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Meade, Carl Joseph

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Meade Credit: www.spacefacts.de

Status: Inactive; Active 1985-1996. Born: 1950-11-16. Spaceflights: 3 . Total time in space: 29.68 days. Birth Place: Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois.

Educated Texas; Caltech; Edwards. USAF test pilot.

Official NASA Biography as of June 2016:Carl J. Meade (Colonel, USAF)
NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: Born November 16, 1950, at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. Single. One son. He enjoys woodworking, home-built aircraft construction, racquetball, jogging, and snow skiing. His father, Mr. John Meade, resides in Universal City, Texas. His mother, Mrs. Esther J. Meade, is deceased.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Randolph High School, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in 1968; received a bachelor of science degree (with honors) in electronics engineering from the University of Texas in 1973, and a master of science degree in electronics engineering from California Institute of Technology in 1975.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa Phi, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and is a registered professional engineer.

SPECIAL HONORS: Hughes Fellow, California Institute of Technology. Distinguished graduate of both USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training and USAF Test Pilot School. Recipient of the Liethen-Tittle Award as the Outstanding Test Pilot of USAF Test Pilot School Class 80B. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Intelligence Medal. National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, 2 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, NASA Group Achievement Award, NASA Space Flight Medal, and NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

EXPERIENCE: Prior to entering active duty in the United States Air Force, Meade was a Hughes Fellow at the California Institute of Technology and an electronics design engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City, California. He entered the U.S. Air Force at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, where he was a distinguished graduate of undergraduate pilot training. In 1977, Meade was assigned to the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he flew the RF-4C. He was then selected as a member of the USAF Test Pilot School Class 80B. Upon graduation he received the Liethen-Tittle Award as the Outstanding Test Pilot and was assigned to the 6510th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. While there, Meade was involved with research development test and evaluation of the F-5E, RF-5E and F-20 aircraft and the ground-launched and air-launched cruise missiles. He also performed high speed taxi, braking, tailhook, takeoff, landing, flying qualities, performance and weapon systems tests in the F-4E aircraft. Meade was then assigned to the F-16 Combined Test Force where he flew performance, loads and flutter, flying qualities, and weapon systems tests in both the F-16A and F-16C aircraft. In 1985, he was reassigned to the USAF Test Pilot School as a test pilot instructor in the F-4, A-7, A-37, and various gliders, teaching performance, stability/control, departure/spins, and radar flight test techniques. He was also the departure/spin lead instructor and avionics systems test training aircraft program manager.

He has logged over 4,800 hours of jet time in 27 different aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE:Selected by NASA in June 1985, Meade became an astronaut in July 1986. He has held a variety of technical assignments including verification testing of flight software in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), crew escape flight tests, Orbiter ground egress tests and launch support duties, both at the Kennedy Space Center and at the Vandenberg Launch Site. Prior to STS-38 and after STS-50, Meade was the Astronaut Office representative to the Solid Rocket Booster Program and the Space Shuttle Main Engine Program at the Marshall Space Flight Center. He also served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control and the lead astronaut for Rendezvous and Docking Operations during the two years following STS-50.

A veteran of three space flights, Meade has logged over 712 hours in space. He served as a mission specialist on STS-38 in 1990, STS-50 in 1992, and STS-64 in 1994.

STS-38 launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 15, 1990. Meade conducted Department of Defense operations during this five-day flight which concluded after 80 orbits of the Earth in 117 hours, 54 minutes, 28 seconds. In the first Shuttle recovery in Florida since 1985, Space Shuttle Atlantis and her five-man crew landed back at the Kennedy Space Center on November 20, 1990.

STS-50, carrying the first United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML), launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on June 25, 1992. USML is a series of Spacelab flights dedicated to basic scientific research in the fields of fluid physics, combustion science, solid state physics, and biotechnology. This flight was also the first to utilize the Extended Duration Orbiter capabilities of the newly modified Orbiter Columbia. Mission duration was 331 hours, 30 minutes, 4 seconds. After 221 orbits of the Earth, the crew of Columbia landed at the Kennedy Space Center on July 9, 1992, thus ending the longest flight in the history of the Space Shuttle Program.

