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Douglas Harry Wheelock American Mission Specialist Astronaut. Born 5 May 1960.

Personal: Male, Married, One child. Born in Binghamton, New York, USA. US Army US Army

Astronaut Career

Astronaut Group: NASA Group 17 - 1998. Active Entered space service: 4 June 1998. Number of Flights: 1.00. Total Time: 15.10 days. Number of EVAs: 3.00. Total EVA Time: 0.85 days.

NASA Official Biography

NAME: Douglas H. Wheelock (Major, USA)
NASA Astronaut Candidate (Mission Specialist)

PERSONAL DATA:
Born May 5, 1960 in Binghamton, New York and considers Windsor, New York to be his hometown. Married to the former Cathleen Hollen of Columbus, Georgia. They have one child. Recreational interests include coaching youth sports, baseball, hiking, flying, and collecting sports memorabilia. Doug's parents, Olin and Margaret Wheelock, reside in Windsor, New York. Cathy's parents, Jack and Judy Hollen reside in Enterprise, Alabama.

EDUCATION:
Graduated from Windsor Central High School, Windsor, New York, in 1978. Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science and Engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in 1983, and a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1992.

AWARDS:
Meritorious Service Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster); National Defense Service Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon; Airborne Wings; Air Assault Wings; Senior Aviator Wings.

SPECIAL HONORS:
Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Army Initial Entry Flight Training Course (1984); 25th Infantry Division Flight Safety Award (1986 and 1989); Military Nominee to the U.S. Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Men of America (1989); Veterans of Foreign Wars Outstanding Spokesman for Freedom (1990); Team Leader of the Georgia Tech Aerial Robotics Design Team (1992); Gamble Award for excellence in experimental flight testing and technical reporting (1995); NASA Group Achievement Award (Global Positioning System) (1997).

EXPERIENCE:
Wheelock received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army from West Point in May 1983. He entered the U.S. Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker, Alabama in 1984 and graduated at the top of his flight class and was designated as an Army Aviator in September 1984. Subsequently served as a combat aviation Section Leader, Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, and Air Cavalry Troop Commander in the Pacific Theater (Hawaii, Korea and the Philippines). Following a successful command, he was assigned to the Aviation Directorate of Combat Developments, Fort Rucker, Alabama, as a Research and Development Staff Engineer. He earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1992, having completed graduate studies and independent research in the areas of hypersonic and high temperature gas dynamics, flight stability and control, and automatic control and robotics. He was selected as a member of Class 104 at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and upon completion was assigned as an Experimental Test Pilot with the U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC). With ATTC, his flight testing was focused in the areas of tactical reconnaissance and surveillance systems in the OH-58D(I), RU-21H and C-23. His tour with ATTC culminated with his assignment as Division Chief for fixed wing testing of airborne signal and imagery intelligence systems in support of the National Program Office for Intelligence and Electronic Warfare. He is also a graduate of the Army Airborne and Air Assault Courses, the Aviation Advanced Course, the Material Acquisition Management Course, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

A dual rated Senior Army Aviator; he has logged over 2000 flight hours in 43 different rotary and fixed wing aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE:
Wheelock was assigned to NASA at the Johnson Space Center in August of 1996. His technical assignments with the Vehicle Integration Test Office (VITO) have included support engineer for Space Shuttle missions STS-81, STS-82, STS-94, STS-84 and STS-85 Terminal Count Demonstration Test (TCDT) and Launch Countdown (LCD) testing and vehicle preparation. He was selected as the VITO Lead Engineer for the joint U.S. Space Shuttle and Russian Space Station MIR mission STS-86, and Lead Engineer for International Space Station element-to-element hardware fit checks. Selected by NASA in June 1998, he reported for training in August 1998. Astronaut Candidate Training includes orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. Following a period of training and evaluation, Wheelock will receive technical assignments within the Astronaut Office before being assigned to a space flight.
APRIL 1999
Wheelock Spaceflight Log

  • 23 October 2007 Flight: STS-120. Flight Up: STS-120. Flight Back: STS-120. Flight Time: 15.10 days.
Wheelock Chronology

