Owen K. Garriott
Encyclopedia
Owen Kay Garriott, Ph.D.
(born November 22, 1930) is a former NASA
astronaut
who spent 60 days aboard Skylab
in 1973 and 10 days aboard Spacelab-1
in 1983. He is also the father of Robert Garriott
and fellow spacefarer Richard Garriott
, with whom he helped found Origin Systems
.
. He graduated from Enid High School
in 1948; received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering
from the University of Oklahoma
in 1953, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Fraternity, and a M.S. and Ph.D from Stanford University
in Electrical Engineering in 1957 and 1960, respectively. Completed one year U.S. Air Force Pilot Training Program (1966), receiving qualification as pilot in jet aircraft.
He served as electronics officer on active duty in the United States Navy
from 1953 to 1956. From 1961 through 1965 he was an Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. He performed research and led graduate studies in ionospheric physics
after obtaining his doctorate and authored or co-authored more than 45 scientific papers, chapters and one book, principally in areas of the physical science
s.
In 1965 he was one of the six Scientist-Astronauts
selected by NASA. His first spaceflight, the Skylab 3
mission in 1973, set a new world record for duration of approximately 60 days, more than double the previous record. Extensive experimental studies of our sun
, of earth resources and in various life sciences
relating to human adaptation to weightlessness were made.
His second space flight was aboard STS-9
(Spacelab-1) in 1983, a multidisciplinary and international mission of 10 days; aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia
. Over 70 separate experiments in six different disciplines were conducted, primarily to demonstrate the suitability of Spacelab for research in all these areas. He operated the world's first amateur radio station
from space, W5LFL, which has since expanded into an important activity on dozens of Shuttle
flights, Space Station Mir
and now the International Space Station
, with scores of astronauts and cosmonauts participating.
Between these missions, he received a NASA fellowship for one year's study at Stanford (1975–76) and held the posts of Deputy, Acting and Director of Science and Applications at Johnson Space Center, (1974–75, 76-78). In the latter post he was responsible for all research in the physical sciences at the Johnson Space Center. From 1984 to 1986, he held the position of Project Scientist in the Space Station Project Office. In this position he worked closely with the external scientific communities and advised the Project Manager concerning the scientific suitability of the Space Station design.
Committees.
From January 1988 until May 1993, he was Vice President of Space Programs at Teledyne Brown Engineering
. This Division, which grew to over 1,000 people, provided payload integration for all Spacelab projects at the Marshall Space Flight Center
and had a substantial role in the development of the U.S. Laboratory for the International Space Station.
He has devoted additional time to several charitable activities in his hometown, including the Enid (OK) Arts and Sciences Foundation of which he was a co-Founder in 1992 and was co-founder of Leonardo's Discovery Warehouse (the other founder was his first wife Helen) in 1995. More recently, he has accepted a position as Adjunct Professor in the Laboratory for Structural Biology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville
(UAH) and has participated in research activities there involving new microbes he has returned from extreme environments such as very alkaline lakes and deep sea hydrothermal vent
s. Hyperthermophiles were returned from several dives in Russian MIR submersibles to the Rainbow Vents at a depth of 2,300 meters near the Azores
in the Atlantic Ocean
. Other research activities included three trips to Antarctica from which 20 meteorites were returned for laboratory study. He formed a 501c-3 public philanthropic "Garriott Family Foundation" to finance the aforementioned adventure travel for himself, his wife and other members of his family.
(Fellow), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
(Associate Fellow), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, American Geophysical Union
, American Association for the Advancement of Science
, Association of Space Explorers
(Board of Directors), Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (Vice President and Vice Chairman).
