Kenneth Ham
Encyclopedia
Kenneth "Hock" Todd Ham (b. 12 December 1964 in Plainfield, New Jersey
) is an American
astronaut
and a captain in the United States Navy
. Ham was selected for NASA's astronaut program in August 1998, while serving as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
lead carrier suitability test pilot
. Ham's U.S. Naval aviator call sign
is "Hock".
. Ham's parents are Ed and Marion Ham. Ham's recreational interests include baseball, running
, weight lifting
, general aviation
, snow skiing and water skiing
, skydiving
and scuba diving
.
in Clark, New Jersey
in 1983, where he had started taking flying lessons at the suggestion of a high school guidance counselor. He then went on to the U.S. Naval Academy
from which he graduated in 1987 with a bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering
. In 1996, he earned a master of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School
. A Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School
, Ham is also a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.
in May 1987, Ham received flight training in T-34C
, T-2C
, and TA-4J aircraft. Ham was designated a Naval Aviator
in October 1989, and subsequently received F/A-18 Hornet
training. His operational assignments included stints with VFA-132
and VFA-105
fighter squadrons. During a temporary assignment to NASA's Johnson Space Center
in Houston, Texas
, Ham served as a crew member aboard NASA's reduced gravity research aircraft—a KC-135 Stratotanker
nicknamed the "Vomit Comet
".
At the Naval Postgraduate School/Test Pilot School, Ham participated in a cooperative program
, studying aeronautical engineering for 18 months, followed by 12 months of test pilot training. He was selected as one of five U.S. Navy pilots on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Integrated Test Team, responsible for developing a new fleet aircraft. In this role, Ham conducted flight tests involving arrested landings, catapult assisted
takeoffs, weapon separation, and evaluation of the aircraft's propulsion stability, performance and general flying qualities.
During two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea
, Ham conducted combat missions over Bosnia
and North Iraq
, serving as an air wing strike leader, F/A-18 demonstration pilot, and night vision goggle instructor. He has over 3,700 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft types, with over 300 shipboard, and 300 land based arrested landings.
(ISS). His most recent CAPCOM assignment was for NASA's "return to flight" mission, STS-114
, of the Space Shuttle
. He made his first spaceflight as pilot of STS-124
, which Discovery
flew to the International Space Station in June 2008. He also flew as the commander of mission STS-132
, which launched on 14 May 2010 and landed on 26 May 2010.
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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....
and a captain in the United States 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...
. Ham was selected for NASA's astronaut program in August 1998, while serving as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E single-seat variant and F/A-18F tandem-seat variant are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry air-to-air...
lead carrier suitability test pilot
Test 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....
. Ham's U.S. Naval aviator call sign
Aviator call sign
An aviator call sign or callsign is a nickname given to a military pilot or other flight officer. This call sign is a substitute for the officer's given name, and is used on name tags, planes, and radio conversations....
is "Hock".
Personal data
Ham is married to the former Michelle Lucas of Hobart, Indiana, and has two children, Ryan and Randy, from a previous marriage to Linda Hautzinger HamLinda Ham
Linda Ham is currently the Constellation Program Transition Manager at NASA. She was formerly the program integration manager in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Shuttle Program Office...
. Ham's parents are Ed and Marion Ham. Ham's recreational interests include baseball, running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, weight lifting
Weight training
Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...
, general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, snow skiing and water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, skydiving
Parachuting
Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
and scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
.
Education
Ham graduated from Arthur L. Johnson High SchoolArthur L. Johnson High School
Arthur L. Johnson High School is a four-year public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Clark, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Clark Public School District...
in Clark, New Jersey
Clark, New Jersey
Clark is a township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 14,756.-History:...
in 1983, where he had started taking flying lessons at the suggestion of a high school guidance counselor. He then went on to the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
from which he graduated in 1987 with a bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
. In 1996, he earned a master of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
. A Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School
United States Naval Test Pilot School
The United States Naval Test Pilot School , located at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Patuxent River, Maryland, provides instruction to experienced United States Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and foreign military experimental test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight test...
