William A. Pailes
Encyclopedia
William Arthur Pailes (born June 26, 1952) was a USAF astronaut
in the Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program
during the mid-1980s. He served as a Payload Specialist on STS-51-J
Atlantis
(October 3–7, 1985).
, but considers Kinnelon, New Jersey
, to be his hometown. He is married and is a former deacon
and treasurer of his church in El Segundo, California
. He now teaches the AFJROTC Program at Temple High School in Temple, TX. He is the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor.
in Kinnelon, New Jersey
in 1970. He then received his Bachelor of science degree in computer science at the USAF Academy
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
four years later.
From 1974 to 1975 he attended pilot training at the Williams Air Force Base
, Arizona
where he trained as a HC-130
rescue pilot in the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service. In 1978, he attended the Squadron Officer School.
Pailes received his Master of science degree in computer science at Texas A&M University
in 1981.
pilot in Air Force Rescue from December 1975 to July 1980 in McClellan Air Force Base
, California
and Royal Air Force Base, Woodbridge, England
. He was then Manager, mini-computer operating systems software development
, from January 1982 to December 1982 at Headquarters Military Airlift Command
, Scott Air Force Base
, Illinois
. He was a Manned Spaceflight Engineer from January 1983 to 1990s at USAF Manned Spaceflight Engineering Program, Los Angeles Air Force Station, California
.
From August 2002 to present he has been an instructor of AFJROTC Program, Corsicana, Texas
, as a JROTC Senior Aerospace Science Instructor.
on STS-51-J
Atlantis
(October 3–7, 1985) which launched from Kennedy Space Center
, Florida
, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base
, California
. STS-51-J was the second Space Shuttle
Department of Defense
mission. It was also the maiden voyage of the Atlantis orbiter. Pailes traveled over 1.6 million miles in 98 Earth
orbits and logged more than 97 hours in space.http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/pailes-wa.html
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....
in the Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program
Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program
The Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program was an effort by the United States Air Force to train American military personnel as payload specialists for Department of Defense missions on the Space Shuttle program.-Background:...
during the mid-1980s. He served as a Payload Specialist on STS-51-J
STS-51-J
STS-51-J was a NASA Space Shuttle mission. It was the first flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis and the 21st shuttle mission overall. It launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 3 October 1985, carrying a payload for the U.S...
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...
(October 3–7, 1985).
Personal
Pailes was born in Hackensack, New JerseyHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, but considers Kinnelon, New Jersey
Kinnelon, New Jersey
Kinnelon is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,248. It is a low density, suburban community, with many parks and trails....
, to be his hometown. He is married and is a former deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and treasurer of his church in El Segundo, California
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
. He now teaches the AFJROTC Program at Temple High School in Temple, TX. He is the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor.
Education
Pailes graduated from Kinnelon High SchoolKinnelon High School
Kinnelon High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Kinnelon in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Kinnelon Public Schools....
in Kinnelon, New Jersey
Kinnelon, New Jersey
Kinnelon is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,248. It is a low density, suburban community, with many parks and trails....
in 1970. He then received his Bachelor of science degree in computer science at the USAF Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
four years later.
From 1974 to 1975 he attended pilot training at the Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
where he trained as a HC-130
HC-130
The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue and Combat search and rescue version of the C-130 Hercules transport. The HC-130H and HC-130J versions are operated by the United States Coast Guard in a SAR and maritime reconnaissance role. The HC-130P and HC-130N Combat King models...
rescue pilot in the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service. In 1978, he attended the Squadron Officer School.
Pailes received his Master of science degree in computer science at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in 1981.
Experience
He was an HC-130HC-130
The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue and Combat search and rescue version of the C-130 Hercules transport. The HC-130H and HC-130J versions are operated by the United States Coast Guard in a SAR and maritime reconnaissance role. The HC-130P and HC-130N Combat King models...
pilot in Air Force Rescue from December 1975 to July 1980 in McClellan Air Force Base
McClellan Air Force Base
McClellan Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in the North Highlands area of Sacramento County, northeast of Sacramento, California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Royal Air Force Base, Woodbridge, England
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
. He was then Manager, mini-computer operating systems software development
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
, from January 1982 to December 1982 at Headquarters Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. He was a Manned Spaceflight Engineer from January 1983 to 1990s at USAF Manned Spaceflight Engineering Program, Los Angeles Air Force Station, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
From August 2002 to present he has been an instructor of AFJROTC Program, Corsicana, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, as a JROTC Senior Aerospace Science Instructor.
Spaceflight experience
Pailes flew as a payload specialistPayload Specialist
A Payload Specialist ' was an individual selected and trained by commercial or research organizations for flights of a specific payload on a NASA Space Shuttle mission...
on STS-51-J
STS-51-J
STS-51-J was a NASA Space Shuttle mission. It was the first flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis and the 21st shuttle mission overall. It launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 3 October 1985, carrying a payload for the U.S...
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...
(October 3–7, 1985) which launched from Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. STS-51-J was the second 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...
Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
mission. It was also the maiden voyage of the Atlantis orbiter. Pailes traveled over 1.6 million miles in 98 Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
orbits and logged more than 97 hours in space.http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/pailes-wa.html