Robert C . Springer Robert Clyde " Bob " Springer ( born May 21 , 1942 ) is a retired American astronaut and test pilot who flew as a mission specialist on two NASA Space Shuttle missions in 1989 and 1990 . A decorated aviator in the United States Marine Corps , Springer also flew more than 500 combat sorties during the Vietnam War . He has logged over 237 hours in space and 4 , 500 hours flying time , including 3 , 500 hours in jet aircraft . Pre - spaceflight experience . Springer was born in St . Louis , Missouri . He was active in the Boy Scouts of America where he achieved its second highest rank , Life Scout . He graduated from Ashland High School in Ashland , Ohio . He received a commission in the U . S . Marine Corps following his 1964 graduation from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis , Maryland . Springer attended The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia before reporting to the Naval Air Training Command for flight training at Pensacola , Florida and Beeville , Texas . Upon receiving his aviator wings in August 1966 , he was assigned to VMFA - 513 at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina . There Springer flew F - 4 Phantom II fighter s . He was subsequently assigned to VMFA - 115 at Chu Lai in South Vietnam , where he completed 300 F - 4 combat missions . In June 1968 , Springer served as an advisor to the South Korean Marine Corps units in Vietnam and flew 250 combat missions in O - 1 Bird Dog s and UH - 1 Iroquois " Huey " helicopter s . Springer returned to the United States to attend the U . S . Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey , California , receiving a Master of Science degree in operations research and systems analysis . In March 1971 he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS El Toro , California , where he became Wing operations analysis officer . He flew UH - 1Es in 1972 while with HML - 267 at Camp Pendleton , California and then went to Okinawa in Japan to fly UH - 1Es with HML - 367 , 1st Marine Aircraft Wing . Springer flew F - 4 Phantom II fighters as an aircraft maintenance officer with VMFA - 451 in Beaufort , South Carolina and also attended what was then called Navy Fighter Weapons School ( " TOPGUN " ) . A 1975 graduate of the U . S . Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River , Maryland , he served as Head of the Ordnance Systems branch and as a test pilot for more than 20 different types of fixed - and rotary - wing aircraft . In this capacity he performed the first flights in the AH - 1T helicopter . He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk , Virginia in 1978 , and was assigned to Headquarters Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic , where he assumed responsibility for joint operational planning for Marine Forces in NATO and the Middle East . He was serving as aide - de - camp for the Commanding General , Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic , when advised of his selection by NASA in May 1980 . NASA experience . Springer became an astronaut in August 1981 . His technical assignments included support crew for STS - 3 , concept development studies for the Space Operations Center , and the coordination of various aspects of the final development of the Remote Manipulator System ( " Canadarm " ) for operational use . He worked at mission control in the Lyndon B . Johnson Space Center as the CAPCOM for seven flights between 1984 and 1985 . Springer was responsible for Astronaut Office coordination of Design Requirements Reviews and Design Certification Reviews . These review efforts encompassed the total recertification and reverification of the Shuttle prior to STS - 26 return to flight status . He flew as a Mission Specialist on STS - 29 in 1989 , and STS - 38 in 1990 . Springer retired from NASA and the U . S . Marine Corps in December 1990 . STS - 29 . Space Shuttle " Discovery " ( March 13 – 18 , 1989 ) was launched from Kennedy Space Center . During 80 orbits of the Earth on this highly successful five - day mission , the crew deployed a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite , and performed numerous secondary experiments , including a Space Station " heat pipe " radiator experiment , two student experiments , a protein crystal growth experiment , and a chromosome and plant cell division experiment . In addition , the crew took over 4 , 000 photographs of the earth using several types of cameras , including the IMAX 70 mm movie camera . Mission duration was 119 hours and concluded with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base , California . STS - 38 . Space Shuttle " Atlantis " ( November 15 – 20 , 1990 ) was launched at night from Kennedy Space Center . During the five - day mission the crew conducted Department of Defense operations . After 80 orbits of the earth , " Atlantis " and her crew landed back at the Kennedy Space Center , in the first Shuttle recovery in Florida since 1985 . Awards and honors . Distinguished Flying Cross , Bronze Star , Air Medal ( 21st award ) , Navy Commendation Medal ( 2nd award ) , Navy Achievement Medal , Combat Action Ribbon , NASA Space Flight Medal , Presidential Unit Citation , Navy Unit Citation , and various Vietnam Campaign ribbons and service awards .