Thomas Henry Marshburn (born August 29, 1960) is an American
physician
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
and a
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
astronaut. He is a veteran of three spaceflights to the
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA ...
and holds the record for the oldest person to perform a spacewalk at 61 years old.
Education
Marshburn was born in
Statesville,
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
. Marshburn graduated from Henderson High School in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
, in 1978. He obtained a
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
degree in
Physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
from
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. It was established in 1837 by the Concord Presbytery and named after Revolutionary War general William Lee Davidson, who was killed at the nearby Battle of Cowan ...
,
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
, in 1982, and a
Master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. in
Engineering Physics
Engineering physics, or engineering science, refers to the study of the combined disciplines of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, particularly computer, nuclear, electrical, electronic, aerospace, materials or mechanical en ...
from the
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with highly selective ad ...
in 1984. He received a
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. T ...
degree from
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in 1834, the university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina. The Reynolda Campus, the un ...
in 1989, and a
Master of Medical Science
This list refers to specific master's degrees in North America. Please see master's degree for a more general overview.
Accountancy
Master of Accountancy (MAcc, MAc, MAcy or MPAcc), alternatively Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcy or MP ...
from the
University of Texas Medical Branch
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is a public academic health science center in Galveston, Texas. It is part of the University of Texas System. UTMB includes the oldest medical school in Texas, and has about 11,000 employees. In Febr ...
in 1997.
He trained in
emergency medicine and worked in emergency rooms in Texas and Massachusetts.
Special honors and organizations
Marshburn's awards include the NASA Superior Achievement award (1998), Space and Life Sciences Division Special Space Flight Achievement Award (2003, 2004) and the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Superior Achievement Award (January 2004). Marshburn is a member of the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is a Frederick, Maryland-based American non-profit political organization that advocates for general aviation. AOPA's membership consists mainly of general aviation pilots in the United States ...
, the
American Academy of Emergency Medicine
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is a nonprofit professional medical association of emergency medicine physicians. It was formed in 1993 is based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
AAEM works cooperatively alongside the American ...
and the
Aerospace Medical Association
The Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) is the largest professional organization in the fields of aviation, space, and environmental medicine. The AsMA membership includes aerospace and hyperbaric medical specialists, scientists, flight nurses, ...
.
Medical career
After completing medical school, Marshburn trained in
emergency medicine at the
St. Vincent Hospital Emergency Medicine program in
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
, where he also worked as a flight physician. After three years of training, he was certified by the
American Board of Emergency Medicine
The American Board of Emergency Medicine is one of 24 medical specialty certification boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
ABEM certifies emergency physicians who meet its educational, professional, and examination st ...
in 1992. He then worked as an emergency physician in
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
,
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
, before being accepted into the first class of the NASA/UTMB Space Medicine Fellowship in
Galveston
Galveston ( ) is a coastal resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a population of 47,743 in 2010, is the county seat of surrounding Ga ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
. After completing the fellowship in 1995, he worked as an emergency physician in area hospitals in
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
, Texas, and at the
Massachusetts General Hospital in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
. During this time he also worked as an attending physician for the emergency medicine residency at
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is a public academic health science center in Houston, Texas, United States. It was created in 1972 by The University of Texas System Board of Regents. It is located in the T ...
.
NASA career
![Marshburn Training](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Marshburn_Training.jpg)
Marshburn joined NASA in November 1994, serving as a
flight surgeon at
Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He was assigned to Space Shuttle Medical Operations and to the joint US/Russian Space Program. From February 1996 to May 1997 he served as a flight surgeon for NASA personnel deployed to the
Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center
The Yuri A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC; Russian language, Russian: Центр подготовки космонавтов имени Ю. А. Гагарина) is a Russian training facility res ...
,
Star City, Russia
Star City (russian: Звёздный городо́к, ''Zvyozdny gorodok''The name "Zvyozdny gorodok" literally means "starry townlet".) is a common name of an area in Zvyozdny gorodok, Moscow Oblast, Russia, which has since the 1960s been ...
