View source for Jim Wetherbee

{{Short description|American astronaut, aviator and engineer (born 1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Jim Wetherbee
|image         = James Wetherbee.jpg
|birth_name    = James Donald Wetherbee
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1952|11|27}}
|birth_place   = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|other_names   = Wxb
|education     = [[University of Notre Dame]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
|awards        = [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]], [[United States Navy|USN]]
|time          = 66d 10h 23m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 10|NASA Group 10 (1984)]]
|missions      = [[STS-32]]<br>[[STS-52]]<br>[[STS-63]]<br>[[STS-86]]<br>[[STS-102]]<br>[[STS-113]]
|insignia      = [[File:STS-32 patch.png|45px]] [[File:Sts-52-patch.png|45px]] [[File:Sts-63-patch.png|45px]] [[File:Sts-86-patch.svg|45px]] [[File:STS-102 Patch.svg|45px]] [[File:STS-113 Patch.svg|45px]]
|retirement    = January 3, 2005
}}
'''James Donald "Wxb" Wetherbee''' (born November 27, 1952)<ref name="JSCBio">{{cite web |title=James D. Wetherbee |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/wetherbee_james.pdf |website=Biographical Data |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427104638/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/wetherbee_james.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |location=Houston, Texas |date=January 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> ([[Captain (United States)|Capt]], [[United States Navy|USN]], Ret.), is a retired [[United States Navy]] officer and [[United States naval aviator|aviator]], [[test pilot]], [[aerospace engineer]], and [[NASA]] [[astronaut]]. He is a veteran of six [[Space Shuttle]] missions and is the only American to have commanded five spaceflight missions.<ref name="JSCBio" />

==Early life and education==
Wetherbee was born on November 27, 1952, in [[Flushing, Queens|Flushing, New York]], and raised in [[Huntington Station, New York]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kerr |first1=Kathleen |title=They Began Here |url=http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-century_of_science_dissons,0,7662594.story |website=Newsday.com |publisher=[[Newsday]] |access-date=September 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609022451/http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-century_of_science_dissons,0,7662594.story |archive-date=June 9, 2008 |location=[[Melville, New York]] |url-status=dead}}</ref> He enjoys [[tennis]], [[skiing]], [[softball]], [[running]], and [[music]]. He graduated from [[Holy Family Diocesan High School]] in [[South Huntington, New York]], in 1970. He earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[Aerospace Engineering]] from the [[University of Notre Dame]] in 1974.

==Naval service==
Following his graduation from [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]], he received his commission in the [[United States Navy]], in 1975. He was designated a [[United States naval aviator|Naval Aviator]] in December 1976. After training in the [[A-7E]], he was assigned to [[VA-72 (U.S. Navy)|Attack Squadron 72]] (VA-72) from August 1977 to November 1980, aboard the [[aircraft carrier]], {{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|6}}, and logged 125 night carrier landings.<ref name="JSCBio" />

After attending the [[U.S. Naval Test Pilot School]] in [[Patuxent River]], [[Maryland]], in 1981, he was assigned to the Systems Engineering Test Directorate. He was a project officer and [[test pilot]] for the weapons delivery system and avionics integration for the [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18]] aircraft. Subsequently, assigned to [[VFA-132|Strike Fighter Squadron 132]] (VFA-132), he flew operationally in the F/A-18 from January 1984, until his selection for the astronaut candidate program.<ref name="JSCBio" />

He has logged over 7,000 hours<ref name="jimsbook">{{cite book |last1=Wetherbee |first1=Jim |title=Controlling risk in a dangerous world: 30 techniques for operating excellence |date=2017 |publisher=[[Morgan James Publishing]] |location=[[New York City|New York]] |isbn=978-1-63047-950-3}}</ref>{{rp|141}} flying time in 20 different types of aircraft, including 345 carrier landings.<ref name="JSCBio" /><ref name="jimsbook" />{{rp|54}}

==NASA career==
Wetherbee was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1984, and became an astronaut in June 1985. He piloted his first mission<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 January 2025 |title=Beyond Gravity |url=https://www.battingthebreeze.com/jim-wetherbee-beyond-gravity/ |website=Batting the Breeze}}</ref> [[STS-32]] in 1990 and commanded missions [[STS-52]] (1992), [[STS-63]] (1995),<ref name="mir-transcript">{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Rebecca |title=Transcript - James D. Wetherbee |url=https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/Shuttle-Mir/WetherbeeJD/WetherbeeJD_8-6-98.htm |website=JSC History Portal |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427111825/https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/Shuttle-Mir/WetherbeeJD/WetherbeeJD_8-6-98.htm |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |date=August 6, 1998 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[STS-86]] (1997),<ref name="mir-transcript" /> [[STS-102]] (2001), and [[STS-113]] (2002). The final three missions were dockings with [[Mir]] and the [[International Space Station]]; STS-113 was the last [[Space Shuttle]] mission before the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|''Columbia'' disaster]].<ref name="nsfendeavour">{{cite web |last1=Gebhardt |first1=Chris |title=Remembering Endeavour: A final journey to the California Science Center |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/remembering-endeavour-final-journey-california-center/ |website=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427121301/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/remembering-endeavour-final-journey-california-center/ |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |date=October 12, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Wetherbee served as deputy director of the [[Johnson Space Center]] (August 1995 to April 2000), Director of the Flight Crew Operations Directorate (April 2000 – 2002), and Technical Assistant to the Director of JSC's Safety & Mission Assurance Directorate (April 2003 to June 2004).<ref name="JSCBio" />

