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Covey, Richard Oswalt

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Covey Credit: www.spacefacts.de

Status: Inactive; Active 1978-1994. Born: 1946-08-01. Spaceflights: 4 . Total time in space: 26.88 days. Birth Place: Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Official NASA Biography as of June 2016:Richard O. Covey (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)
NASA Astronaut (former)

PERSONAL DATA: Born August 1, 1946, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, but considers Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to be his hometown. Married to the former Kathleen Allbaugh of Emmettsburg, Iowa. They have two grown daughters. Recreational interests include golf, water sports, photography, skiing, and volleyball.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Choctawhatchee High School, Shalimar, Florida, in 1964; received a bachelor of science in engineering sciences with a major in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1968, and a master of science in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in 1969.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Air Force Association, the Order of Daedalians, the USAF Academy Association of Graduates, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and the Association of Space Explorers.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Department of Defense Superior Service Medal, 5 Air Force Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16 Air Medals, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 4 NASA Space Flight Medals, the Johnson Space Center Certificate of Commendation, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Haley Space Flight Award for 1988, and the American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award for 1988. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, received the Liethen-Tittle Award as the Outstanding Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School Class 74B, and is a Distinguished Astronaut Engineering Alumnus of Purdue University.

EXPERIENCE: Between 1970 and 1974, Covey was an operational fighter pilot, flying the F-100, A-37, and A-7D. He flew 339 combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia. At Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, between 1975 and 1978, he was an F-4 and A-7D weapons system test pilot and joint test force director for electronic warfare testing of the F-15 Eagle. He has flown over 5,700 hours in more than 30 different types of aircraft.

Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, Covey became an astronaut in August 1979. A veteran of four space flights, STS 51-I in 1985, STS-26 in 1988, STS-38 in 1990, and STS-61 in 1993, Covey has logged over 646 hours in space.

Prior to the first flight of the Space Shuttle, he provided astronaut support in Orbiter engineering development and testing. He was a T-38 chase pilot for the second and third Shuttle flights and support crewman for the first operational Shuttle flight, STS-5. Covey also served as Mission Control spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) for Shuttle Missions STS-5, 6, 61-B, 61-C, and 51-L. During 1989, he was Chairman of NASA’s Space Flight Safety Panel. He has held additional technical assignments within the Astronaut Office, and has also served as Acting Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office, and Acting Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations.

Effective August 1, 1994, Covey retired from NASA and the Air Force.

Effective September 28, 2007 Covey was selected as President and Chief Executive Officer for United Space Alliance (USA). He previously served as USAs Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He joined USA in February 2006 after serving as President of Boeing Service Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing system engineering, facility/system maintenance and operations, spacecraft operations support, and logistics support to Department of Defense, other U.S. government, and commercial businesses at over 20 locations worldwide. Before moving to Boeing Service Company, he was vice president of Boeing Houston Operations responsible for business development, program management and support for Boeing programs in Houston. Covey joined The Boeing Company as division director for McDonnell Douglas Houston Operations in 1996.

From 2003 to 2005, Covey also provided critical leadership during the exhaustive independent assessment of NASA’s actions in response to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations as co-chairman of the Return-to-Flight Task Group.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: On his first mission, Covey was the pilot on the five-man crew of STS 51-I, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 27, 1985. During this seven-day mission, crew members deployed three communications satellites: the Navy SYNCOM IV-4, the Australian AUSSAT, and American Satellite Company’s ASC-1. The crew also performed the successful on-orbit rendezvous and repair of the ailing 15,000-pound SYNCOM IV-3 satellite. This repair activity involved the first manual grapple and manual deployment of a satellite by a spacewalking crew member. Mission duration was 170 hours. Space Shuttle Discovery completed 112 orbits of the Earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on September 3, 1985.

He next served as pilot on STS-26, the first flight to be flown after the Challenger accident. The five-man crew launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on September 29, 1988, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Mission duration was 97 hours during which crew members successfully deployed the TDRS-C satellite and operated eleven secondary payloads which included two student experiments. Discovery completed 64 orbits of the Earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on October 3, 1988.

On STS-38 Covey was the spacecraft commander of a five-man crew which launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 15, 1990. During the five-day mission crew members conducted Department of Defense operations. After 80 orbits of the Earth in 117 hours, Covey piloted the Space Shuttle Atlantis to a landing on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center on November 20, 1990. This was the first Shuttle recovery in Florida since 1985.

On his fourth flight, Covey commanded a crew of seven aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-61 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing and repair mission. STS-61 launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on December 2, 1993. During the 11-day flight, the HST was captured and restored to full capacity through a record five space walks by four astronauts. After having traveled 4,433,772 miles in 163 orbits of the Earth, Covey landed the Endeavour at night on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center on December 13, 1993.

OCTOBER 2007

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.

