View source for Susan Helms

{{Short description|American astronaut and Air Force lieutenant general (born 1958)}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Susan Helms
|image         = Helms sj4.jpg
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1958|2|26}}
|birth_place   = [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|education     = [[United States Air Force Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Stanford University ]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
|awards        = [[Defense Superior Service Medal]] (3)<br>[[Legion of Merit]] (4)<br>[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]] (3)
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|time          = 210d 23h 6m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 13|NASA Group 13 (1990)]]
|eva1          = 1
|eva2          = 8h 56m
|mission       = [[STS-54]]<br>[[STS-64]]<br>[[STS-78]]<br>[[STS-101]]<br>[[Expedition 2]] ([[STS-102]] / [[STS-105]])
|insignia      = [[File:Sts-54-patch.png|40px]] [[File:Sts-64-patch.png|40px]] [[File:STS-78 patch.svg|48px]] [[File:Sts-101-patch.svg|48px]] [[File:STS-102 Patch.svg|40px]] [[File:Expedition 2 insignia.svg|30px]] [[File:Sts-105-patch.svg|40px]]
|module = {{Infobox military person
|embed = yes
|serviceyears = 1980–2014
|unit = [[United States Strategic Command]]}}
}}
'''Susan Jane Helms''' (born February 26, 1958) is a retired [[United States Air Force]] [[lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] and [[NASA]] [[astronaut]]. She was the commander, [[14th Air Force]] (Air Forces Strategic); and commander, [[Joint Functional Component Command for Space]] at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] in [[California]].<ref name=AFBio />

Helms was a crew member on five [[Space Shuttle]] missions and was a resident of the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) for over five months in 2001.

Helms officially retired from the [[United States Air Force]] in 2014.

In 2020, she was elected a member of the [[National Academy of Engineering]] for accomplishments in civil and military space programs.

==Personal life==
Helms was born in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], but considers [[Portland, Oregon]], to be her hometown. She enjoys [[piano]] and other musical activities, [[jogging]], [[traveling]], [[reading (process)|reading]], [[computers]], and [[cooking]]. She resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her parents, Lieutenant Colonel (retired, USAF) Pat and Dori Helms, reside in [[Denver, Colorado]]. She has three sisters.

==Military career==
Helms graduated with a bachelor of science in aeronautical engineering from the [[U.S. Air Force Academy]] in 1980.  She received her commission and was assigned to [[Eglin Air Force Base]], [[Florida]], as an [[F-16]] weapons separation engineer with the Air Force Armament Laboratory. In 1982, she became the lead engineer for [[F-15]] weapons separation. In 1984, she was selected to attend graduate school. She received a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from [[Stanford University]] in 1985 and was assigned as an assistant professor of aeronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. In 1987, she attended the Air Force Test Pilot School at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], [[California]]. After completing one year of training as a [[flight test engineer]], Helms was assigned as a USAF Exchange Officer to the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, at [[CFB Cold Lake|Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake]] in [[Alberta, Canada]], where she worked as a flight test engineer and project officer on the [[CF-18]] aircraft. She was managing the development of a CF-18 flight control system simulation for the Canadian Forces when selected for the [[astronaut]] program.

