National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

Biographical Data

JOHN O. CREIGHTON (CAPTAIN, USN, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born April 28, 1943, in Orange, Texas, but considers

Seattle, Washington, to be his hometown. Married to the former Terry

Stanford of Little Rock, Arkansas. Recreational interests include skiing,

tennis and boating. His mother, Mrs. C. Alberta Creighton, resides in

Seattle, Washington. Terry's parents, Helen and Jim Stanford, reside in

Stone Mountain, Arkansas.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Ballard High School, Seattle, Washington,

in 1961; received a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval

Academy in 1966 and a master of science in Administration of Science and

Technology from George Washington University in 1978.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Association of Space

Explorers.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying

Cross, 10 air Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the NASA

Distinguished Service & Leadership Medal, 3 United States Space Flight Medals, the French Legion of

Honor and the Saudi Arabia King Fahd Medal.

EXPERIENCE: Creighton started flight training following graduation from Annapolis and received his

wings in October, 1967. He was with VF-154 from July 1968 to May 1970, flying F-4J's and made two

combat deployments to Vietnam aboard the USS RANGER (CVA-61). From June 1970 to February 1971, he

attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, and upon graduation was assigned as

a project test pilot with the Service Test Division at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. During this two

year tour of duty, he served as the F-14 engine development project officer. In July 1973, Creighton

commenced a four year assignment with VF-2 and became a member of the first F-14 operational squadron,

completing two deployments aboard the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) to the Western Pacific. He returned to

the United States in July 1977 and was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center's Strike Directorate as

operations officer and F-14 program manager. He has logged over 6,000 hours flying time, the majority of it

in jet fighters, and has completed 500 carrier landings and 175 combat missions.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, Creighton became an

astronaut in August 1979. During the following four years he held a variety of technical assignments in

support of the Space Shuttle Program. Following his first flight, Creighton became the astronaut

representative to the Shuttle Program Manager. During the ensuing two years, Creighton participated in all

the key decisions following the Challenger disaster helping to shape the plan for resuming safe manned space

Astronaut Bio: John O. Creighton

1 of 2
flight. Starting with STS-26, Creighton served as Lead "CAPCOM" for the first four Space Shuttle flights. In

March 1989 he was assigned to command STS-36 but continued to serve as Head of the Mission Support

Branch in the Astronaut Office until commencing full time training for his upcoming flight. Following his

second flight, Creighton headed up the Operations Development Branch within the Astronaut Office for one

year prior to resuming full-time training for his next command. Creighton served as pilot on STS-51G (June

17-24, 1985), was spacecraft commander on STS-36 (February 28 to March 4, 1990) and STS-48 (September

12-18, 1991), and has logged over 403 hours in space. Captain Creighton left NASA and retired from the

Navy in July 1992. He is currently a Test Pilot with Boeing Airplane Company.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-51G Discovery (June 17-24, 1985) was a 7-day mission during

which the crew deployed communications satellites for Mexico (Morelos), the Arab League (Arabsat), and

the United States (AT&T Telstar). They used the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) to deploy and later

retrieve the SPARTAN satellite which performed 17 hours of x-ray astronomy experiments while separated

from the Space Shuttle. In addition, the crew activated the Automated Directional Solidification Furnace

(ADSF), six Getaway Specials, participated in biomedical experiments, and conducted a laser tracking

experiment as part of the Strategic Defense Initiative. Mission duration was 112 earth orbits in 169 hours and

39 minutes.

STS-36 Atlantis (February 28 to March 4, 1990) carried Department of Defense payloads and a number of

secondary payloads. Mission duration was 72 earth orbits in 106 hours, 19 minutes, 43 seconds.

STS-48 Discovery (September 12-18, 1991) was a 5-day mission during which the crew deployed the Upper

Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) which is designed to provide scientists with their first complete data

set on the upper atmosphere's chemistry, winds and energy inputs. The crew also conducted numerous

secondary experiments ranging from growing protein crystals, to studying how fluids and structures react in

weightlessness. Mission duration was 81 earth orbits in 128 hours, 27 minutes, 34 seconds.

DECEMBER 1994

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

individual.

Astronaut Bio: John O. Creighton

2 of 2