NAME: Richard O. Covey (Colonel, USAF)

NASA Astronaut

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born August 1, 1946, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, but considers Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to be his hometown. His parents, Lt. Col. and Mrs. Charles D. Covey, USAF, are deceased.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Brown hair; gray eyes; 5 feet 11-1/2 inches; 155 pounds.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Choctawhatchee High School, Shalimar, Florida, in 1964; received a bachelor of science degree in engineering sciences with a major in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1968, and a master of science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in 1969.

MARITAL STATUS: Married to the former Kathleen Allbaugh of Emmettsburg, Iowa. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene B. Allbaugh, are residents of San Jose, California.

CHILDREN: Sarah Suzanne, February 5, 1974; Amy Kathleen, May 18, 1976.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: He enjoys golf, water sports, photography, skiing, and volleyball.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Air Force Association, the Order of Daedalians, the USAF Academy Association of Graduates, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and the Association of Space Explorers.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Department of Defense Superior Service Medal, 5 Air Force Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16 Air Medals, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 3 NASA Space Flight Medals, the Johnson Space Center Certificate of Commendation, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Haley Space Flight Award for 1988, and the American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award for 1988. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, received the Liethen-Tittle Award as the Outstanding Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School Class 74B, and is a Distinguished Astronaut Engineering Alumnus of Purdue University.

EXPERIENCE: Between 1970 and 1974, Covey was an operational fighter pilot, flying the F-100, A37, and A-7D. He flew 339 combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia. At Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, between 1975 and 1978, he was an F-4 and A-7D weapons systems test pilot and joint test force director for electronic warfare testing of the F-15 Eagle. He has flown over 5,000 hours in more than 30 different types of aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, Covey became an astronaut in August 1979. He has flown three space flights -- STS 51-I in 1985, STS-26 IN 1988, and STS-38 in 1990.

Prior to the first flight of the Space Shuttle, he provided astronaut support in Orbiter engineering development and testing. He was a T-38 chase pilot for the second and third Shuttle flights and support crewman for the first operational Shuttle flight, STS-5. Covey also served as Mission Control spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) for Shuttle missions STS-5, 6, 61-B, 61-C, and 51-L. During 1989, he was Chairman of NASA's Space Flight Safety Panel.

On his first mission, Covey was the pilot of STS-51I, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 27, 1985. During this seven day mission, crew members deployed three communications satellites, the Navy SYNCOM IV-4, the Australian AUSSAT, and American Satellite Company's ASC-1. The crew also performed the successful on-orbit rendezvous and repair of the ailing 15,000-pound SYNCOM IV-3 satellite. This repair activity involved the first manual grapple and manual deployment of a satellite by a crew member. Mission duration was 170 hours. Space Shuttle Discovery completed 112 orbits of the Earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on September 3, 1985.

He then served as pilot on STS-26, the first flight to be flown after the Challenger accident. The five man crew launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on September 29, 1988 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Mission duration was 97 hours during which crew members successfully deployed the TDRS-C satellite and operated eleven secondary payloads, which included two student experiments. Discovery completed 64 orbits of the earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on October 3, 1988.

More recently, Covey was the spacecraft commander on STS-38. The five man crew launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 15, 1990. During the five day mission crew members conducted Department of Defense operations. After 80 orbits of the earth, Covey piloted the Space Shuttle Atlantis to a landing on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center on November 20, 1990. This was the first Shuttle recovery in Florida since 1985. With the completion of his third space flight, he has logged over 385 hours in space.

While awaiting assignment to a subsequent space flight, Colonel has served in a variety of management positions within the Astronaut Office and Flight Crew Operations Directorate. He is currently the Acting Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations and shares management responsibility for the Astronaut Office, Aircraft Operations Division, and supporting offices.

FEBRUARY 1992

• Birth of Richard Oswalt 'Dick' Covey - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey.

  American test pilot astronaut 1978-1994. Grew up in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, son of an Air Force officer. Flew 339 combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia 4 spaceflights, 26.9 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-51I (1985), STS-26, STS-38, STS-61.

• NASA Astronaut Training Group 8 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bluford, Brandenstein, Buchli, Coats, Covey, Creighton, Fabian, Fisher, Gardner, Gibson, Gregory, Griggs, Hart, Hauck, Hawley, Hoffman, Lucid, McBride, McNair, Mullane, Nagel, Nelson, Onizuka, Resnik, Ride, Scobee, Seddon, Shaw, Shriver, Stewart, Sullivan.

  The group was selected to provide pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights. Recruit women and minorities to introduce diversity into the astronaut corps. Qualifications: Pilots: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Advanced degree desirable. At least 1,000 flight-hours of pilot-in-command time. Flight test experience desirable. Excellent health. Vision minimum 20/50 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 vision; maximum sitting blood pressure 140/90. Height between 163 and 193 cm.

