Editing Rick Husband

{{short description|American astronaut (1957–2003)}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Rick Husband
|image         = Richard Husband, NASA photo portrait in orange suit.jpg
|caption       = January 1999 portrait
|birth_name    = Rick Douglas Husband
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1957|7|12}}
|birth_place   = [[Amarillo, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date    = {{death date and age|2003|2|1|1957|7|12}}
|death_place   = Over [[Texas]], U.S.
|death_cause   = [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]]
|education     = [[Texas Tech University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[California State University, Fresno]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
|awards        = {{ubl|[[Congressional Space Medal of Honor]]|[[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]}}
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|time          = 25d 17h 33m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 15|NASA Group 15 (1994)]]
|mission       = [[STS-96]]<br>[[STS-107]]
|insignia      = [[File:Sts-96-patch.png|50px]] [[File:STS-107 Flight Insignia.svg|40px]]
|}}
'''Richard Douglas Husband''' (July 12, 1957&nbsp;– February 1, 2003) was an American [[astronaut]] and [[fighter pilot]]. He traveled into space twice: as pilot of [[STS-96]] and commander of [[STS-107]]. Husband and the rest of the crew of STS-107 were killed when ''Columbia'' [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|disintegrated during reentry]] into the [[Earth's atmosphere]]. He is also a recipient of the [[Congressional Space Medal of Honor]].

==Early life, education and training==
Husband was born on July 12, 1957, in [[Amarillo, Texas]].<ref name="NASA Bio">{{cite web |author1=Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center |author1-link=Johnson Space Center |title=Rick Douglas Husband |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/husband_rick.pdf |website=Biographical Data |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506093414/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/husband_rick.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2021 |location=[[Houston, Texas]] |date=May 2004 |url-status=live}}</ref> When he was 17, Husband earned his pilot's license while flying out of [[Tradewind Airport]]. He graduated with honors from [[Amarillo High School]] in 1975.

Husband earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[mechanical engineering]] from [[Texas Tech University]] in 1980 after five years of study. He earned his [[Master of Science]] degree from [[Fresno State University]]. Upon graduation, Husband was commissioned as a pilot in the [[United States Air Force]], having been enrolled in [[ROTC]] his last two years of college. Husband underwent pilot training at [[Vance Air Force Base]], in [[Enid, Oklahoma]]. This was followed by Land Survival School at [[Fairchild Air Force Base]], in [[Spokane, Washington]], and [[Trainer aircraft#Lead-in fighter training|Fighter Lead-in School]] in New Mexico. After he got married on February 27, 1982, Husband trained in the [[F-4]] at [[Homestead Air Force Base]] next.<ref name=Rick>{{cite book |last1=Husband |first1=Evelyn |title=High Calling |date=2003 |publisher=Guideposts |location=Carmel |isbn=9780785261957 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/highcalling00evel/page/12 12, 17, 20, 25, 27,29] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/highcalling00evel/page/12 }}</ref>

==U.S. Air Force career==
Husband was assigned to a squadron at [[Moody Air Force Base]] in [[Valdosta, Georgia]], flying the F-4E. He then transferred to [[George AFB]], in [[Victorville, California]] in December 1985, where Husband became an F-4 instructor. By then, he had accumulated 1000 hours of flying time.<ref name=Rick/>{{rp|30,32}}

In December 1987, Husband was assigned to [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in [[California]], where he attended the [[USAF Test Pilot School]] class 88A along with future [[Canadian Space Agency]] astronaut [[Chris Hadfield]]. 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, he was the program manager for the [[Pratt & Whitney]] [[Pratt & Whitney F100#F100-PW-229|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, he was the Tornado GR1 and GR4 Project Pilot and served as a test pilot in the Hawk, Hunter, Buccaneer, Jet Provost, Tucano, and Harvard.

Husband logged over 3,800 hours of flight time in more than 40 different types of [[aircraft]].<ref name="NASA Bio" />

==NASA career==
Husband was selected as an astronaut candidate by [[NASA]] in December 1994, the same week he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.<ref name=Rick/>{{rp|67}} Husband reported to the [[Johnson Space Center]] in March 1995 to begin a year of training and evaluation. Upon completion of training, he 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]]. Husband eventually 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. Along with the rest of the STS-107 crew, Husband was killed upon reentry when the shuttle disintegrated over Texas.

==Shuttle missions==
[[File:STS-96 Rick Husband and Tamara Jernigan.jpg|thumb|Pilot (PLT) Rick D. Husband (left) and EVA Specialist [[Tamara E. Jernigan]] (right) during STS-96]]
*[[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 four tons of logistics and supplies in preparation for the arrival of the [[Expedition 1|first crew]] to live on the station early the following year. The mission was accomplished in 153 Earth orbits, traveling 4 million miles in 9 days, 19 hours and 13 minutes.
[[File:Commander (CDR) Rick D. Husband (left) and Payload Specialist (PS) Ilan Ramon (right) during STS-107.jpg|thumb|Commander (CDR) Rick D. Husband (left) and Payload Specialist (PS) Ilan Ramon (right) during STS-107]]
*[[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 on the morning of February 1 when the shuttle disintegrated upon reentry killing all crew members, including Husband (see [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' disaster]]).
==Awards and decorations==
{|
|[[File:COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png|120px]]
|[[United States Aviator Badge|US Air Force Command Astronaut Badge]]
|}
{|
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] ([[Posthumous award|posthumous]])
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -42px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -30px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span>
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] with two bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]s
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Aerial Achievement Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Air Force Commendation Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Congressional Space Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Congressional Space Medal of Honor]] (posthumous)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=NasaDisRib.svg|width=60}}
|[[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]] (posthumous)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=SpaceFltRib.svg|width=60}}
|[[NASA Space Flight Medal]] (posthumous)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -42px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -30px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span>
|[[Air Force Longevity Service Award]] with two oak leaf clusters
|-
|[[File:Air Force Training Ribbon.svg|60px]]
|[[Air Force Training Ribbon]]
|}
Two NASA Group Achievement Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://space.about.com/cs/columbialosses/a/husband.htm |title=Husband bio |access-date=2012-02-21 |archive-date=2016-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315091407/http://space.about.com/cs/columbialosses/a/husband.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="NASA Bio" />