23 October 2007 - STS-120. Main mission objectives were delivery of the Harmony module to the station, and external work to move the P6 truss to its final location and put the ISS into its full-power configuration for the first time. Discovery docked with the ISS at the Destiny module at 12:40 GMT on 25 October. The cargo of 17,390 kg was as follows:

  • Orbiter Docking System - Bay 1-2 - 1800 kg
  • Spacesuit EMU 3004 - 130 kg
  • Spacesuit EMU 3003 - 130 kg
  • Station Power Distribution Unit SPDU - Bay 3P - 100 kg
  • Fixture for return of S-band Antenna - SASA FSE - Bay 3P - 4S - 100 kg
  • Power/Data Grapple Fixture for Node-2 - PDGF - Bay 5P - 50 kg
  • Main Bus Switching Unit - MBSU - Bay 6S - 238 kg
  • MBSU adapter - Bay 6S - 122 kg
  • Station Power Distribution Unit - SPDU - Bay 6S - 7P - 100 kg
  • Node-2 Harmony module - Bays 8-12 - 14,300 kg
  • OBSS 203 - Sill 450 kg
  • RMS 301 - Sill 410 kg
23 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #01. The Space Shuttle Discovery raced into space this morning with an on-time launch at 10:38 CDT. Onboard are seven crewmembers led by veteran astronaut Pam Melroy. Discovery's crew will join the International Space Station’s Expedition 16 crew Thursday morning.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #01.

23 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #02. The Space Shuttle Discovery is headed to the International Space Station, carrying the Harmony module, destined to become the first expansion of the orbiting complex's living and working space since 2001.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #02.

24 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #04. The seven-member crew of STS-120 on board Space Shuttle Discovery is ready for tomorrow’s rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station, planned for 7:33 a.m. CDT.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #04.

24 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #03. The astronauts on board Space Shuttle Discovery have begun their first full day in space on a two-week mission to set the stage for delivery of new laboratory modules from two more of the International Space Station’s partner agencies.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #03.

25 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #5. A new crew member and a new module are only hours away from arriving at the International Space Station. Space Shuttle Discovery is due to dock to the station at 7:33 a.m. CDT to begin 10 days of docked operations.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #5.

25 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #6. Two female commanders made space history today as they greeted one another with smiles and hugs in the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory after a flawless rendezvous and docking.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #6.

26 October 2007 - EVA STS-120-1. The astronauts emerged from the Quest hatch at 10:01 GMT. They moved an antenna from the Z1 truss and stowed it in the payload bay, prepared the P6 truss for separation from Z1, and assisted in installation of the Harmony module, which was unberthed from the shuttle bay by the ISS Canadarm-2 and docked to the Unity module.
26 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #8. It proved to be a perfect day for a spacewalk. In just over six hours, STS-120 Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock installed the Harmony module in its temporary location on the International Space Station, readied the P6 truss for its relocation on Sunday, retrieved a failed radio communications antenna and snapped shut a window cover on Harmony that opened during launch on the space shuttle.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #8.

26 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #7. Delivery of Harmony highlights the day as the crews of Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station prepare for the first of a record five spacewalks planned for a single shuttle assembly mission.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #7.

27 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #09. Today is the grand opening of the International Space Station’s newest module, a connecting node that will host new laboratory complexes from around the world.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #09.

28 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #12. Astronauts Scott Parazynski and Dan Tani successfully completed all major tasks during STS-120's second spacewalk, the 17th this year and the 94th dedicated to the International Space Station's assembly and maintenance.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #12.

28 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #11. The second of a record five spacewalks on one space shuttle visit to the International Space Station begins this morning, and it will end with a major station element en route to a new location.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #11.

29 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #13. With two successful spacewalks completed in three days, the crews on Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station have some time to relax today while also completing a big handoff and getting prepared for another EVA on Tuesday.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #13.

29 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #14. As crew members aboard the International Space Station and space shuttle Discovery prepared for the third spacewalk, they learned that the shuttle will spend an extra day in space, with landing now scheduled for just after 4 a.m. Nov. 7.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #14.

30 October 2007 - EVA STS-120-3. The astronauts emerged from the Quest hatch at 08:44 GMT. They assisted in the mating of the P6 to P5 trusses and deployment of a radiator from P6. Wheelock transferred a spare Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) from the Shuttle bay to the External Stowage Platform 3 (ESP3). P6 solar array wing 2B was successfully redeployed; but deployment of array 4B had to be halted when a tear developed in the solar panel.
30 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #16. The crew of space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station executed a flawless spacewalk today, but ran into some unexpected issues afterward.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #16.

