Background
Swanson, Steven R. was born on December 3, 1960 in Syracuse, New York, United States. Son of Stanley and June Swanson.
Astronaut engineer ISS Expedition Commander
Swanson, Steven R. was born on December 3, 1960 in Syracuse, New York, United States. Son of Stanley and June Swanson.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics, University Colorado, 1983. MAS in Computer Systems, Florida Atlantic University, 1986. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University, 1998.
Prior to becoming a National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut, Swanson worked for General Telephone and Electric in Phoenix, Arizona, as a software engineer Steve has flown 2 shuttle flights, STS-117 and STS-119. Steve has also served in other roles at National Aeronautics and Space Administration, such as a CAPCOM for both International Space Station and Space Shuttle missions.
Although born in Syracuse, New York, Swanson considers Steamboat Springs, Colorado to be his home.
He graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in 1979, and went on to the University of Colorado to receive a bachelor"s degree in engineering physics in 1983. In 1986, he received a master of applied science in computer systems from Florida Atlantic University.
He later received a doctorate in computer science from Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1998. Swanson joined National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1987 as a systems engineer and a flight engineer working on the Shuttle Training Aircraft.
He was selected as an astronaut in May 1998.
His first mission was STS-117, which launched June 2007. He was a mission specialist on this flight, also serving as flight engineer He also served as a mission specialist and lead spacewalker on STS-119.
STS-119 launched March 15, 2009 and landed on March 28, 2009.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced Swanson"s retirement in August 2015, he will join Boise State University as a distinguished educator in residence. Steven Swanson is a Browncoat, or fan of Joss Whedon"s Serenity and Firefly.
He added copies of the movie and box set of the television series to the ISS Movie Library on STS-117 in June 2007.
He launched to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 39/40 on March 25, 2014 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and returned to Earth on September 11, 2014.
Married Mary Drake Young. 3 children.