Jeffrey Ashby
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Shears "Bones" Ashby (born June, 1954) is an engineer
, former American
naval aviator
and astronaut
, a veteran of three space shuttle
missions. He is a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy
Jeff Ashby grew up in Evergreen, Colorado
, southwest of Denver
, and graduated from Evergreen High School
in 1972. He attended the University of Idaho
, earning a B.S.
in mechanical engineering
in 1976. He later earned a master's degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee
in 1993.
in the U.S. Navy
, Ashby helped develop the F/A-18 aircraft and flew the aircraft in combat missions as part of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Southern Watch
during and after the Gulf War
and as part of Operation Continue Hope in Somalia
. He was the Navy Attack Aviator of the Year in 1991. Ashby commanded a fighter squadron stationed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln
; in 1994, his squadron was designated the top F/A-18 squadron in the Navy. Ashby accumulated over 7,000 flight hours and 1,000 carrier landings in his Navy career.
in 1997 but was replaced due to a family illness. He piloted space shuttle missions STS-93
in July 1999 and STS-100
in April 2001, and commanded mission STS-112
in October 2002.
His first flight, aboard Columbia
, deployed the Chandra X-ray Observatory
and was the first U.S. space mission commanded by a female, Eileen Collins
. Ashby's latter two flights aboard Endeavour
and Atlantis
were the sixth and ninth assembly missions for the International Space Station
. He has traveled over 11 million miles, flown 436 orbits around the Earth, and logged over 660 hours (27.5 days) in space. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ashby.html
, founder of the Melanoma Research Foundation.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
naval aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
and astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
, a veteran of three space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
missions. He is a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Jeff Ashby grew up in Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen is a census-designated place and a U.S. Post Office in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Evergreen is roughly west of Denver. The population was 9,038 at the 2010 census...
, southwest of Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, and graduated from Evergreen High School
Evergreen High School (Evergreen, Colorado)
Evergreen High School is a public secondary institution in the JEFFCO Public Schools district in Evergreen, Colorado, U.S. Until Conifer High School opened in 1996, it served students in both Evergreen and Conifer...
in 1972. He attended the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, earning a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1976. He later earned a master's degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
in 1993.
Naval aviator
Ashby is a 1986 graduate of the Naval Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and the Naval Test Pilot School. As a test pilotTest pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Ashby helped develop the F/A-18 aircraft and flew the aircraft in combat missions as part of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
during and after the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and as part of Operation Continue Hope in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. He was the Navy Attack Aviator of the Year in 1991. Ashby commanded a fighter squadron stationed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
USS Abraham Lincoln , is the fifth Nimitz-class supercarrier in the United States Navy. She is the second Navy ship named after former president Abraham Lincoln. Her home port is Everett, Washington.-Construction:...
; in 1994, his squadron was designated the top F/A-18 squadron in the Navy. Ashby accumulated over 7,000 flight hours and 1,000 carrier landings in his Navy career.
NASA career
Ashby was selected as an astronaut candidate in December 1994 at age 40. He was initially scheduled to be the pilot on STS-85STS-85
STS-85 was a Space Shuttle Discovery mission to perform multiple space science packages. It was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 7 August 1997.-Crew:-Crew notes:...
in 1997 but was replaced due to a family illness. He piloted space shuttle missions STS-93
STS-93
STS-93 marked the 95th launch of the Space Shuttle, the 26th launch of Columbia, and the 21st night launch of a Space Shuttle. Eileen Collins became the first female shuttle Commander on this flight. Its primary payload was the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It would also be the last mission of...
in July 1999 and STS-100
STS-100
STS-100 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station flown by Space Shuttle Endeavour. STS-100 installed the ISS Canadarm2 robotic arm.- Crew :- Mission parameters :* Mass:** Orbiter liftoff:...
in April 2001, and commanded mission STS-112
STS-112
STS-112 was an 11-day space shuttle mission to the International Space Station flown by . Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched on 7 October 2002 at 19:45 UTC from the Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39B to deliver the 28,000 pound Starboard 1 truss segment to the Space Station...
in October 2002.
His first flight, aboard Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew...
, deployed the Chandra X-ray Observatory
Chandra X-ray Observatory
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched on STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. It was named in honor of Indian-American physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar who is known for determining the maximum mass for white dwarfs. "Chandra" also means "moon" or "luminous" in Sanskrit.Chandra...
and was the first U.S. space mission commanded by a female, Eileen Collins
Eileen Collins
Eileen Marie Collins is a retired American astronaut and a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle. She was awarded several medals for her work. Col. Collins has logged 38 days 8...
. Ashby's latter two flights aboard Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States. Endeavour was the fifth and final spaceworthy NASA space shuttle to be built, constructed as a replacement for Challenger...
and Atlantis
Space Shuttle Atlantis
The Space Shuttle Atlantis is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter in the Space Shuttle fleet belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States...
were the sixth and ninth assembly missions for the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
. He has traveled over 11 million miles, flown 436 orbits around the Earth, and logged over 660 hours (27.5 days) in space. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ashby.html
Personal life
Jeff Ashby has been married twice. His first wife is the late Diana AshbyDiana Merriweather
Diana Christine Merriweather Ashby was an American cancer activist and founder of the Melanoma Research Foundation. Diana Ashby died on May 2, 1997. She was married to NASA Astronaut Jeffrey S...
, founder of the Melanoma Research Foundation.
External links
- NASA Biography - Jeffrey S. Ashby (Captain, USN, Ret.)
- Spacefacts.de - biography of Jeffrey Ashby
- University of Idaho - Alumni Hall of Fame - 2000 - Jeffrey Ashby - class of '76
- Diana Ashby Memory page- written by Jeff Ashby about his wife Diana