Circle Image

William Shepherd

American - (NASA)

Retired

Date of Birth: July 26, 1949
Age: 76


William McMichael "Bill" Shepherd is an American former Navy SEAL, aerospace, ocean, and mechanical engineer, and NASA astronaut who served as Commander of Expedition 1, the first crew on the International Space Station. He is also a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Space Shuttle Atlantis / OV-104 | STS-27

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Dec. 2, 1988, 2:30 p.m.
Status: Success
Mission:

STS-27 was the twenty-seventh and the third for Atlantis. It carried a classified payload for the Department of Defence. The heat shielding was substantially damaged during lift-off, impacting the right wing. The crew narrowly survived re-entry with a steal bar taking the brunt of the heat before beginning to burn through the aluminum structure.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

Space Shuttle Discovery / OV-103 | STS-41

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Oct. 6, 1990, 11:47 a.m.
Status: Success
Mission:

STS-41 was the eleventh mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The four-day mission with a primary objective the launch the Ulysses probe as part of the International Solar Polar Mission.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

Space Shuttle Columbia / OV-102 | STS-52

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Oct. 22, 1992, 5:09 p.m.
Status: Success
Mission:

STS-52 was a Space Transportation System (NASA Space Shuttle) mission using orbiter Columbia, and was launched on 22 October 1992.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

Soyuz-U | Soyuz TM-31

Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 31, 2000, 7:52 a.m.
Status: Success
Mission:

Soyuz TM-31 began Expedition 1 by carrying 3 cosmonauts and astronauts to the International Space Station. Russian Commander, cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko alongside Flight Engineer, Sergei Krikalev and Flight Engineer/Spaceflight Participant William Shepherd launched aboard the Soyuz spacecraft on October 31, 2000, 07:52:47 UTC. They docked with the station two days later. During their stay there, crew performed first maintenance and repair works, carried out first experiments and conducted several EVAs. They were also visited by several Progress resupply spacecrafts and STS-97 and STS-98 crews, and welcomed aboart STS-102 with the next expedition crew. Expedition 1 returned with STS-102, landing safely back on Earth on 21 March 2001, 07:33:06 UTC.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

Space Shuttle Discovery / OV-103 | STS-102

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
March 8, 2001, 11:42 a.m.
Status: Success
Mission:

STS-102 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle Discovery and launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. STS-102 flew in March 2001; its primary objectives were resupplying the ISS and rotating the Expedition 1 and Expedition 2 crews.

Low Earth Orbit
Explore Share

Acting Administrator: James Free

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.


Falcon 9
Success
1 hour, 29 minutes ago
Starlink Group 10-61
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 2C/YZ-1S
Success
2 days, 9 hours ago
SatNet test satellites
Launch Area 4 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Officially described as "Satellite-Internet Technology Demonstration Satellite(s)". Probably test satellites for the Chinese state-owned LEO commu…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 12 hours ago
Cygnus CRS-2 NG-23 (S.S. William “Willie” C. McCool)
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

This is the 23rd flight of the Northrop Grumman's uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its 22nd flight to the International Space Station under th…


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 17 hours ago
Starlink Group 17-10
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Soyuz 2.1b/Fregat
Success
5 days, 8 hours ago
Glonass-K1 No. 18 (Kosmos 2595) & Kosmos 2596
43/3 (43L) - Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

Glonass-K1 are the third generation of satellite design for GLONASS satellite navigation system. GLONASS is a Russian space-based navigation system c…