==Tributes==
* Husband Hall, in the Columbia Village apartments, at the [[Florida Institute of Technology]].
* Husband Mission, one of the projects in the educational SpaceLab Program,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ramonfoundation.org.il/space-lab-project |title=Space lab – The Ramon Foundation |website=ramonfoundation.org.il |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811065240/http://ramonfoundation.org.il/space-lab-project/ |archive-date=2016-08-11}} </ref> run by the Ramon Foundation in memory of [[Ilan Ramon]]. Involves the writing of new Wikipedia entries on a variety of space and [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|STEM]] related topics.
* [[Husband Hill]], one of the [[Columbia Hills (Mars)|Columbia Hills]] on [[Mars]].
* Asteroid [[51823 Rickhusband]].
* [[Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport]], in his hometown of Amarillo, Texas.
* Husband Auditorium, [[Squadron Officer School]] building, [[Maxwell AFB]], [[Alabama]].
* Rick Husband Boulevard [[Howardwick,  Texas]].
* Rick Husband Drive, [[El Paso, Texas]].
* Husband-Boeing Engineering Honors Program at [[California State University, Fresno]]
* S.S. ''Rick Husband'', the [[Cygnus CRS OA-6]] uncrewed resupply spacecraft.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/ula-atlas-v-401-ready-launch-s-s-rick-husband-iss/ |title= ULA ATLAS V READY TO LAUNCH HEAVIEST PAYLOAD TO DATE WITH 'S.S. RICK HUSBAND' |author= Jason Rhian |date= 21 March 2016 |publisher= Spaceflight Insider }}</ref>
* The lunar crater Husband is named after Husband.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14140?__fsk=-791422628 | publisher = [[IAU]] | title = Lunar crater Husband | access-date = 16 June 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Rick_Husband_statue_Amarillo_International.jpg|thumb|Statue of Rick Husband at Amarillo International Airport]]

==Personal life==
[[File:Rick Husband's Camaro on display at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.jpg|thumb|Husband's Camaro on display at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport]]
Husband's wife, Evelyn (born September 18, 1958), details her [[Christianity|Christian]] life with Rick and his struggles to fulfill his lifelong dream to become an astronaut in the 2004 book ''High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband'' co-written with Donna VanLiere. The Husbands have two children: a daughter, Laura Marie (born October 5, 1990), and a son, Matthew (born August 3, 1995). Evelyn married Bill Thompson in January 2008 and was the keynote speaker for the memorial ceremony at the Astronaut Memorial "Space Mirror" at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] in [[Florida]], five years after the Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' tragedy.<ref>''Florida Today'', February 1, 2008</ref>

== In popular culture ==
*American actor Brian David portrayed Rick Husband in the American TV series ''[[Seconds from Disaster]]'' [[List of Seconds from Disaster episodes#Season 2 (2005-2006)|Season 2: Episode 1 (2005)]] called "Space Shuttle Columbia".

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Spaceflight}}
*[[Space science]]
{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|3534747}}
{{commons category|Richard Douglas Husband |Rick Husband}}
*{{cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/ASTRON%7E2.HTM|title=RICK DOUGLAS HUSBAND (COLONEL, USAF)|work=[[NASA]]|date=February 2003|access-date=2019-05-07}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041106132925/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-107/memorial/husband.html Rick Husband STS-107 Crew Memorial]
*[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/husband_rick.htm Spacefacts biography of Rick Husband]
*[http://www.floridatoday.com/columbia/columbiastory2N1029TECH.htm Florida Today – Florida Tech dedicates dorms to Columbia 7 – October 29, 2003]
* ''High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband'' by Evelyn Husband and Donna VanLiere (Jan 11, 2004)
* {{Find a Grave|7135753}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080515214721/http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2007/02/husbandboeing.htm Husband-Boeing Engineering Honors Program at California State University]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090107084512/http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2008/10/husbandboeingscholars.htm Inaugural Husband-Boeing Engineering Honors Scholars]
{{Congressional Space Medal of Honor}}
{{STS-107}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 15}}
{{US Air Force navbox}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Husband, Rick Douglas}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Texas]]
[[Category:Amarillo High School alumni]]
[[Category:American flight instructors]]
[[Category:Aviators from Texas]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States]]
[[Category:California State University, Fresno alumni]]
[[Category:Christians from Texas]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Texas]]
[[Category:People from Amarillo, Texas]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Texas Tech University alumni|Husband, Rick D.]]
[[Category:United States Air Force astronauts]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Air Force colonels]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Gulf War]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]