Most recently, Meade flew on STS-64 (September 9-20, 1994) aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission highlight occurred when Meade performed the first untethered spacewalk in 10 years. The objective was to flight test a self-rescue jetpack. Meade logged 6.9 hours outside Discovery and 3.6 hours piloting the jetpack. Other activities included the first use of lasers for environmental research, deployment and retrieval of a solar science satellite, and the performance of plume characterization studies of the reaction control thruster exhaust. Mission duration was 10 days, 22 hours, 51 minutes.

Meade has served as the Deputy Division Chief of the Crew and Thermal Systems Division and as the Chief of the Flight Support Branch of the Astronaut Office. In March 1996, Meade left NASA and the military to join the Lockheed Skunk Works as the Deputy Project Manager for the X-33 vehicle.

MARCH 1996

NAME: Carl J. Meade (Colonel, USAF)

NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA:

Born November 16, 1950, at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. Single. One son. He enjoys woodworking, home-built aircraft construction, racquetball, jogging, and snow skiing. His father, Mr. John Meade, resides in Universal City, Texas. His mother, Mrs. Esther J. Meade, is deceased.

EDUCATION:

Graduated from Randolph High School, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in 1968; received a bachelor of science degree (with honors) in electronics engineering from the University of Texas in 1973, and a master of science degree in electronics engineering from California Institute of Technology in 1975.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa Phi, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and is a registered professional engineer.

SPECIAL HONORS:

Hughes Fellow, California Institute of Technology. Distinguished graduate of both USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training and USAF Test Pilot School. Recipient of the Liethen-Tittle Award as the Outstanding Test Pilot of USAF Test Pilot School Class 80B. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Intelligence Medal. National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, 2 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, NASA Group Achievement Award, NASA Space Flight Medal, and NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

EXPERIENCE:

Prior to entering active duty in the United States Air Force, Meade was a Hughes Fellow at the California Institute of Technology and an electronics design engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City, California. He entered the U.S. Air Force at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, where he was a distinguished graduate of undergraduate pilot training. In 1977, Meade was assigned to the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he flew the RF-4C. He was then selected as a member of the USAF Test Pilot School Class 80B. Upon graduation he received the Liethen-Tittle Award as the Outstanding Test Pilot and was assigned to the 6510th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. While there, Meade was involved with research development test and evaluation of the F-5E, RF-5E and F-20 aircraft and the ground-launched and air-launched cruise missiles. He also performed high speed taxi, braking, tailhook, takeoff, landing, flying qualities, performance and weapon systems tests in the F-4E aircraft. Meade was then assigned to the F-16 Combined Test Force where he flew performance, loads and flutter, flying qualities, and weapon systems tests in both the F-16A and F-16C aircraft. In 1985, he was reassigned to the USAF Test Pilot School as a test pilot instructor in the F-4, A-7, A-37, and various gliders, teaching performance, stability/control, departure/spins, and radar flight test techniques. He was also the departure/spin lead instructor and avionics systems test training aircraft program manager.

He has logged over 4,800 hours of jet time in 27 different aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

Selected by NASA in June 1985, Meade became an astronaut in July 1986. He has held a variety of technical assignments including verification testing of flight software in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), crew escape flight tests, Orbiter ground egress tests and launch support duties, both at the Kennedy Space Center and at the Vandenberg Launch Site. Prior to STS-38 and after STS-50, Meade was the Astronaut Office representative to the Solid Rocket Booster Program and the Space Shuttle Main Engine Program at the Marshall Space Flight Center. He also served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control and the lead astronaut for Rendezvous and Docking Operations during the two years following STS-50.

A veteran of three space flights, Meade has logged over 712 hours in space. He served as a mission specialist on STS-38 in 1990, STS-50 in 1992, and STS-64 in 1994.

STS-38 launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 15, 1990. Meade conducted Department of Defense operations during this five-day flight which concluded after 80 orbits of the Earth in 117 hours, 54 minutes, 28 seconds. In the first Shuttle recovery in Florida since 1985, Space Shuttle Atlantis and her five-man crew landed back at the Kennedy Space Center on November 20, 1990.