[[File:Helms sj.jpg|thumb|left|Helms as a brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force]]
After a 12-year NASA career that included 211 days in space, Helms returned to the [[U.S. Air Force]] in July 2002 to take a position at HQ USAF [[Air Force Space Command|Space Command]]. After a stint as the division chief of the Space Superiority Division of the Requirements Directorate of Air Force Space Command in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], she served as vice commander of the [[45th Space Wing]] at [[Patrick Air Force Base]] near [[Cape Canaveral, Florida]]. She then served as deputy director of operations (Technical Training) for Air Education and Training Command at [[Randolph Air Force Base]] near [[San Antonio, Texas]]. Helms served on the Return To Flight task group after the [[Columbia accident]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Return To Flight Task Group: Members |url=http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/returnflight/members/defaultb222b222.html?id=helms |publisher=Return To Flight Task Group |access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> She was promoted to [[brigadier general]] in June 2006 and became commander of the 45th Space Wing on the same day of her promotion.<ref name=AFBio>{{cite web |url=http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=8588 |title=USAF Biography of Helms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212021213/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=8588 |archive-date=2012-12-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Helms was promoted to [[major general]] in August 2009.<ref name=AFBio /> She served as the director of plans and policy, U.S. Strategic Command, [[Offutt Air Force Base]], Nebraska. She was directly responsible to the U.S. Strategic Command commander for the development and implementation of national security policy and guidance; military strategy and guidance; space and weapons employment concepts and policy; and joint doctrine as they apply to the command and the execution of its missions. She was also responsible for the development of the nation's strategic war plan, strategic support plans for theater combatant commanders and contingency planning for the global strike mission.

In January 2011, Helms was promoted to [[Lieutenant General|lieutenant general]] and assumed duties as commander, 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Air Force Space Command and commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, US Strategic Command<ref name=AFBio /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-07-16|title=1st U.S. military woman in space to be O-9 - Air Force News {{!}} News fr…|url=http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/09/air-force-susan-helms-in-line-for-third-star-091610w/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716155540/http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/09/air-force-susan-helms-in-line-for-third-star-091610w/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-16|access-date=2020-07-20|website=archive.is}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/one_item_and_teasers/nom_cmten.htm|title=U.S. Senate: Nom in Committee (non-civ)|website=Senate.gov|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13916 |title=Defense.gov News Release: General Officer Announcements |access-date=2010-09-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005182446/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13916 |archive-date=2010-10-05 }}</ref>

As a flight test engineer, Helms has flown in 30 different types of U.S. and Canadian military aircraft.<ref name="AFBio" />

In 2013, Helms was nominated by President [[Barack Obama]] to become vice commander of the [[Air Force Space Command]]. Senator [[Claire McCaskill]] placed a permanent hold on the nomination because Helms had dismissed a charge of a [[Sexual assault in the United States military|sexual assault]] and punished the accused on a lesser charge leading to his dismissal from the USAF, in her role as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority, who is required to review all findings.<ref>{{cite news |last=Whitlock |first=Craig |title=Senator continues to block promotion of Air Force general |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/senator-continues-to-block-promotion-of-air-force-general/2013/06/06/bbf9ea0a-cee3-11e2-ac03-178510c9cc0a_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=June 7, 2013 |date=June 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Taranto |first=James |title=Gen. Helms and the Senator's 'Hold' |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324021104578549891063938034 |publisher=[[Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> As Helms's lawyer explained, Helms felt the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taranto |first=James |title=Meet Col. Williams |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323393804578559583374805870 |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Helms |first=Susan |title=Disapproval of Findings in U.S. vs. Herrera |url=http://www.foia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130509-026.pdf |publisher=U.S. Air Force |access-date=March 23, 2014 |date=February 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214221921/http://www.foia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130509-026.pdf |archive-date=December 14, 2013 }}</ref> Obama eventually withdrew Helms's nomination and she retired from the Air Force in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/military-space/38070obama-withdraws-helms-nomination|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140209054840/http://www.spacenews.com/article/military-space/38070obama-withdraws-helms-nomination|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2014|title=Obama Withdraws Helms Nomination - SpaceNews.com|date=8 November 2013|website=Spacenews.com|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref>

==Spaceflight experience==
[[File:SJHelms.jpg|thumb|right|NASA portrait of Helms]]
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Helms became an astronaut in July 1991. She flew on [[STS-54]] (1993), [[STS-64]] (1994), [[STS-78]] (1996), [[STS-101]] (2000) and served aboard the [[International Space Station]] as a member of the ''ISS [[Expedition 2]]'' crew (2001). A veteran of five space flights, Helms logged 5,064 hours in space, including an [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]] of 8 hours and 56 minutes (world record at the time).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/helms_susan.pdf |publisher=NASA| title=SUSAN J. HELMS (LIEUTENANT GENERAL, USAF) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER) |date=September 2012 |access-date=March 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/helms_susan.htm|title=Astronaut Biography: Susan Helms|first=Joachim|last=Becker|website=Spacefacts.de|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2006/nr20060317-12669.html|title=United States Department of Defense|website=Defenselink.mil|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref>