Garriott has received the following honors: National Science Foundation
Fellowship, 1960–61; Honorary Doctorate of Science, Phillips University
(Enid, OK), 1973; NASA Distinguished Service Medal
, 1973; Collier Trophy
for 1973; Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
, Komarov Diploma for 1973; Goddard Memorial Trophy for 1975; NASA Space Flight Medal
, 1983; and additional awards related to his space flights, including the Oklahoma Hall of Fame (1980), Oklahoma Air and Space Hall of Fame (1980), the Astronaut Hall of Fame
(1997), the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame (2000) and Enid Public Schools Hall of Fame (2001).
As the first amateur radio
operator to operate from space, Owen and fellow pioneering Astronaut Ham Tony England were honored with a Special Achievement Award from the Dayton Hamvention in 2002.
Owen is the father of Richard Garriott
, a leading computer programmer and the creator of the Ultima computer game series. Owen K. Garriott appears in Ultima II
, apparently looking for a rocket. The shipwright character Owen from Ultima VII
is named after him. Richard Garriott was launched as a space tourist
aboard Soyuz TMA-13
on October 12, 2008, the first American and the second person worldwide to follow a parent into space.
, of "Homesteading Space," a history of the Skylab program, published in 2008.
He is co-author of "Introduction to Ionospheric Physics" with Henry Rishbeth.
Garriott was also a contributor to the book "NASA's Scientist-Astronauts" by David Shayler and Colin Burgess
.
, serves as one of the city's main thoroughfares.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(born November 22, 1930) is a former NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
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....
who spent 60 days aboard Skylab
Skylab
Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of...
in 1973 and 10 days aboard Spacelab-1
STS-9
STS-9 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission which carried the first Spacelab module into orbit to conduct space-based scientific experiments. It was the sixth mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and was Columbia's last flight until STS-61-C in January 1986...
in 1983. He is also the father of Robert Garriott
Robert Garriott
Robert K. Garriott is a computer game industry figure and entrepreneur. He co-founded Origin Systems and Destination Games with his brother, Richard Garriott, and was the CEO of NCsoft-North America until 2008. He is the second-eldest son of NASA astronaut Owen K. Garriott...
and fellow spacefarer Richard Garriott
Richard Garriott
Richard Allen Garriott is a British-American video game developer and entrepreneur.He is also known as his alter egos Lord British in Ultima and General British in Tabula Rasa...
, with whom he helped found Origin Systems
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
.
Education and background
Garriott was born in Enid, OklahomaEnid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
. He graduated from Enid High School
Enid High School
Enid High School is a public secondary school in Enid, Oklahoma operated by the Enid Public Schools school district. With a student body of about 1,700 in grades 9-12, Enid High School has about a 65 percent matriculation rate...
in 1948; received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in 1953, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
Fraternity, and a M.S. and Ph.D from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in Electrical Engineering in 1957 and 1960, respectively. Completed one year U.S. Air Force Pilot Training Program (1966), receiving qualification as pilot in jet aircraft.
He served as electronics officer on active duty 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...
from 1953 to 1956. From 1961 through 1965 he was an Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. He performed research and led graduate studies in ionospheric physics
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
after obtaining his doctorate and authored or co-authored more than 45 scientific papers, chapters and one book, principally in areas of the physical science
Physical science
Physical science is an encompassing term for the branches of natural science and science that study non-living systems, in contrast to the life sciences...
s.
Astronaut
Astronaut Group 4
Astronaut Group 4 was the fourth group of astronauts selected by NASA in June 1965. While the astronauts of the previous three groups were required to have college and some advanced degrees, they were primarily chosen for their test pilot backgrounds...
selected by NASA. His first spaceflight, the Skylab 3
Skylab 3
Skylab 3 was the second manned mission to Skylab. The Skylab 3 mission started July 28, 1973, with the launch of three astronauts on the Saturn IB rocket, and lasted 59 days, 11 hours and 9 minutes...
mission in 1973, set a new world record for duration of approximately 60 days, more than double the previous record. Extensive experimental studies of our sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
, of earth resources and in various life sciences
Life sciences
The life sciences comprise the fields of science that involve the scientific study of living organisms, like plants, animals, and human beings. While biology remains the centerpiece of the life sciences, technological advances in molecular biology and biotechnology have led to a burgeoning of...
relating to human adaptation to weightlessness were made.