, followed by work in the Center for Flight Control in
Korolyov, Russia, in support of the NASA Expedition 4 to the
Mir Space Station
''Mir'' (russian: Мир, ; ) was a space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, operated by the Soviet Union and later by Russia. ''Mir'' was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to&n ...
. From July 1997 to August 1998 he was co-chair of Medical Operations for the
Shuttle–Mir Program. From 1998 to 2000, he was deputy Flight Surgeon for Neuronal (
STS-98
STS-98 was a 2001 Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle '' Atlantis''. It was the first human spaceflight launch of the 21st century. STS-98 delivered to the station the ''Destiny'' Laboratory Mod ...
) and lead Flight Surgeon for the
STS-101
STS-101 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle '' Atlantis''. The mission was a 10-day mission conducted between 19 May 2000 and 29 May 2000. The mission was designated 2A.2a and was a resuppl ...
mission to the
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA ...
(ISS).
After spending ten months as a NASA representative to the
Harvard/
MIT
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...
Smart Medical Systems Team of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, he worked as the lead Flight Surgeon for
Expedition 7
Expedition 7 was the seventh expedition to the International Space Station.
Crew
Planned crew before ''Columbia'' disaster
Mission parameters
*Perigee: 384 km
*Apogee: 396 km
*Inclination: 51.6°
*Period: 92 min
Mission objec ...
to the ISS in 2003, supporting from Russia,
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
and Houston. Until he was selected as an astronaut candidate, Marshburn served as Medical Operations Lead for the ISS. His activities included development of the biomedical training program for flight surgeons and astronaut crew medical officers, and managing the ISS Health Maintenance System.
Marshburn was selected in May 2004 to be a NASA astronaut. He completed his Astronaut Candidate Training in February 2006. This included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training and water and wilderness survival training. He was qualified for various technical assignments within the Astronaut Office and future flight assignments as a mission specialist.
In May 2010, Marshburn served as an
aquanaut during the
NEEMO 14 mission aboard the
Aquarius
Aquarius may refer to:
Astrology
* Aquarius (astrology), an astrological sign
* Age of Aquarius, a time period in the cycle of astrological ages
Astronomy
* Aquarius (constellation)
* Aquarius in Chinese astronomy
Arts and entertainme ...
underwater laboratory, living and working underwater for fourteen days.
In 2019, he served as back up flight Engineer 1 for the
Soyuz MS-13
Soyuz MS-13, also designated ISS flight 59S, was a crewed Soyuz mission launched on 20 July 2019 – the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing – carrying three members of the Expedition 60 crew to the International Space Station: a Rus ...
and
Soyuz MS-15
Soyuz MS-15 was a Soyuz spaceflight launched on 25 September 2019, transporting two members of the Expedition 61 crew and a short duration visiting crew member to the International Space Station. Soyuz MS-15 was the 143rd flight of a Soyuz spac ...
long-duration flights to the ISS, first backing up Italian astronaut
Luca Parmitano
Colonel Luca Parmitano (born 27 September 1976 in Paternò, Sicily) is an Italian astronaut in the European Astronaut Corps for the European Space Agency (ESA). He was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009.
Parmitano is also a Colonel and ...
, and the American-Swedish astronaut
Jessica Meir
Jessica Ulrika Meir (IPA: ; ; born ) is an American-Swedish NASA astronaut, marine biologist, and physiologist. She was previously an assistant professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, following ...
.
STS-127
![S127e006871](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/S127e006871.jpg)
Marshburn's first flight was on
STS-127
STS-127 ( ISS assembly flight 2J/A) was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). It was the twenty-third flight of . The primary purpose of the STS-127 mission was to deliver and install the final two components of t ...
, which lifted off on July 15, 2009, at 6:03 p.m. EDT and landed on July 31, 2009. The mission delivered the Japanese-built Exposed Facility (JEM-EF) and the Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section (ELM-ES) to the International Space Station. Marshburn took part in three
spacewalks during the mission.