30 October 2007 - ISS On-Orbit Status 10/30/07. Day 145 for Clayton Anderson. Flight Day 8 for STS-120/10A; Day 6 of Joint Ops.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 10/30/07.

30 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #15. Astronauts Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock today install the International Space Station’s P6 truss in its final location. A new task was also added to this third spacewalk of the mission to provide comparison data of the station’s two solar array rotary joints. The spacewalk is set to begin at 3:53 a.m. CDT.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #15.

31 October 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #18. Space shuttle Discovery astronauts will have an extra day to prepare for their mission’s fourth spacewalk, as the International Space Station Program has changed its priority from inspection of a rotary joint to repair of a solar array.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #18.

1 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #19. Space Shuttle Discovery’s astronauts today will assemble and configure tools to repair a torn solar array blanket on the International Space Station’s port truss during the mission’s fourth spacewalk, now scheduled for Saturday.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #19.

1 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #20. The space shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews spent the day putting together tools and making preparations for Saturday’s spacewalk to repair a torn solar array.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #20.

1 November 2007 - ISS On-Orbit Status 11/01/07. Day 147 for Clayton Anderson. Flight Day 10 for STS-120/10A; Day 8 of Joint Ops.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 11/01/07.

2 November 2007 - ISS On-Orbit Status 11/02/07. Day 148 for Clayton Anderson. Flight Day 11 for STS-120/10A; Day 9 of Joint Ops.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 11/02/07.

2 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #21. The space shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews today will focus on reviewing spacewalk procedures and unberthing the shuttle’s Orbiter Boom Sensor System for Saturday’s spacewalk to repair a torn solar array.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #21.

2 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #22. Space shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crew members today finished preparations for Saturday’s spacewalk to repair a torn solar array. The mission’s fourth spacewalk is set to begin about 5:30 a.m.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #22.

3 November 2007 - EVA STS-120-4. The astronauts emerged from the Quest hatch and rode the ISS Canadarm II 50 m out to the snagged P6 solar array. Parazynski cut a snagged wire and installed homemade stabilizers designed to strengthen the array’s structure and stability in the vicinity of the damage. Wheelock helped from the truss by keeping an eye on the distance between Parazynski and the array. Afterwards they observed as ground controllers completed successful extension of the array.
3 November 2007 - ISS On-Orbit Status 11/03/07. Day 149 for Clayton Anderson. Flight Day 12 for STS-120/10A; Day 10 of Joint Ops.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 11/03/07.

3 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #24. With a few pieces of aluminum and a little bit of wire, Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski today repaired a damaged solar array during a spacewalk that lasted 7 hours, 19 minutes.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #24.

3 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #23. Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock today will work to repair a torn solar array on the farthest end of the International Space Station’s port truss in the fourth spacewalk of the STS-120 mission.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #23.

4 November 2007 - ISS On-Orbit Status 11/04/07. Day 150 for Clayton Anderson. Flight Day 13 for STS-120/10A; Day 11 of Joint Ops. Sunday - Farewell Day.

Additional Details: ISS On-Orbit Status 11/04/07.

4 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #26. Spacefarers aboard Discovery and the International Space Station congratulated one another on a successful docked mission, shared hugs and farewells and closed the hatches 210 miles above the Pacific Northwest at 2:03 p.m. CST.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #26.

4 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #25. The astronauts on space shuttle Discovery got up this morning prepared to complete the final cargo transfers between the two vehicles and bid farewell to the Expedition 16 crew.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #25.

6 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #29. Landing preparations are the order of the day for the seven astronauts on space shuttle Discovery, who are planning to conclude a two-week mission with a Wednesday landing at the Kennedy Space Center.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #29.

7 November 2007 - Landing of STS-120.
7 November 2007 - STS-120 MCC Status Report #32. After 6.25 million miles and 15 days, space shuttle Discovery landed safely in Florida completing its 34th mission and circling the Earth 238 times.

Additional Details: STS-120 MCC Status Report #32.

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