, Ham is also a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
Society of Experimental Test Pilots
The Society of Experimental Test Pilots is an international organization that seeks to promote air safety and contributes to aeronautical advancement by promoting sound aeronautical design and development; interchanging ideas, thoughts and suggestions of the members, assisting in the professional...
and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.
Experience
After earning his commission as an ensign in the United States NavyUnited 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...
in May 1987, Ham received flight training in T-34C
T-34 Mentor
The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is a propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were piston-engined. These were eventually succeeded by the upgraded T-34C...
, T-2C
T-2 Buckeye
|-See also:-External links:*****...
, and TA-4J aircraft. Ham was designated a 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...
in October 1989, and subsequently received F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
training. His operational assignments included stints with VFA-132
VFA-132
VFA-132 Strike Fighter Squadron 132, also known as the "Privateers" was a United States Navy Strike Fighter Squadron that was based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida prior to being disestablished on 1 June 1992.-History:...
and VFA-105
VFA-105
Strike Fighter Squadron 105 also known as the "Gunslingers" is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The "Gunslingers" are an operational fleet squadron and fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet...
fighter squadrons. During a temporary assignment to NASA's Johnson Space Center
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's center for human spaceflight training, research and flight control. The center consists of a complex of 100 buildings constructed on 1,620 acres in Houston, Texas, USA...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Ham served as a crew member aboard NASA's reduced gravity research aircraft—a KC-135 Stratotanker
KC-135 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
nicknamed the "Vomit Comet
Vomit Comet
A Reduced Gravity Aircraft is a type of fixed-wing aircraft that briefly provides a nearly weightless environment in which to train astronauts, conduct research and film motion pictures....
".
At the Naval Postgraduate School/Test Pilot School, Ham participated in a cooperative program
Cooperative education
Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience...
, studying aeronautical engineering for 18 months, followed by 12 months of test pilot training. He was selected as one of five U.S. Navy pilots on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Integrated Test Team, responsible for developing a new fleet aircraft. In this role, Ham conducted flight tests involving arrested landings, catapult assisted
Aircraft catapult
An aircraft catapult is a device used to launch aircraft from ships—in particular aircraft carriers—as a form of assisted take off. It consists of a track built into the flight deck, below which is a large piston or shuttle that is attached through the track to the nose gear of the aircraft, or in...
takeoffs, weapon separation, and evaluation of the aircraft's propulsion stability, performance and general flying qualities.
During two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, Ham conducted combat missions over Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and North Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, serving as an air wing strike leader, F/A-18 demonstration pilot, and night vision goggle instructor. He has over 3,700 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft types, with over 300 shipboard, and 300 land based arrested landings.
Astronaut experience
Ken Ham has served as CAPCOM for Space Shuttle ascent/entry and orbit, as well as the International Space StationInternational 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...
(ISS). His most recent CAPCOM assignment was for NASA's "return to flight" mission, STS-114
STS-114
-Original crew:This mission was to carry the Expedition 7 crew to the ISS and bring home the Expedition 6 crew. The original crew was to be:-Mission highlights:...
, of the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle program
NASA's Space Shuttle program, officially called Space Transportation System , was the United States government's manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011...
. He made his first spaceflight as pilot of STS-124
STS-124
STS-124 was a Space Shuttle mission, flown by Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station. Discovery launched on 31 May 2008 at 17:02 EDT, moved from an earlier scheduled launch date of 25 May 2008, and landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, at 11:15...
, which Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States, and was operational from its maiden flight, STS-41-D on August 30, 1984, until its final landing during STS-133 on March 9, 2011...
flew to the International Space Station in June 2008. He also flew as the commander of mission STS-132
STS-132
STS-132 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission, during which Space Shuttle Atlantis docked with the International Space Station on 16 May 2010. STS-132 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on 14 May 2010. The primary payload was the Russian Rassvet Mini-Research Module, along with an Integrated...
, which launched on 14 May 2010 and landed on 26 May 2010.