Joseph M. Acaba

Joe Acabá
Joe Acabá pictured in 2008
Born
Joseph Michael Acabá

(1967-05-17) May 17, 1967 (age 57)
EducationUniversity of California, Santa Barbara (BS)
University of Arizona (MS)
Texas Tech University (MEd)
Space career
NASA astronaut
RankSergeant, USMCR
Time in space
306d 34m
SelectionNASA Group 19 (2004)
Total EVAs
3
Total EVA time
19h 46m
MissionsSTS-119
Soyuz TMA-04M (Expedition 31/32)
Soyuz MS-06 (Expedition 53/54)
Mission insignia
STS-119 Expedition 31 Expedition 32

Joseph Michael Acabá (born May 17, 1967) is an American educator, hydrogeologist, and NASA astronaut.[1][2] In May 2004, he became the first person of Puerto Rican ancestry to be named as a NASA astronaut candidate, when he was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Training Group 19.[3] He completed his training on February 10, 2006, and was assigned to STS-119, which flew from March 15 to 28, 2009, to deliver the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.[4] He is the first person of Puerto Rican origin, and the twelfth of fifteen people of Ibero-american heritage to have flown to space.[5]

Acabá served as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station, having launched on May 15, 2012.[6] He arrived at the space station on May 17 and returned to Earth on September 17, 2012.[7] Acaba returned to the International Space Station in 2017 as a member of Expedition 53/54.[8] In 2023, Acaba was appointed the Chief of the Astronaut Office.

  1. ^ "Joseph M. Acaba NASA Astronaut". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. September 12, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  2. ^ NASA. "NASA Hispanic Astronauts". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  3. ^ NASA. "Astronaut Class of 2004 (Group 19)". NASA. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  4. ^ "Launch Schedule: Consolidated Launch Manifest". NASA. Archived from the original on January 27, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  5. ^ "NASA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2023". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "Biography of Josepth Acabá". Space Facts.
  7. ^ Harwood, William (May 17, 2012). "Three-man crew docks at International Space Station". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2017assignments was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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