Background
Fossum, Michael E. was born on December 19, 1957 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. Son of Merlyn E. and Patricia A. Fossum.
Fossum, Michael E. was born on December 19, 1957 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. Son of Merlyn E. and Patricia A. Fossum.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University, 1980. Master of Science in Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, 1981. Distinguished graduate, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, 1985.
Master of Science in Physical (Space) Science, University Houston, Clear Lake, Texas, 1997.
Commissioned United States Air Force, 1980, flight test engineer F-16 test squadron Edwards Air Force Base, California, 1985—1989, flight test manager detachment 3 Air Force Flight Test Center, 1989—1992. Resigned, 1992; system engineer National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1993, representative Flight Crew Operations Directorate on International Space Station redesign, 1993—1996, technical assistant space shuttle, 1996—1997, flight test engineer X-38, 1997—1998. Astronaut, mission specialist candidate National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, since 1998.
Astronaut office lead Space Station flight software development. Capsule communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control. Lead CAPCOM Space Station Expedition-6.
Crew member STS-121 (Discovery), a return-to-flight test mission and assembly flight to the International Space Station, 2006. Lead spacewalker, mission specialist STS-124 Mission (Discovery), mission to International Space Station to launch components to complete Japanese Kibo Lab, 2008. Colonel United States Air Force Reserves, since 1992.
Married Melanie J. London. 4 children.