at sea aboard a destroyer before going to flight training and was awarded his wings in September 1956. 

He served in various naval squadrons until he was selected as an astronaut in 1966. He logged more than 7,700 hours flying 

time--6,400 hours in jet aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Mr. Weitz is one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. He served as pilot on the crew 

of Skylab-2 (SL-2), which launched on May 25 and ended on June 22, 1973. SL-2 was the first manned Skylab mission, and 

activated a 28-day flight. In logging 672 hours and 49 minutes aboard the orbital workshop, the crew established what was then 

a new world record for a single mission. Mr. Weitz also logged 2 hours and 16 minutes in extravehicular activities.

Mr. Weitz was spacecraft commander on the crew of STS-6, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 4, 

1983. This was the maiden voyage of the Orbiter Challenger. During the mission, the crew conducted numerous experiments in 

materials processing, recorded lightning activities, deployed IUS/TDRS-A, conducted spectacular extravehicular activity while 

testing a variety of support systems and equipment in preparation for future space walks, and also carried three "Getaway 

Specials." Mission duration was 120 hours before landing Challenger on a concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base, 

California, on April 9, 1983. With the completion of this flight, Paul Weitz logged a total of 793 hours in space.

Mr. Weitz was Acting Director of the Johnson Space Center when he retired from NASA service in May 1994.

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

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

October 2017

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058