His second space flight was aboard STS-9
STS-9
STS-9 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission which carried the first Spacelab module into orbit to conduct space-based scientific experiments. It was the sixth mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and was Columbia's last flight until STS-61-C in January 1986...
(Spacelab-1) in 1983, a multidisciplinary and international mission of 10 days; aboard the Space Shuttle 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...
. Over 70 separate experiments in six different disciplines were conducted, primarily to demonstrate the suitability of Spacelab for research in all these areas. He operated the world's first amateur radio station
Amateur radio station
An amateur radio station is an installation designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary...
from space, W5LFL, which has since expanded into an important activity on dozens of 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...
flights, Space Station Mir
Mir
Mir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
and now 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...
, with scores of astronauts and cosmonauts participating.
Between these missions, he received a NASA fellowship for one year's study at Stanford (1975–76) and held the posts of Deputy, Acting and Director of Science and Applications at Johnson Space Center, (1974–75, 76-78). In the latter post he was responsible for all research in the physical sciences at the Johnson Space Center. From 1984 to 1986, he held the position of Project Scientist in the Space Station Project Office. In this position he worked closely with the external scientific communities and advised the Project Manager concerning the scientific suitability of the Space Station design.
Post NASA
After leaving NASA in June 1986, he consulted for various aerospace companies and served as a member of several NASA and National Research CouncilUnited States National Research Council
The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
Committees.
From January 1988 until May 1993, he was Vice President of Space Programs at Teledyne Brown Engineering
Teledyne
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated is an industrial conglomerate primarily based in the United States but with global operations. It was founded in 1960, as Teledyne, Inc., by Henry Singleton and George Kozmetsky....
. This Division, which grew to over 1,000 people, provided payload integration for all Spacelab projects at the Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
and had a substantial role in the development of the U.S. Laboratory for the International Space Station.
He has devoted additional time to several charitable activities in his hometown, including the Enid (OK) Arts and Sciences Foundation of which he was a co-Founder in 1992 and was co-founder of Leonardo's Discovery Warehouse (the other founder was his first wife Helen) in 1995. More recently, he has accepted a position as Adjunct Professor in the Laboratory for Structural Biology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
(UAH) and has participated in research activities there involving new microbes he has returned from extreme environments such as very alkaline lakes and deep sea hydrothermal vent
Hydrothermal vent
A hydrothermal vent is a fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated water issues. Hydrothermal vents are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart, ocean basins, and hotspots. Hydrothermal vents exist because the earth is both...
s. Hyperthermophiles were returned from several dives in Russian MIR submersibles to the Rainbow Vents at a depth of 2,300 meters near the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Other research activities included three trips to Antarctica from which 20 meteorites were returned for laboratory study. He formed a 501c-3 public philanthropic "Garriott Family Foundation" to finance the aforementioned adventure travel for himself, his wife and other members of his family.
Honors and affiliations
Garriott is a member of the following organizations: American Astronautical SocietyAmerican Astronautical Society
Formed in 1954, the American Astronautical Society is an independent scientific and technical group in the United States dedicated to the advancement of space science and exploration. AAS supports NASA's Vision for Space Exploration and is a member of the Coalition for Space Exploration and the...
(Fellow), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
(Associate Fellow), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
, American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, Association of Space Explorers
Association of Space Explorers
The Association of Space Explorers is a non-profit organization with a membership composed of people who have completed at least one Earth orbit in space . It was founded in 1985, and the current membership stands at 320 from 34 different countries...
(Board of Directors), Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (Vice President and Vice Chairman).
