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Rick D. Husband (July 12, 1957 – February 1,
2003) was an astronaut and the space shuttle
commander of STS-107 (Space Shuttle
Columbia|Columbia) who was killed when the
aerospace engineering|craft disintegrated after
reentry (orbital)|reentry into the Earth's
atmosphere. 

==Early life==
He was born in Amarillo, Texas. He attended
Crockett Junior High School, and he graduated from
Amarillo High School in 1975. Husband received a
bachelor of science degree in mechanical
engineering from Texas Tech University in 1980,
and a master of science degree also in mechanical
engineering from California State University,
Fresno in 1990.

==U.S. Air Force career==
After graduating from Texas Tech University,
Husband was commissioned as a lieutenant|second
lieutenant in the United States Air Force and
attended pilot training at Vance Air Force Base
(AFB) in Oklahoma. He finished his training there
in October 1981, and was assigned to F-4 Phantom
II training at Homestead Air Force Base in
Florida. After completion of F-4 training in
September 1982, Husband was assigned to Moody Air
Force Base in Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia flying
the F-4E. From September to November 1985, he
attended F-4 Instructor School at Homestead AFB
and was assigned as an F-4E instructor pilot and
academic instructor at George AFB, California in
December 1985.

In December 1987, Husband was assigned to Edwards
Air Force Base in California, where he attended
the USAF Test Pilot School. Upon completion of
test pilot school, Husband served as a test pilot
flying the F-4 and all five models of the F-15
Eagle. In the F-15 Combined Test Force, Husband
was the program manager for the Pratt & Whitney
F100-PW-229 increased performance engine, and also
served as the F-15 Aerial Demonstration Pilot.

In June 1992, Husband was assigned to the Aircraft
and Armament Evaluation Establishment at Boscombe
Down, England, as an exchange test pilot with the
Royal Air Force. At Boscombe Down, Husband was the
Tornado GR1 and GR4 Project Pilot and served as a
test pilot in the Hawk, Hunter, Buccaneer, Jet
Provost, Tucano, and Harvard. He has logged over
3800 hours of flight time in more than 40
different types of aircraft.  

==NASA career==
Husband was selected as an astronaut candidate by
NASA in December 1994. He reported to the Johnson
Space Center in March 1995 to begin a year of
training and evaluation. Upon completion of
training, Husband was named the Astronaut Office
representative for Advanced Projects at Johnson
Space Center, working on Space Shuttle Upgrades,
the Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) and studies to
return to the Moon and travel to Mars
(planet)|Mars. Most recently, he served as Chief
of Safety for the Astronaut Office. He flew as
pilot on STS-96 in 1999, and logged 235 hours and
13 minutes in outer space|space. Husband was later
assigned to command the crew of STS-107 which was
launched early in 2003.  

After his death, Asteroid 51823 Rickhusband was
named for him, as well as Husband Hill in the
Columbia Hills on Mars, and Rick Husband Amarillo
International Airport in his hometown of Amarillo,
Texas.

==Shuttle missions== 
*STS-96 (May 27 to June 6, 1999) aboard the Space
Shuttle Discovery|Space Shuttle Discovery was a
10-day mission during which the crew performed the
first docking with the International Space Station
and delivered 4 tons of logistics and supplies in
preparation for the arrival of the first crew to
live on the station early next year. The mission
was accomplished in 153 Earth orbits, traveling 4
million miles in 9 days, 19 hours and 13 minutes. 

*STS-107 (January 16 to February 1, 2003) aboard
the Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle Columbia
was a 16 day mission during which the crew
performed over 80 experiments testing applications
of microgravity to gain insight into the
environment of space and improve life on Earth as
well as enable future space exploration. The
mission ended in tragedy on the morning of
February 1 when the shuttle disintegrated upon
reentry killing all crew members (see Space
Shuttle Columbia disaster|Space Shuttle Columbia
disaster). 

==Quotes==
Husband describes how he became a shuttle
commander having flown in only one other outer
space|space flight:

*"I think a lot of it has to do with being in the
right place at the right time."

==Related topics==
*space science

==Reference== 
*http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/husband.htm
l NASA - Astronaut bio: R. D. Husband
*
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-1
07/memorial/husband.html Rick Husband STS-107 Crew
Memorial