  Mission Specialists: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics and minimum three years of related experience or an advanced degree. Vision minimum 20/150 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. Maximum sitting blood pressure of 140/90. Height between 150 and 193 cm.. 8,079 applicants, of which half met the basic qualifications. 208 invited for physical tests and interviews. Of the 35 selected, six were women, three were male African-Americans, and one was a male Asian-American.

• STS-51-I - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Covey, Engle, Fisher, William, Lounge, van Hoften. Payload: Discovery F06 / Syncom-4 4 [Orbus-7S] / Aussat A1. Mass: 19,952 kg (43,986 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Engle, Fisher, William, Lounge, van Hoften. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-I. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 7.10 days. Decay Date: 1985-09-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 15992 . COSPAR: 1985-076A. Apogee: 364 km (226 mi). Perigee: 351 km (218 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.70 min.

  Manned five crew. Launched Aussat 1, ASC 1, Leasat 4; repaired Leasat 3. Payloads: Deploy ASC (American Satellite Company)-1 with Payload Assist Modue (PAM)-D. Deploy AUSSAT (Australian communications satellite)-1 with PAM-D. Deploy Syncom IV-4 communications satellite with its unique stage. Retrieve Leasat-3 communications satellite, repair and deploy by extravehicular activity (EVA) astronauts. Physical Vapor Transport Organic Solids (PVTOS) experiment.

• Landing of STS-51-I - . Return Crew: Covey, Engle, Fisher, William, Lounge, van Hoften. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Engle, Fisher, William, Lounge, van Hoften. Program: STS. Flight: STS-51-I. STS-51-I landed at 13:34 GMT. .

• STS-26 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Covey, Hauck, Hilmers, Lounge, Nelson. Payload: Discovery F07 / PDP. Mass: 21,082 kg (46,477 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Hauck, Hilmers, Lounge, Nelson. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-26. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 4.04 days. Decay Date: 1988-10-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 19547 . COSPAR: 1988-091A. Apogee: 306 km (190 mi). Perigee: 301 km (187 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 90.60 min.

  Manned five crew. First shuttle reflight after Challenger disaster. Deployed TDRS 3. Payloads: Deploy IUS (lnertial Upper Stage) with Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-C. 3M's Physical Vapor Transport Organics Solids 2 experiment (PVTOS), Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (ADSF), Infrared Communi-cations Flight Experiment (lRCFE), Protein Crystal Growth Il (PCG), Isoelectric Focusing (ISF)-2, Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE), Aggrega-tion of Red Blood Cells (ARC)-2, Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE)-1, Earth Limb Radiance (ELRAD), Orbiter Experiments (OEX), Autonomous Supporting Instrumentation System (OASlS)-I, two Shuttle Student Involvement Project (SSIP) experiments.

• Landing of STS-26 - . Return Crew: Covey, Hauck, Hilmers, Lounge, Nelson. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Hauck, Hilmers, Lounge, Nelson. Program: STS. Flight: STS-26. STS-26 landed at 16:50 GMT. .

• STS-38 - . Call Sign: Atlantis. Crew: Covey, Culbertson, Gemar, Meade, Springer. Payload: Atlantis F07 / DoD. Mass: 115,900 kg (255,500 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Culbertson, Gemar, Meade, Springer. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-38. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Duration: 4.91 days. Decay Date: 1990-11-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 20935 . COSPAR: 1990-097A. Apogee: 226 km (140 mi). Perigee: 78 km (48 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 87.50 min. Manned five crew. Deployed a classified payload. Orbits of Earth: 79. Payloads: DoD Mission..

• Landing of STS-38 - . Return Crew: Covey, Culbertson, Gemar, Meade, Springer. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Culbertson, Gemar, Meade, Springer. Program: STS. Flight: STS-38. STS-38 landed at 21:40 GMT. Landed at: Runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Landing Speed: 359 kph. Touchdown miss distance: 430.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,712.00 m..

• STS-61 - . Call Sign: Endeavour. Crew: Akers, Bowersox, Covey, Hoffman, Musgrave, Nicollier, Thornton. Payload: Endeavour F05 / FSS. Mass: 8,011 kg (17,661 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Akers, Bowersox, Covey, Hoffman, Musgrave, Nicollier, Thornton. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-61. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Endeavour. Duration: 10.83 days. Decay Date: 1993-12-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 22917 . COSPAR: 1993-075A. Apogee: 576 km (357 mi). Perigee: 291 km (180 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 93.30 min.

  Manned seven crew. Hubble repair mission. Conducted the most EVAs (5) on a Space Shuttle Flight to that date. Payloads: Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Servicing Mission (SM) 1, IMAX Camera, IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS).

• Landing of STS-61 - . Return Crew: Akers, Bowersox, Covey, Hoffman, Musgrave, Nicollier, Thornton. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Akers, Bowersox, Covey, Hoffman, Musgrave, Nicollier, Thornton. Flight: STS-61. STS-61 landed at 05:25 GMT. .