Garriott has received the following honors: National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Fellowship, 1960–61; Honorary Doctorate of Science, Phillips University
Phillips University
Phillips University was a private, coeducational institution of higher education located in Enid, Oklahoma, United States, from 1906 to 1998. It was affiliated with the Christian Church . It included an undergraduate college and a graduate seminary...
(Enid, OK), 1973; NASA Distinguished Service Medal
NASA Distinguished Service Medal
The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States...
, 1973; Collier Trophy
Collier Trophy
The Collier Trophy is an annual aviation award administered by the U.S. National Aeronautics Association , presented to those who have made "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space...
for 1973; Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
, Komarov Diploma for 1973; Goddard Memorial Trophy for 1975; NASA Space Flight Medal
NASA Space Flight Medal
The NASA Space Flight Medal is a decoration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. According to its statutes, it is awarded "for significant achievement or service during individual participation as a civilian or military astronaut, pilot, mission specialist, payload specialist, or...
, 1983; and additional awards related to his space flights, including the Oklahoma Hall of Fame (1980), Oklahoma Air and Space Hall of Fame (1980), the Astronaut Hall of Fame
Astronaut Hall of Fame
The United States Astronaut Hall of Fame, located just south of Titusville, Florida, honors American astronauts and features the world's largest collection of their personal memorabilia, focusing on those astronauts who have been inducted into the Hall; as well as Sigma 7, the fifth manned Mercury...
(1997), the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame (2000) and Enid Public Schools Hall of Fame (2001).
As the first amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
operator to operate from space, Owen and fellow pioneering Astronaut Ham Tony England were honored with a Special Achievement Award from the Dayton Hamvention in 2002.
Owen is the father of Richard Garriott
Richard Garriott
Richard Allen Garriott is a British-American video game developer and entrepreneur.He is also known as his alter egos Lord British in Ultima and General British in Tabula Rasa...
, a leading computer programmer and the creator of the Ultima computer game series. Owen K. Garriott appears in Ultima II
Ultima II
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress, released on August 24, 1982 , is the second computer role-playing game in the Ultima series.It was also the only official Ultima game published by Sierra On-Line...
, apparently looking for a rocket. The shipwright character Owen from Ultima VII
Ultima VII
Ultima VII: The Black Gate is the seventh installment of the Ultima series of computer role-playing games. It was released in 1992.The Black Gate was critically and commercially successful, being widely lauded as a high point in the series and as one of the best isometric RPGs ever created...
is named after him. Richard Garriott was launched as a space tourist
Space tourism
Space Tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. A number of startup companies have sprung up in recent years, hoping to create a space tourism industry...
aboard Soyuz TMA-13
Soyuz TMA-13
Soyuz TMA-13 was a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station . The spacecraft was launched by a Soyuz-FG rocket at 07:01 GMT on 12 October 2008. It undocked at 02:55 GMT on 8 April 2009, performed a deorbit burn at 06:24, and landed at 07:16...
on October 12, 2008, the first American and the second person worldwide to follow a parent into space.
Books
Garriott is co-author, along with fellow astronaut Joseph Kerwin and writer David HittDavid Hitt (author)
William David Hitt is an American author specializing in spaceflight history.Hitt is co-author of Homesteading Space, a history of the Skylab program, with NASA astronauts Owen K. Garriott and Joseph Kerwin. Homesteading Space was published in 2008 by the University of Nebraska Press as part of its...
, of "Homesteading Space," a history of the Skylab program, published in 2008.
He is co-author of "Introduction to Ionospheric Physics" with Henry Rishbeth.
Garriott was also a contributor to the book "NASA's Scientist-Astronauts" by David Shayler and Colin Burgess
Colin Burgess (author)
Colin Burgess is an Australian author and historian, specializing in space flight and military history. He is a former customer service manager for Qantas Airways, and a regular contributor to the collectSPACE online community. He lives in New South Wales...
.
Honors
A street named after him in Enid, OklahomaEnid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
, serves as one of the city's main thoroughfares.