[[STS-54]] ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'', January 13–19, 1993. The primary objective of this mission was the deployment of a $200-million NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-F). A diffuse X-ray spectrometer (DXS) carried in the payload bay, collected over 80,000 seconds of quality X-ray data that will enable investigators to answer questions about the origin of the Milky Way galaxy. The crew demonstrated the physics principles of everyday toys to an interactive audience of elementary school students across the United States. A highly successful [[extra-vehicular activity]] (EVA) resulted in many lessons learned that will benefit International Space Station assembly. Mission duration was 5 days, 23 hours, 38 minutes, 17 seconds.

[[File:Helms.window.jpg|thumb|left|Helms views the topography of a point on Earth from the nadir window of the ISS.]]
[[STS-64]] ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'', September 9–20, 1994. On this flight, Helms served as the flight engineer for orbiter operations and the primary RMS operator aboard [[Space Shuttle]]. The major objective of this flight was to validate the design and operating characteristics of Lidar in Space Technology Experiment (LITE) by gathering data about the Earth's troposphere and stratosphere. Additional objectives included the deploy and retrieval of [[SPARTAN-201]], a free-flying satellite that investigated the physics of the [[solar corona]], and the testing of a new EVA maneuvering device. The Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment (SPIFEX) was used to collect extensive data on the effects of jet thruster impingement, in preparation for proximity tasks such as space station docking. Mission duration was 10 days, 22 hours, 51 minutes.

[[STS-78]] ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'', June 20 to July 7, 1996, Helms was the payload commander and flight engineer aboard ''Columbia'', on the longest Space Shuttle mission to date (later that year the STS-80 mission broke its record by nineteen hours). The mission included studies sponsored by ten nations and five space agencies, and was the first mission to combine both a full microgravity studies agenda and a comprehensive life science investigation. The Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission served as a model for future studies on board the International Space Station. Mission duration was 16 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes.

[[STS-101]] ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]'', May 19–29, 2000, was a mission dedicated to the delivery and repair of critical hardware for the International Space Station. Helms’s prime responsibilities during this mission were to perform critical repairs to extend the life of the Functional Cargo Block (FGB). In addition, she had prime responsibility of the onboard computer network and served as the mission specialist for rendezvous with the ISS. Mission duration was 9 days, 20 hours and 9 minutes.

[[Expedition 2]] March 8 to August 22, 2001, was a mission to the International Space Station and Helms was a member of the second crew to inhabit the International Space Station Alpha. The ''Expedition 2'' crew (two American astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut) launched on March 8, 2001, on board [[STS-102]] ''Discovery'' and successfully docked with the station on March 9, 2001. The ''Expedition 2'' crew installed and conducted tests on the Canadian-made Space Station Robotic arm (SSRMS), conducted internal and external maintenance tasks (Russian and American), in addition to medical and science experiments. During her stay on board, Helms installed the airlock (brought up on the [[STS-104]] mission) using the SSRM. She and her crewmates also performed a 'fly around' of the Russian ''[[Soyuz spacecraft|Soyuz]]'' spacecraft and welcomed the visiting Soyuz crew that included the first [[Space tourism|space tourist]], [[Dennis Tito]]. On March 11 she performed a world-record 8 hour and 56 minute spacewalk to install hardware to the external body of the laboratory module, that stood until 17 December 2024, when [[Cai Xuzhe]] broke the record with [[Song Lingdong]] for the longest spacewalk in human history, of 9 hours and 6 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-12-17 |title=Shenzhou-19 astronauts complete record-breaking 9-hour spacewalk |url=https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-19-astronauts-complete-record-breaking-9-hour-spacewalk/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> Helms spent a total of 163 days aboard the space station. She returned to Earth with the [[STS-105]] crew aboard ''Discovery'' on August 22, 2001.

