David C . Hilmers David Carl Hilmers ( born January 28 , 1950 ) is a former NASA astronaut . He was born in Clinton , Iowa , but considers DeWitt , Iowa , to be his hometown . He has two grown sons . His recreational interests include playing the piano , gardening , electronics , spending time with his family , and all types of sports . His parents are deceased . Education . Graduated from Central Community High School in DeWitt , Iowa , in 1968 ; received a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics ( Summa Cum Laude ) from Cornell College in 1972 , a master of science degree in electrical engineering ( with distinction ) in 1977 , and the degree of Electrical Engineer from the U . S . Naval Postgraduate School in 1978 . He received a Doctor of Medicine ( M . D . ) degree from the Baylor College of Medicine in 1995 and a master of science degree in public health ( MPH ) from the University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center in 2002 . Experience . Hilmers entered active duty with the United States Marine Corps in July 1972 . On completing The Basic School and Naval Flight Officer School , he was assigned to VMA ( AW ) - 121 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina , flying the A - 6 Intruder as a bombardier - navigator . In 1975 , he became an air liaison officer with the 1st Battalion , 2nd Marines , stationed with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean . He graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1978 and was later assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni , Japan . He was stationed with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California , at the time of his selection by NASA . NASA Experience . Hilmers was selected a NASA astronaut in July 1980 , and completed the initial training period in August 1981 . In 1983 he was selected as a member of the launch - ready standby crew . His early NASA assignments have included work on rocket upper stages such as PAM , IUS , and Centaur , as well as Shuttle software verification at the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory ( SAIL ) . In addition , he was the Astronaut Office training coordinator , worked on various Department of Defense payloads , served as a spacecraft communicator ( CAPCOM ) at Mission Control for STS - 41 - D , STS - 41 - G , STS - 51 - A , STS - 51 - C and STS - 51 - D , worked Space Station issues for the Astronaut Office , and served as head of the Mission Development Branch within the Astronaut Office . In May 1985 he was named to the crew of STS - 61 - F , which was to deploy the Ulysses spacecraft on an interplanetary trajectory using a Centaur upper stage . This mission was to have flown in May 1986 , but the Shuttle Centaur project was terminated in July 1986 , and Hilmers then worked in the areas of ascent abort development , payload safety , and Shuttle on - board software . During 1987 he was involved in training for STS - 26 and in flight software development . A veteran of four space flights , he has logged over 493 hours in space . He served as a mission specialist on STS - 51 - J ( October 3 – 7 , 1985 ) , STS - 26 ( September 29 to October 3 , 1988 ) , STS - 36 ( February 28 to March 4 , 1990 ) , and STS - 42 ( January 22 – 30 , 1992 ) . Hilmers retired from NASA and the United States Marine Corps in October 1992 , and went on to complete medical school and residency in the combined Internal Medicine / Pediatrics program at Baylor College of Medicine . He is currently an Associate Professor in the departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and the Center for Space Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston , Texas . In addition to his teaching and clinical duties , he is involved in research in global health and malnutrition in many countries . Space Flight Experience . STS - 51 - J " Atlantis " , a classified Department of Defense mission , launched from Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on October 3 , 1985 . This was the maiden voyage of the Orbiter " Atlantis " . Hilmers had prime responsibility for a number of on - orbit activities during the mission . After 98 hours of orbital operations , " Atlantis " landed at Edwards Air Force Base , California , on October 7 , 1985 . STS - 26 " Discovery " , the first mission to be flown after the " Challenger " accident , was launched from the Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on September 29 , 1988 . During the four - day mission , the crew successfully deployed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite ( TDRS - C ) , which was subsequently carried to orbit by the Inertial Upper Stage ( IUS ) rocket . They also operated eleven mid - deck experiments . " Discovery " completed 64 orbits of the Earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base , California , on October 3 , 1988 . STS - 36 " Atlantis " launched from the Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on February 28 , 1990 . This mission carried Department of Defense payloads and a number of secondary payloads . After 72 orbits of the Earth , the STS - 36 mission concluded with a lakebed landing at Edwards Air Force Base , California , on March 4 , 1990 , after traveling 1 . 87 million miles . STS - 42 " Discovery " launched from the Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on January 22 , 1992 . Fifty - five major experiments conducted in the International Microgravity Laboratory - 1 module were provided by investigators from eleven countries , and represented a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines . During 128 orbits of the Earth , the STS - 42 crew accomplished the mission ' s primary objective of investigating the effects of microgravity on materials processing and life sciences . In this unique laboratory in space , crew members worked around - the - clock in two shifts . Experiments investigated the microgravity effects on the growth of protein and semiconductor crystals . Biological experiments on the effects of zero gravity on plants , tissues , bacteria , insects and human vestibular response were also conducted . This eight - day mission culminated in a landing at Edwards Air Force Base , California , on January 30 , 1992 . References .