Scott Altman, retired captain of the United States Navy, will deliver a lecture entitled, “Reaching for the Stars—Servicing Hubble to Enable Exploration,” on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. The lecture will take place in room 101A of the National Research Center for Coal and Energy on West Virginia University’s Evansdale campus.

Altman reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995 as an astronaut candidate. He was the pilot on STS-90 (1998) and STS-106 (2000), and the mission commander on STS-109 (2002) and STS-125 (2009). Following two years as Shuttle Branch Chief for the Astronaut Office and lead for the cockpit avionics upgrade, Altman was assigned on temporary duty to NASA Headquarters as deputy director, Requirements Division of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in 2005.

On returning to Houston from headquarters and again after STS-125, he served as the chief of the Exploration Branch of the Astronaut Office. A veteran of four space flights, Altman has logged more than 51 days in space.

Altman’s early career included work as a Navy test pilot on various F-14 projects. He was awarded the Navy Air Medal for his role as a strike leader flying over Southern Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch.

Altman retired from NASA in 2010 to join ASRC Research and Technology Solutions in Greenbelt, MD, as vice president for strategic planning. He is responsible for developing and implementing new business strategies to provide engineering services and support to the Navy, NASA and the FAA.

-WVU-

02/09/12

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CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon
304-293-4086; mary.dillon@mail.wvu.edu