George David Low

David Low
David Low
LandUSA
OrganisationNASA
ausgewählt23. Mai 1984
(10. NASA-Gruppe)
Einsätze3 Raumflüge
Start des
ersten Raumflugs
9. Januar 1990
Landung des
letzten Raumflugs
1. Juli 1993
Zeit im Weltraum29d 18h 05min
EVA-Einsätze1
EVA-Gesamtdauer5h 50min
ausgeschieden20. Februar 1996
Raumflüge

George David Low (* 19. Februar 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA; † 15. März 2008 in Reston, Virginia) war ein amerikanischer Astronaut und Raumfahrtmanager.

Er studierte Physikingenieurwesen an der Washington and Lee University, Maschinenbau an der Cornell University sowie Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik an der Stanford University.

Ab 1980 arbeitete Low vier Jahre am Jet Propulsion Laboratory, wo er mit der Planung verschiedener Raumsonden zur Erkundung des Planetensystems befasst war.

Im Jahre 1984 wurde er als Kandidat für die Astronautenausbildung ausgewählt. Er war Astronaut bei den Flügen STS-32 (Januar 1990), STS-43 (August 1991) und STS-57 (Juni 1993).

1996 verließ Low die NASA und arbeitete bei der Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles (Virginia).

Der am 18. September 2013 gestartete Cygnus Orb-D1 Raumtransporter wurde nach ihm benannt.

Privates

Low war verheiratet und hatte drei Kinder. Er starb am 15. März 2008 im Reston Hospital Center in Virginia an Darmkrebs.

Low hatte österreichische Wurzeln. Sein Vater, George Michael Low, wurde in Wien geboren und emigrierte später in die USA, wo er ebenfalls für die NASA arbeitete. So war er zwischen 1969 und 1976 Vize-Chef der Weltraumbehörde.

Weblinks

Commons: G. David Low – Sammlung von Bildern, Videos und Audiodateien

Auf dieser Seite verwendete Medien

Sts-57-patch.png
STS-57 Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, crew insignia (logo), the Official insignia of the NASA STS-57 mission, depicts the Space Shuttle Endeavour maneuvering to retrieve the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) microgravity experiment satellite. Spacehab -- the first commercial space laboratory -- is depicted in the cargo bay (payload bay (PLB)), and its characteristic shape is represented by the inner red border of the patch. The three gold plumes surrounded the five stars trailing EURECA are suggestive of the United States (U.S.) astronaut logo. The five gold stars together with the shape of the orbiter's mechanical arm form the mission's numerical designation. The six stars on the American flag represent the U.S. astronauts who comprise the crew. With detailed input from the crewmembers, the final artwork was accomplished by artist Tim Hall. The names of the STS-57 flight crewmembers are located along the border of the patch. They are Commander Ronald J. Grabe, Pilot Brian J.
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STS-32 Mission Insignia
  • The STS-32 patch, designed by the five crewmembers for the January, 1990 space mission, depicts the Space Shuttle orbiter rendezvousing with the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) satellite from above and the Syncom satellite successfully deployed and on its way to geosynchronous orbit. Five stars represent the mission number with three on one side of the orbiter and two on the other. The seven major rays of the sun are in remembrance of the crewmembers for STS 51-L. In preparation for the first Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO) missions, STS-32 conducted a number of medical and middeck scientific experiments. The caduceus on the left represents the medical experiments, and the crystalline structure on the right represents the materials science. The crew is comprised of Astronauts Daniel C. Brandenstein, James D. Wetherbee, Bonnie Dunbar, Marsha S. Ivins, and G. David Low.
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Portrait of Astronaut G. David Low
Sts-43-patch.png

STS-43 Mission Insignia

  • Designed by the astronauts assigned to fly on the mission, the STS 43 patch portrays the evolution and continuity of the USA's space program by highlighting 30 years of American manned space flight experience -- from Mercury to the Space Shuttle. The emergence of the Shuttle Atlantis from the outlined configuration of the Mercury space capsule commemorates this special relationship. The energy and momentum of launch are conveyed by the gradations of blue which mark the Shuttle's ascent from Earth to space. Once in Earth orbit, Atlantis' cargo bay opens to reveal the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) which appears in gold emphasis against the white wings of Atlantis and the stark blackness of space. A primary mission objective, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) will enable almost continuous communication from Earth to space for future Space Shuttle missions. The stars on the patch are arranged to suggest this mission's numerical designation, with four stars left of Atlantis and three to the right.