STS-50, carrying the first United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML), launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on June 25, 1992. USML is a series of Spacelab flights dedicated to basic scientific research in the fields of fluid physics, combustion science, solid state physics, and biotechnology. This flight was also the first to utilize the Extended Duration Orbiter capabilities of the newly modified Orbiter Columbia. Mission duration was 331 hours, 30 minutes, 4 seconds. After 221 orbits of the Earth, the crew of Columbia landed at the Kennedy Space Center on July 9, 1992, thus ending the longest flight in the history of the Space Shuttle Program.

Most recently, Meade flew on STS-64 (September 9-20, 1994) aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission highlight occurred when Meade performed the first untethered spacewalk in 10 years. The objective was to flight test a self-rescue jetpack. Meade logged 6.9 hours outside Discovery and 3.6 hours piloting the jetpack. Other activities included the first use of lasers for environmental research, deployment and retrieval of a solar science satellite, and the performance of plume characterization studies of the reaction control thruster exhaust. Mission duration was 10 days, 22 hours, 51 minutes.

Meade has served as the Deputy Division Chief of the Crew and Thermal Systems Division and as the Chief of the Flight Support Branch of the Astronaut Office. In March 1996, Meade left NASA and the military to join the Lockheed Skunk Works as the Deputy Project Manager for the X-33 vehicle.

• Birth of Carl Joseph Meade - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Meade. American test pilot mission specialist astronaut 1985-1996. 3 spaceflights, 29.7 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-38 (1990), STS-50, STS-64..

• NASA Astronaut Training Group 11 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Apt, Baker, Mike, Cabana, Duffy, Gemar, Godwin, Henricks, Hieb, Jernigan, Meade, Oswald, Thorne, Thuot.

  The group was selected to provide pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights.. 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.. Thirteen astronauts, taken from 33 civilians and 133 military applicants for the 1984 selection. 59 of these were screened for the final selection.

• 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-50 - . Call Sign: Columbia. Crew: Baker, Bowersox, DeLucas, Dunbar, Meade, Richards, Trinh. Payload: Columbia F12 / USML-1 / OAST. Mass: 11,153 kg (24,588 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Baker, Bowersox, DeLucas, Dunbar, Meade, Richards, Trinh. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-50. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Columbia. Duration: 13.81 days. Decay Date: 1992-07-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 22000 . COSPAR: 1992-034A. Apogee: 309 km (192 mi). Perigee: 302 km (187 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 90.60 min.

  Carried United States Microgravity Laboratory. First extended-duration mission. Payloads: United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML)-1; Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE); Investigations Into Polymer Membrane Processing (IPMP), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX)-ll; Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPl) .

• Landing of STS-50 - . Return Crew: Baker, Bowersox, DeLucas, Dunbar, Meade, Richards, Trinh. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Baker, Bowersox, DeLucas, Dunbar, Meade, Richards, Trinh. Program: Spacelab. Flight: STS-50. STS-50 landed at 11:51 GMT. .

• STS-64 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Hammond, Helms, Lee, Linenger, Meade, Richards. Payload: Discovery F19 / Spartan / LITE. Mass: 9,260 kg (20,410 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Hammond, Helms, Lee, Linenger, Meade, Richards. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-64. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 10.95 days. Decay Date: 1994-09-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 23251 . COSPAR: 1994-059A. Apogee: 247 km (153 mi). Perigee: 233 km (144 mi). Inclination: 57.00 deg. Period: 89.30 min.

  Payloads: Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE), Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN) 201-II, Robot-Operated Materials Processing System (ROMPS), Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment (SPIFEX), getaway special (GAS) bridge assembly with ten GAS experiments, Trajectory Control Sensor (TCS), Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER), Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE), Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) III, Radiation Monitoring Experiment (RME) III, Military Applications of Ship Tracks (MAST), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) II, Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) Calibration Test.

• EVA STS-64-1 - . Crew: Lee, Meade. EVA Duration: 0.29 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Lee, Meade. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-64. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Tested SAFER emergency manoeuvring backpack..

• Landing of STS-64 - . Return Crew: Hammond, Helms, Lee, Linenger, Meade, Richards. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Hammond, Helms, Lee, Linenger, Meade, Richards. Program: STS. Flight: STS-64. STS-64 landed at 21:11 GMT. .