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Daniel Charles Brandenstein (born January 17,
1943, Watertown, Wisconsin, USA) is a former NASA
astronaut who flew four space shuttle missions.

==NASA experience==

Selected by NASA in January 1978, Brandenstein
became an astronaut in August 1979. He was ascent
spacecraft communicator (Capsule
communicator|CAPCOM) and a member of the astronaut
support crew for STS-1 (the first flight of the
Space Shuttle). He was subsequently assigned to
the STS-2 astronaut support crew and was the
ascent CAPCOM for the second Space Shuttle flight.
A veteran of four space flights -- STS-8 (August
30-September 3, 1983), STS-51G (June 17-24, 1985),
STS-32 (January 9-20, 1990), and STS-49 (May 7-16,
1992) -- Brandenstein has logged over 789 hours in
space. Following his second space flight,
Brandenstein served as the Deputy Director of
Flight Crew Operations. From April 1987 through
September 1992 Brandenstein served as Chief of the
Astronaut Office. In October 1992 Brandenstein
retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy.

===Space flight experience===

Brandenstein was pilot on STS-8, his first flight,
which launched at night from the Kennedy Space
Center, Florida, on August 30, 1983. This was the
third flight for the Orbiter Space Shuttle
Challenger|Challenger and the first mission with a
night launch and night landing. During the mission
crew members deployed the Indian National
Satellite (Indian National Satellite
System|INSAT-1B); operated the Canadian-built
Remote Manipulator System (RMS) with the Payload
Flight Test Article (PFTA); operated the
Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES) with
live cell samples; conducted medical measurements
to understand biophysiological effects on space
flight; and activated various earth resources and
space science experiments along with four "Getaway
Special" canisters. STS-8 completed 98 orbits of
the Earth in 145 hours before landing at Edwards
Air Force Base, California, on September 3, 1983.

On his second mission (June 17-24, 1985),
Brandenstein commanded the crew of STS-51-G aboard
the Orbiter Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery.
During this seven-day mission crew members
deployed communications satellites for Mexico
(Morelos), the Arab League (Arabsat), and the
United States (AT&T Telstar). They used the Remote
Manipulator System (RMS) to deploy and later
retrieve the SPARTAN satellite which performed 17
hours of x-ray astronomy experiments while
separated from the Space Shuttle. In addition, the
crew activated the Automated Directional
Solidification Furnace (ADSF), six "Getaway
Specials", participated in biomedical experiments,
and conducted a laser tracking experiment as part
of the Strategic Defense Initiative. The mission
was accomplished in 112 Earth orbits in
approximately 170 hours.

Brandenstein then commanded the crew of STS-32
(January 9-20, 1990). In the longest Shuttle
mission to date, crew members aboard the Orbiter
Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia successfully
deployed the Syncom IV-F5 satellite, and retrieved
the 9,724 kg (21,393 lb) Long Duration Exposure
Facility (LDEF) using the RMS. They also operated
a variety of middeck experiments including the
Microgravity Disturbance Experiment (MDE) using
the Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA), Protein
Crystal Growth (PCG), American Flight
Echocardiograph (AFE), Latitude/Longitude Locator
(L3), Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE),
Characterization of Neurospora crassa|Neurospora
Circadian Rhythms (CNCR), and the IMAX camera.
Additionally, numerous medical test objectives,
including in-flight Lower Body Negative Pressure
(LBNP), in-flight aerobic exercise and muscle
performance were conducted to evaluate human
adaptation to extended duration missions.
Following 173 orbits of the Earth in 261 hours,
the mission ended with a night landing in
California.

Brandenstein also commanded the crew of STS-49
(May 7-16, 1992) on the maiden flight of the new
Space Shuttle Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour.
During this mission, the crew conducted the
initial test flight of Endeavour, performed a
record four Extra-vehicular_activity|EVA's (space
walks) to retrieve, repair and deploy the
International Telecommunications Satellite
(INTELSAT) and to demonstrate and evaluate
numerous EVA tasks to be used for the assembly of
Space Station Freedom. Additionally, a variety of
medical, scientific and operational tests were
conducted throughout the mission. STS-49 logged
213 hours in space and 141 Earth orbits prior to
landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California,
where the crew conducted the first test of the
Endeavour's drag chute.

With the completion of his fourth flight,
Brandenstein logged over 789 hours in space.

==Military experience==

Brandenstein entered active duty with the Navy in
September 1965 and was attached to the Naval Air
Training Command for flight training. He was
designated a naval aviator at Naval Air Station,
Beeville, Texas, in May 1967, and then proceeded
to VA-128 for A-6 fleet replacement training. From
1968 to 1970, while attached to VA-196 flying A-6
Intruders, he participated in two combat
deployments on board the USS Constellation and the
USS Ranger to Southeast Asia and flew 192 combat
missions. In subsequent assignments, he was
attached to VX-5 for the conduct of operational
tests of A-6 weapons systems and tactics; and to
the Naval Air Test Center where, upon graduation
from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent
River, Maryland, he conducted tests of electronic
warfare systems in various Navy aircraft.
Brandenstein made a nine month deployment to the
Western Pacific and Indian Ocean on board the USS
Ranger while attached to VA-145 flying A-6
Intruders during the period March 1975 to
September 1977. Prior to reporting to Houston as
an astronaut candidate, he was attached to VA-128
as an A-6 flight instructor. He has logged 6,400
hours flying time in 24 different types of
aircraft and has 400 carrier landings.

==Personal==

Born January 17, 1943, in Watertown, Wisconsin.
Married to the former Jane A. Wade of Balsam Lake,
Wisconsin. They have one daughter. Recreational
interests include skiing, sailing, basketball,
softball, golf, and woodworking. His parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Walter Brandenstein, are residents of
Watertown, Wisconsin. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Albert Wade, reside in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin.

==Education==

Graduated from Watertown High School, Watertown,
Wisconsin, in 1961; received a bachelor of science
degree in mathematics and physics from the
University_of_Wisconsin-River_Falls|University of
Wisconsin (River Falls) in 1965.

==Organizations==

Associate Fellow, AIAA|American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Member,
Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP),
Association of Space Explorers, United States,
Naval Institute, and Association of Naval
Aviation.

==Special honors==

Awarded Defense Superior Service Medal with oak
leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit, the
Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)|Distinguished
Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal,
17 Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal with oak
leaf cluster and Valor device, Meritorious Unit
Commendation, 2 NASA Distinguished Service Medals,
2 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals, 4 NASA Space
Flight Medal|NASA Space Flight Medals, National
Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Sea Service
Deployment Ribbon, Légion d'honneur|French Legion
of Honor, Medal of King Abdul Aziz (Saudi Arabia),
Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross, Vietnam Gallantry
Cross Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal. Distinguished Alumnus, University
of Wisconsin, River Falls. Honorary Doctor of
Engineering, Milwaukee School of Engineering,
Honorary Doctor of Science, University of
Wisconsin - River Falls. Recipient of the SETP
Iven C. Kincheloe Award, the AIAA Haley Space
Flight Award, the Federation Aeronautique
International Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal and American
Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award.

Source: NASA Astronaut
Biographieshttp://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/b
randenstein-dc.html