Christopher Cassidy
- Cassidy was selected as an astronaut by NASA in May 2004. In February 2006, he completed Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) training. From 2006 through 2008, he served as Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in the Mission Control Center. From 2009 through 2011, Cassidy was assigned as the support astronaut on the Space Shuttle Closeout Crew tasked with strapping in the crew and closing and sealing the access hatch for flight. From 2014 to 2015, he served as the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) branch chief and in 2015 was assigned as the Deputy Chief, Astronaut Office. After serving four months as deputy, Cassidy became NASA’s 14th Chief Astronaut in July 2015 where he was responsible for flight assignments, mission preparation and on‐orbit support of U.S. crews as well as organizing astronaut office support for future launch vehicles.
Michael Reed Barratt
Expedition 19/20 (March 26, 2009 to October 11, 2009). Dr. Barratt launched as Flight Engineer on Soyuz TMA-14 to the station on March 26, 2009. During this time period, the station underwent transition from three to six permanent station crew members, two spacewalks, two visiting space shuttles and the arrival of the first Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV). Dr. Barratt performed two spacewalks in the Russian Orlan suit and participated in further station construction and onboard experiments. Completing 199 days in space, he landed on October 11, 2009.
STS-133 (February 24 to March 9, 2011). Dr. Barratt served as Mission Specialist on STS-133, the 39th and final mission for Space Shuttle Discovery. He served as lead for Rendezvous and Station Robotics. During the 13-day flight, the Discovery crew delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) and the fourth Express Logistics Carrier (ELC) to the station. The mission’s two spacewalks assisted in outfitting the truss of the station and completed a variety of other tasks designed to upgrade station systems. The mission was accomplished in 202 Earth orbits, traveling 5.3 million miles in 307 hours and 3 minutes.