Susan Helms

Susan Helms
Born (1958-02-26) February 26, 1958 (age 66)
EducationUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
Stanford University (MS)
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (4)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Space career
NASA astronaut
RankLieutenant General, USAF
Time in space
210d 23h 6m
SelectionNASA Group 13 (1990)
Total EVAs
1
Total EVA time
8h 56m
MissionsSTS-54
STS-64
STS-78
STS-101
Expedition 2 (STS-102 / STS-105)
Mission insignia
Military career
Years of service1980–2014
UnitUnited States Strategic Command

Susan Jane Helms (born February 26, 1958) is a retired United States Air Force 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.[1]

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. While participating in ISS Expedition 2, she and Jim Voss conducted an 8-hour and 56 minute spacewalk, the world record for the longest spacewalk.[2]

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.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference AFBio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "STS-102 Mission Control Center Status Report # 7". NASA. Archived from the original on 2004-12-16.