Dale Gardner Dale Allan Gardner ( born November 8 , 1948 , in Fairmont , Minnesota ) is a former NASA astronaut who flew two missions for NASA in the early 1980s . NASA experience . Gardner was selected as an Astronaut Candidate by NASA in January 1978 , reporting to the Johnson Space Center in July 1978 . In August 1979 he completed a one year training and evaluation period , making him eligible for assignment as a Mission Specialist Astronaut . He subsequently served as the Astronaut Project Manager for the flight software in the Space Shuttle onboard computers leading up to the first flight in April 1981 . He then served as a Support Crew Astronaut for the fourth flight ( STS - 4 ) . He flew as a mission specialist on STS - 8 ( August 30 to September 5 , 1983 ) and STS - 51 - A ( November 8 – 16 , 1984 ) . Gardner logged a total of 337 hours in space and 225 orbits of the Earth on these two flights . He has logged more than 2 , 300 hours flying time in over 20 different types of aircraft and spacecraft . Prior to the " Challenger " accident , Gardner was chosen to be a member of the first Shuttle mission to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base , California . That flight and the Vandenberg launch capability itself were canceled after the accident . In October 1986 , following 8½ years with NASA , Gardner returned to his Navy duties and was assigned to the U . S . Space Command , Colorado Springs , Colorado . He served over two years as the Deputy Chief , Space Control Operations Division in Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base and , after promotion to the rank of Captain in June 1989 , became the Command ' s Deputy Director for Space Control at Peterson Air Force Base . His space control responsibilities included the surveillance and tracking of all man - made objects in Earth orbit and the protection of U . S . and allied space systems . Gardner retired from the U . S . Navy in October 1990 and accepted a position with TRW Inc . in Colorado Springs . He is a program manager in the Colorado Springs Engineering Operations of TRW ' s Space and Defense Sector . In that capacity , he is involved in the development of both civilian and military space and defense high technology programs . Space flight experience . STS - 8 launched from the Kennedy Space Center , Florida on August 30 , 1983 . The crew aboard Space Shuttle " Challenger " included Richard Truly ( Spacecraft Commander ) , Daniel Brandenstein ( Pilot ) , and fellow Mission Specialists Guion Bluford and William Thornton . This was the third flight of the Orbiter " Challenger " and the first night launch and landing mission of the Shuttle program . During the flight , the crew of STS - 8 deployed the Indian National Satellite ( INSAT - 1B ) , operated and tested the Canadian - build Remote Manipulator System ( RMS ) robot arm , and performed numerous earth resources and space science experiments . STS - 8 completed 98 Earth orbits in 145 hours before landing at Edwards Air Force Base , California on September 5 , 1983 . STS - 51 - A , the fourteenth flight of the Shuttle program , launched on November 8 , 1984 ( his birthday ) . The crew aboard Space Shuttle " Discovery " included Frederick Hauck ( Spacecraft Commander ) , David Walker ( Pilot ) , and fellow Mission Specialists Joseph Allen and Anna Fisher . This was the second flight of " Discovery " . During this mission the crew deployed two satellites , Canada ' s Anik D - 2 ( TELESAT - H ) and the Hughes ' LEASAT - 1 ( Syncom IV - 1 ) , now in service with the U . S . Navy . In a dramatic salvage effort , they also rendezvoused with and returned from space two satellites previously launched into improper orbits , the Indonesian Palapa B - 2 and the Western Union Westar VI communication satellites . Gardner and Allen completed two space walks totaling 12 hours and flew the Manned Maneuvering Unit ( MMU ) backpack during the salvage operation . STS - 51 - A completed 127 orbits of the Earth before landing at the Kennedy Space Center on November 16 , 1984 . Military experience . Upon graduation from the University of Illinois in 1970 , Gardner entered into active duty with the United States Navy and was assigned to the Aviation Officer Candidate School at Pensacola , Florida . He was commissioned an Ensign and was selected as the most promising naval officer from his class . In October 1970 he began Basic Naval Flight Officer training with the VT - 10 squadron at Pensacola , graduating with the highest academic average ever achieved in the history of the squadron . He proceeded to the Naval Air Technical Training Center at NAS Glynco , Georgia , for Advanced Naval Flight Officer training and was selected a Distinguished Naval Graduate and awarded his Naval Flight Officer wings on May 5 , 1971 . At the Naval Air Test Center at NAS Patuxent River , Maryland , from May 1971 to July 1973 , he was assigned to the Weapons Systems Test Division and involved in initial F - 14 Tomcat developmental test and evaluation as Project Officer for Inertial Navigation and Avionics Systems . Gardner ' s next assignment was with the first operational F - 14 squadron ( VF - 1 ) at Naval Air Station Miramar , California , from where he flew in the Tomcat and participated in two Western Pacific and Indian Ocean cruises while deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS " Enterprise " . From December 1976 until July 1978 , he was assigned to Test and Evaluation Squadron 4 ( VX - 4 ) aboard NAS Point Mugu , California , involved in the operational test and evaluation of Navy fighter aircraft . Personal information . Gardner grew up in Sherburn , Minnesota , and Savanna , Illinois . He considers his hometown to be Clinton , Iowa , where his mother , Mrs . Alice Gardner , resides . He now lives with his wife in Golden , Colorado . An avid sports enthusiast , he enjoys snow skiing , golfing , tennis , woodworking , and photography . Education . He graduated as valedictorian of his class from Savanna Community High School , in Savanna , Illinois , in 1966 . He received a bachelor of science degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign in 1970 . Organizations . Member , Phi Eta Sigma , Sigma Tau , and Tau Beta Pi . Fellow , American Astronautical Society . Special honors . Defense Superior Service Medal ( 1984 , 1989 , 1990 ) ; Distinguished Flying Cross ( 1989 ) ; Meritorious Unit Commendation ( 1976 ) ; Humanitarian Service Medal ( 1979 ) ; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon ( 1984 ) . Other honors include the NASA Space Flight Medal ( 1983 and 1984 ) ; Master Space Badge ( 1989 ) ; Lloyd ' s of London Meritorious Service Medal ( 1984 ) .