===Spaceflight experience===
[[STS-32]]: [[Space Shuttle Columbia|''Columbia'']] (January 9–20, 1990) included the successful deployment of the [[Syncom#Syncom IV (Leasat)|Syncom]] IV-F5 satellite, and retrieval of the 21,400-pound [[Long Duration Exposure Facility]] (LDEF) using the [[Remote Manipulator System]] (RMS). The crew also operated a variety of middeck experiments and conducted numerous medical test objectives, including in-flight aerobic exercise and muscle performance to evaluate human adaptation to extended duration missions. Mission duration was 173 [[Geocentric orbit|orbits]] in 261 hours and 01 minute.<ref name="sts32safety">{{cite web |author1=Office of Safety and Mission Quality, Safety Division |title=Mission Safety Evaluation Report for STS-32, Postflight Edition |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19920014000/downloads/19920014000.pdf |website=NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427113218/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19920014000/downloads/19920014000.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |location=Washington, DC |date=July 20, 1990 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[STS-52]]: ''Columbia'' (October 22 to November 1, 1992) successfully deployed the [[Laser Geodynamic Satellite]] (LAGEOS), a joint Italian-American project. The crew also operated the first U.S. Microgravity Payload (USMP) with French and American experiments, and successfully completed the initial flight tests of the Canadian-built Space Vision System (SVS). Mission duration was 236 hours and 56 minutes.<ref name="missionrep-sts52">{{cite web |author1=Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center |author1-link=Johnson Space Center |title=STS-52 Space Shuttle mission report |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930016804/downloads/19930016804.pdf |website=NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427113602/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930016804/downloads/19930016804.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |location=Houston, Texas |date=December 1992 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[STS-63]]: [[Space Shuttle Discovery|''Discovery'']] (February 2–11, 1995) was the first joint flight of the new Russian-American Space Program. Mission highlights included the [[Orbital rendezvous|rendezvous]] with the Russian Space Station, [[Mir]], operation of [[Spacehab]], and the deployment and retrieval of Spartan 204. The mission was accomplished in 129 orbits in 198 hours and 29 minutes.<ref name="missionrep-sts63">{{cite web |author1=Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center |author1-link=Johnson Space Center |title=STS-63 Space Shuttle mission report |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19960001496/downloads/19960001496.pdf |website=NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427113942/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19960001496/downloads/19960001496.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |location=Houston, Texas |date=June 1995 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[STS-86]]: [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|''Atlantis'']] (September 25 to October 6, 1997) was the seventh mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. Highlights included the delivery of a Mir attitude control computer, the exchange of U.S. crew members [[Mike Foale]] and [[David Wolf (astronaut)|David Wolf]], a [[Extravehicular activity|spacewalk]] by [[Scott Parazynski]] and [[Vladimir Georgiyevich Titov|Vladimir Titov]] to retrieve four experiments first deployed on Mir during the [[STS-76]] docking mission, the transfer to Mir of 10,400 pounds of science and logistics, and the return of experiment hardware and results to Earth. Mission duration was 169 orbits in 259 hours and 21 minutes.<ref name="sts-summary">{{cite web |last1=Legler |first1=Robert D. |last2=Bennett |first2=Floyd V. |title=Space Shuttle Missions Summary |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110001406/downloads/20110001406.pdf |website=NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427114154/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110001406/downloads/20110001406.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |location=Houston, Texas |pages=123–124 |date=September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|123–124}}

[[STS-102]]: ''Discovery'' (March 8–21, 2001) was the eighth Space Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. The mission accomplishments included the delivery of the [[Expedition 2]] crew and the contents of the ''Leonardo'' [[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module]], the completion of two successful spacewalks, the return to [[Earth (planet)|Earth]] of the [[Expedition 1]] crew, as well as the return of Leonardo, the reusable cargo carrier built by the [[Italian Space Agency]]. Mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes.<ref name="sts-summary" />{{rp|152–153}}

[[STS-113]]: [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] (November 23 to December 7, 2002) was the sixteenth Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station. The launch occurred on November 23, 2002, to deliver the [[Integrated Truss Structure|P1 Truss]] segment, which provides structural support for the Space Station radiators. ''Endeavour'' also delivered a new [[Expedition 6]] crew to the Station, returning to Earth on December 7, 2002, with the [[Expedition 5]] crew ending their 6-month stay in [[outer space|space]]. The total mission duration was 13 days, 18 hours and 47 minutes.<ref name="sts-summary" />{{rp|172–174}}