==Awards and decorations==
{|
| [[File:Master space badge.JPG|150px]] [[Space and Missile Badge|Command Space Operations Badge]]
|-
| [[File:US Air Force Senior Astronaut Observer Navigator Combat System Officer Badge.png|150px]] [[Observer Badge|Air Force Senior Observer Badge with Astronaut Device]]
|}
{|
| {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon|width=80}}
| [[Defense Superior Service Medal]] with two [[oak leaf clusters]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=80}}
| [[Legion of Merit]] with three oak leaf clusters
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Defense Meritorious Service ribbon|width=80}}
| [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]] with two oak leaf clusters
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service ribbon|width=80}}
| [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=80}}
| [[Commendation Medal#Air Force|Air Force Commendation Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=80}}
| [[Outstanding Unit Award]] with three oak leaf clusters
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=80}}
| [[Organizational Excellence Award]] with three oak leaf clusters
|-
| [[File:NasaDisRib.svg|80px]]
| [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=NASA Outstanding Leadership Ribbon.png|width=80}}
| [[NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=80}}
| [[National Defense Service Medal]] with [[service star]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon|width=80}}
| [[Global War on Terrorism Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Armed Forces Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Overseas Service Ribbon#Air Force|Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=7|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Air Force Longevity Service Award]] with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Marksmanship Ribbon|Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Air Force Training Ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Air Force Training Ribbon]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Medal For Merit in an Space Exploration (Russia 2010) ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration"]]
|}

Helms was inducted into the [[International Space Hall of Fame]] in 2004.<ref name=ep4>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29988299/el_paso_times/|title=X-Prize Group Founder to Speak at Induction|newspaper=El Paso Times|location=El Paso, Texas|date=October 17, 2004|page=59|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She was inducted into the [[Colorado Women's Hall of Fame]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Susan Helms, Lt. Gen (Ret) |url=https://www.cogreatwomen.org/project/susan-helms-lt-gen-ret/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Colorado Women's Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Dates of rank==

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Promotions
! Insignia !! Rank !! Date
|-
| [[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|54px]] || [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]&nbsp; || January 21, 2011
|-
| [[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|36px]] || [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] || August 2, 2009
|-
| [[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|20px]] || [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] || June 23, 2006
|-
| [[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|25px]] || [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] || February 1, 2000
|-
| [[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|20px]] || [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] || March 1, 1994
|-
| [[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|20px]] || [[Major (United States)|Major]] || October 1, 1991
|-
| [[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|15px]] || [[Captain (United States)|Captain]] || May 28, 1984
|-
| [[File:US-OF1A.svg|6px]] || [[First Lieutenant (United States)|First Lieutenant]] || May 28, 1982
|-
| [[File:US-OF1B.svg|6px]] || [[Second lieutenant#United States|Second Lieutenant]] || May 28, 1980
|}

==See also==
* [[List of female United States military generals and flag officers]]

==References==
{{Include-NASA}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/helms_susan.pdf |publisher=NASA| title=SUSAN J. HELMS (LIEUTENANT GENERAL, USAF) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER) |date=September 2012 |access-date=March 12, 2021}}

{{NASA Astronaut Group 13}}
{{U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame}}
{{Colorado Women's Hall of Fame}}
{{Oregon Women of Achievement}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Helms, Susan}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American women]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:American women astronauts]]
[[Category:American women engineers]]
[[Category:Crew members of the International Space Station]]
[[Category:Female generals of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Military personnel from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Parkrose High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration"]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Spacewalkers]]
[[Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Air Force astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Air Force generals]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Gulf War]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Iraq War]]
[[Category:United States Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:Women in the Iraq War]]
[[Category:American female military personnel of the Gulf War]]