Expedition 34/35
Marshburn served as a Flight Engineer on Expedition 34/35 to the International Space Station, launching aboard
Soyuz TMA-07M on December 19, 2012, from the
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, along with crew members
Chris Hadfield of the
Canadian Space Agency and Russian cosmonaut
Roman Romanenko
Roman Yurievich Romanenko (Major, Russian Air Force; russian: Роман Юрьевич Романенко; born 9 August 1971) is a Russian retired cosmonaut at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. He is also a politician, sitting in the ...
. The crew was welcomed aboard the ISS by
Expedition 34 commander
Kevin A. Ford
Kevin Anthony Ford (born July 7, 1960) is a retired United States Air Force Colonel and NASA astronaut. Ford has received a number of special honors and awards, some of which are the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation M ...
and cosmonauts
Evgeny Tarelkin and
Oleg Novitskiy
Oleg Viktorovich Novitskiy (russian: Олег Викторович Новицкий; born October 12, 1971) is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Russian Air Force who logged over 700 hours of flight time and was awarded for bravery. He is cur ...
.
On May 11, 2013, Marshburn and
Expedition 35
Expedition 35 was the 35th long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The expedition started 13 March 2013, and marked the first time a Canadian astronaut – Colonel Chris Hadfield – was in command of the station. Expedi ...
flight engineer
Christopher Cassidy
Christopher John "Chris" Cassidy (born January 4, 1970) is a retired NASA astronaut and United States Navy SEAL. Chris Cassidy achieved the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy. His first spaceflight was on a Space Shuttle mission in 2009. He was ...
performed an unplanned spacewalk to replace a pump controller box suspected to be the source of an ammonia coolant leak.
Marshburn and his crew returned to Earth on May 13, 2013.
SpaceX Crew-3
On November 11, 2021, Marshburn launched on the
SpaceX Crew-3
SpaceX Crew-3 was the fourth operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft, and the third overall crewed orbital flight of the Commercial Crew Program. The mission successfully launched on 11 November 2021 at 02:03:31 UTC to the International ...
spaceflight, as part of the long duration
Expedition 66
Expedition 66 was the 66th long-duration expedition to the International Space Station. The mission began after the departure of Soyuz MS-18 on 17 October 2021. It was commanded by European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, the fourth Euro ...
mission onboard the ISS.
He performed his fifth EVA with fellow astronaut Kayla Barron on the exterior of the ISS shortly after the mission had begun. He took over command of the ISS from
Anton Shkaplerov
Anton Nikolaevich Shkaplerov (russian: Антон Николаевич Шкаплеров; born 20 February 1972) is a Russian cosmonaut. He is a veteran of four spaceflights.
Personal life
Shkaplerov is married to Tatyana Petrovna, and they ...
on March 29. After the arrival of
Crew-4 and the transfer of command to
Oleg Artemyev
Oleg Germanovich Artemyev (russian: Олег Германович Артемьев; born December 28, 1970) is a Russian Cosmonaut for the Russian Federal Space Agency. He was selected as part of the RKKE-15 Cosmonaut group in 2003. He was a fli ...
, Crew-3 landed on May 6, 2022, after 176 days in space.
References
External links
NASA bio of MarshburnEarth from Space: Interactive Astronaut Panel Michael Barratt,
Jean-Jacques Favier
Jean-Jacques Favier (Born April 13, 1949) is a French engineer and a former CNES astronaut who flew aboard the STS-78 NASA Space Shuttle mission. Favier was due to fly aboard the destroyed '' Columbia'' mission in 2003, but later signed out of th ...
, Thomas Marshburn,
Donald A. Thomas, the 13th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference, February 2018
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marshburn, Thomas
1960 births
Living people
American astronauts
Aquanauts
Davidson College alumni
American emergency physicians
Harvard Medical School people
People from Statesville, North Carolina
Physician astronauts
University of Texas Medical Branch alumni
University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science alumni
Wake Forest University alumni
Space Shuttle program astronauts
Spacewalkers
SpaceX astronauts