==Post-NASA career==
Wetherbee retired from the U.S. Navy in 2003 and left NASA in 2005 to become a consultant. He joined BP in 2006, as a safety auditor, and retired in 2014. He is currently working as a [[drummer]] and as a [[consultant]] for leaders in hazardous environments.<ref name="syfywire">{{cite web |last1=Spry |first1=Jeff |title=NASA astronaut Jim Wetherbee looks back at Apollo 11 and his own space shuttle missions |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/nasa-astronaut-jim-wetherbee-looks-back-at-apollo-11-and-the-best-space-movies |website=Syfy Wire |publisher=[[Syfy]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427122945/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/nasa-astronaut-jim-wetherbee-looks-back-at-apollo-11-and-the-best-space-movies |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |date=July 17, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Wetherbee is married to Robin DeVore Platt of [[Jacksonville, Florida]],<ref name="JSCBio" /> and has two daughters.<ref name="thebulletin">{{cite web |last1=Jasper |first1=David |title=An astronaut — and drummer — lands in Bend |url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/an-astronaut-and-drummer-lands-in-bend/article_2a1962c1-60d5-57df-bcae-601674892e69.html |website=[[The Bulletin (Bend)|The Bulletin]] |publisher=[[EO Media Group]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427123825/https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/an-astronaut-and-drummer-lands-in-bend/article_2a1962c1-60d5-57df-bcae-601674892e69.html |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |location=[[Bend, Oregon]] |date=November 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> He currently resides in Oregon.<ref name="syfywire" />

==Organizations==
Lifetime Member of the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]];<ref name="LoS">{{cite web |author1=NASA |author1-link=NASA |title=Loss of Signal: Aeromedical Lessons Learned from the STS-107 Columbia Space Shuttle Mishap |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140008287/downloads/20140008287.pdf |website=NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427130023/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140008287/downloads/20140008287.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |location=[[Washington, DC]] |date=May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Honorary Member, Musicians' Union, Local 47, [[American Federation of Musicians]], [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].

==Awards and honors==
* [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
* [[Navy Achievement Medal]]
* two [[Meritorious Unit Commendations]]
* six [[NASA Space Flight Medal]]s
* two [[NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal]]s
* four [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]s<ref name="JSCBio" />
* Lifetime Member of the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]]
* Honorary Member of the Musicians' Union, Local 47, [[American Federation of Musicians]], [[Los Angeles]], [[California|CA]].<ref name="JSCBio" />
* Inducted into the Long Island Air and Space Hall of Fame in the [[Cradle of Aviation Museum]], [[Garden City, New York|Garden City]], [[New York (state)|NY]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cradle of Aviation Museum |url=https://www.cradleofaviation.org/event/2014/05/05/an-evening-with-space-shuttle-astronaut-jim-wetherbee |publisher=Cradle of Aviation Museum}}</ref>
* Inducted into the [[Astronaut Hall of Fame|U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame]].<ref name="AHOF">{{cite web |title=James Wetherbee |url=https://www.astronautscholarship.org/Astronauts/james-wetherbee/ |website=Astronaut Scholarship Foundation |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427121933/https://www.astronautscholarship.org/Astronauts/james-wetherbee/ |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |date=May 2, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Records==
* Only American to have commanded five missions in space.<ref name="JSCBio" />
* Has landed the Space Shuttle more times than anyone (five).<ref name="JSCBio" />
* Was the tallest person to fly in space at {{convert|6|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}},<ref name="ESA-SfK">{{cite web |title=Did you know that.... |url=https://www.esa.int/kids/en/learn/Life_in_Space/Astronauts/Did_you_know_that |website=Space for Kids |publisher=[[European Space Agency|ESA]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427111420/https://www.esa.int/kids/en/learn/Life_in_Space/Astronauts/Did_you_know_that |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |date=May 16, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> until [[Michael Strahan]] flew to space onboard [[Blue Origin NS-19]].<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Robert Z. Pearlman |date=December 11, 2021 |title=Blue Origin launches Michael Strahan and crew of 5 on record-setting suborbital spaceflight |url=https://www.space.com/blue-origin-michael-strahan-new-shepard-record-launch |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Spaceflight}}
* [[List of spaceflight records]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/wetherbee_james.pdf Wetherbee's official NASA biography]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161228002712/http://astronautix.com/w/wetherbee.html Astronautix biography of Jim Wetherbee]
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/wetherbee_james.htm Spacefacts biography of Jim Wetherbee]

{{NASA Astronaut Group 10}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wetherbee, Jim}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1990 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:1992 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:1995 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:1997 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:2001 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:2002 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:American aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:Aviators from New York (state)]]
[[Category:BP people]]
[[Category:Engineers from New York City]]
[[Category:People from Huntington Station, New York]]
[[Category:People from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:United States Naval Aviators]]
[[Category:United States Naval Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Navy astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Navy captains]]
[[Category:Notre Dame College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:Mir crew members]]