http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

February 2024

Patrick G. Forrester

(Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

COL Patrick G. Forrester was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1996. The Texas native is a retired Army Colonel and

holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Forrester flew on shuttle missions STS-105, STS-117,

and STS-128. STS-105 delivered the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) with supplies and equipment to 

the station and included two spacewalks by Forrester. During STS-117, Forrester conducted two more spacewalks and 

helped deliver the S3/4 truss segment. For STS-128, he was the prime robotics operator in attaching the Leonardo 

MPLM. 

Personal Data:

Born March 31, 1957 in El Paso, Texas. Married to the former Diana Lynn Morris of Springfield, Virginia. They have two 

children. He enjoys baseball and running. Patrick’s mother, Patsy L. Forrester, and father, Colonel (ret.) Redmond V. 

Forrester are both deceased. Diana’s father, Colonel (ret.) Lurie J. Morris, resides in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Her 

mother, Bettye Morris, is deceased.

Education:

Graduated from West Springfield High School, Springfield, Virginia, in 1975; received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 

Applied Sciences and Engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in 1979, and a Master 

of Science Degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1989.

Experience:

Forrester graduated from West Point in June 1979 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He 

entered the U.S. Army Aviation School in 1979 and was designated an Army Aviator in September 1980. He was 

subsequently assigned as an Instructor Pilot at the Aviation School and as the Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commanding 

General of the U.S. Army Aviation Center. In 1984, he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield 

Barracks, Hawaii, where he served as a Platoon Leader, Aviation Company Operations Officer, and an Assault Helicopter 

Battalion Operations Officer. After completing a Master of Science Degree at the University of Virginia in 1989, he was 

assigned as a Flight Test Engineer and as the Research and Development Coordinator with the Army Aviation 

Engineering Flight Activity at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In June 1992, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test 

Pilot School and was designated an Experimental Test Pilot. In 1992, he was assigned as an Engineering Test Pilot at the 

U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama. Other military schools include the Army Parachutist 

Course, U.S. Army Ranger School, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, and the Command and General Staff 

College.

A Master Army Aviator, he has logged more than 5,300 hours in over 50 different aircraft. Forrester retired from the 

Army in October 2005.
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts 

Patrick G. Forrester

NASA Experience:

Forrester was assigned to NASA at the Johnson Space Center as an Aerospace Engineer in July 1993. His technical 

assignments within the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch have included: flight software testing with the 

Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); Astronaut Office Representative for Landing/Rollout issues, Multi function 

Electronic Display System (MEDS) upgrade of the orbiter fleet and the Portable In-flight Landing Operations Trainer 

(PILOT). He has also served as the crew representative for robotics development for the International Space Station.

Forrester was selected as a Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidate by NASA in May 1996. He completed two years of 

training and evaluation and was qualified for flight assignment as a Mission Specialist. Initially, Forrester was assigned to 

duties at the Kennedy Space Center as a member of the Astronaut Support Team, responsible for shuttle prelaunch 

vehicle checkout, crew ingress and strap-in and crew egress after landing. He next served as the Technical Assistant to 

the Director, Flight Crew Operations. Following that, Forrester served as the Shuttle Training and Onboard Crew 

Procedures Representative. He has also served as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for both International Space 

Station and shuttle missions. Forrester served as the chief of the Astronaut Office from 2017-2020. He is currently the 

director of Cross Directorate Technical Integration for the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.

Forrester flew on STS-105 (2001), STS-117 (2007) and STS 128 (2009). He has logged more than 950 hours in space, 

including four spacewalks, totaling 25 hours and 22 minutes of EVA time. 

Spaceflight Experience:

STS-105 Discovery (August 10 to August 22, 2001). This was the eleventh mission to the International Space Station. 

While at the orbital outpost, the STS-105 crew delivered the Expedition 3 crew, attached the Leonardo Multi-Purpose 

Logistics Module (MPLM) and transferred more than 2.7 metric tons of supplies and equipment to the station. During 

the mission, Pat Forrester and Dan Barry performed two spacewalks totaling 11 hours and 45 minutes of EVA time. 

Forrester served as the prime robotics operator to install the MPLM. STS-105 also brought home the Expedition 2 crew. 

The STS-105 mission was accomplished in 186 orbits of the Earth, traveling more than 4.9 million miles in 285 hours and 

13 minutes. 

STS-117 Atlantis (June 8 to June 22, 2007) was the 118th shuttle mission and the 21st mission to visit the International 

Space Station, delivering the second starboard truss segment, the third set of U.S. solar arrays and batteries and 

associated equipment. The successful construction and repair mission involved four spacewalks by two teams. Forrester 

accumulated 13 hours and 37 minutes of EVA time in two spacewalks. The mission also delivered and returned with an 

expedition crewmember. STS-117 returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California, having traveled 5.8 million 

miles in 14 days. 

STS-128 Discovery (August 28 to September 11, 2009) was the 128th shuttle mission and the 30th mission to the 

International Space Station. While at the orbital outpost, the STS-128 crew rotated an expedition crewmember, 

attached the Leonardo MPLM and transferred more than 18,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to the space station. 

The STS-128 crew conducted three spacewalks. Forrester served as the prime robotics operator for Discovery. The STS128 mission was accomplished in 217 orbits of the Earth, traveling more than 5.7 million miles in 332 hours and 53 

minutes and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Awards/Honors:

U.S. Army Aviation Hall of Fame (2011); Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal 

(2nd Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Senior 

Air Force Space Badge; Expert Infantryman Badge; Jack Northrop Award, Society of Experimental Test Pilots (1996); 
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts 

Patrick G. Forrester

NASA Exceptional Service Medal (2008, 2010); NASA Space Flight Medal (2001, 2007, 2009); Order of St. Michael (Bronze 

2001, Silver 2007); Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Certificate of Commendation (1995).

Pronunciation: 

PAT-rik FOR-rest-er