This page no longer updated from 31 October 2001. Latest version can be found at www.astronautix.com
astronautix.com Reightler
Kenneth Stanley (Ken) Reightler Jr Status: Inactive. Trained as: Astronaut. Profession: Pilot. Sex: Male. Marital Status: Married. Children: Two. Birth Date: 24 March 1951. Birth City: Patuxent River. Birth State: Maryland. Birth Country: USA. Nationality: American. Group: 1987 NASA Group. Date Selected: 05 June 1987. Departed: 1995. Number of Flights: 2. Total Time: 13.65 days.

NASA Official Biography

NAME: Kenneth S. Reightler, Jr. (Captain, USN)
NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA:
Born March 24, 1951, in Patuxent River, Maryland, but considers Virginia Beach, Virginia, to be his hometown. Married to the former Maureen Ellen McHenry of Virginia Beach, Virginia. They have two daughters. He enjoys sailing, wind surfing, camping. His parents, Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth S. Reightler, Sr., reside in Virginia Beach. Her mother, Mrs. Jean W. McHenry, resides in Virginia Beach. Her father, Cdr. William H. McHenry, USN, is deceased.

EDUCATION:
Graduated from Bayside High School, Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1969; received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from United States Naval Academy in 1973, and master of science degrees, in 1984, in aeronautical engineering from the United States Naval Postgraduate School and in systems management from University of Southern California.

ORGANIZATIONS:
Member, Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP); U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association; Association of Space Explorers; National Aeronautic Association.

SPECIAL HONORS:
Defense Superior Service Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Commendation Medal; Navy Unit Commendation; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal; NASA Exceptional Service Medal; two NASA Space Flight Medals; Johnson Space Center Certificate of Commendation; NASA Group Achievement Award; INTELSAT EVA Recovery Team Award. Distinguished graduate, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Absolute world altitude record for Class P aero-spacecraft. Mac Short Award in Aviation from U.S. Naval Academy (1973).

EXPERIENCE:
Reightler graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1973, and was designated a naval aviator in August 1974 at Corpus Christi, Texas. After replacement pilot training in the P-3C airplane, he reported to Patrol Squadron Sixteen in Jacksonville, Florida, serving as both a mission commander and patrol plane commander. He made deployments to Keflavik, Iceland, and to Sigonella, Sicily. Following jet transition training, Reightler attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland. Upon graduation in 1978, he remained at the Naval Air Test Center (NATC) where he served as test pilot and project officer for a variety of flight test programs involving the P-3, S-3, and T-39 airplanes. He later returned to the Test Pilot School, serving as a flight test instructor and safety officer flying the P-3, T-2, OV-1, T-39, and TA-7 airplanes. In June 1981 Reightler was assigned t
Flight Log

  • STS-48 - - 1991 Sep 12 - Assignment: Prime Crew. Flight Time: 5.35 days. Flight details: STS-48.

    Manned five crew. Deployed UARS; conducted materials and biological research. Payloads: Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), Ascent Particle Monitor (APM)-03, Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE)-01, Protein Crystal Growth (PCG)-ll-2, Middeck Zero-Gravity Dynamics, Experiment (MODE)-01, Investigations Into Polymer Membrane Processing (IPMP)-04, Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM-02), Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME)-lll-06, Shuttle Activation Monitor (SAM)-03, Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) Calibration Test.

  • STS-60 - - 1994 Feb 3 - Assignment: Prime Crew. Flight Time: 8.30 days. Flight details: STS-60.

    Deployed ODERACS A-F, Bremsat, carried Wake Shield Facility. Payloads: Wake Shield Facility (WSF) 1 and SPACEHAB 02. Getaway special bridge assembly experiments: Capillary Pumped Loop (CAPL), Orbital Debris Radar Calibration Spheres (ODERACS), University of Bremen Satellite (BREMSAT), G-514, G-071, and G-536. Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) II; Auroral Photography Experiment (APE-B).

Back to Index
Last update 3 May 2001.
To contact astronauts or cosmonauts.
Contact Mark Wade with any corrections or comments. Cosmonaut data by Alexander B. Zheleznyakov.

Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
© Mark Wade, 2001 .