Skylab astronaut

Biographical Data

Born November 8, 1936, in Buffalo, New York.

Married to Julie Anne Volk
Children 4

Education

High School Kenmore (New York) Senior High School
Bachelor of Science in Engineering University of Rochester, 1959
Master of Science in Engineering California Institute of Technology, 1960
Doctorate in Engineering with a Minor in Physics California Institute of Technology, 1964
Honorary Doctorate of Science University of Rochester, 1974
Honorary Doctorate of Science Wagner College, 1974

Pre-NASA Career

While at Caltech, he was a research assistant in the field of jet propulsion and classical physics.
Published papers in the fields of plasma physics and solar physics.
Senior research scientist with the Applied Research Laboratories of Philco Corporation at Newport Beach, California, from 1964 to 1965. Did research on lasers and the optical breakdown of gases.
Wrote a textbook in solar physics entitled The Quiet Sun, published in 1965.

NASA Career

Selected as a scientist-astronaut in June 1965.
Completed a 53-week course in flight training at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona, and earned his Air Force wings.

Member of the astronaut support crew and CAPCOM for Apollo XII.

Participated in the design and testing of many elements of the Skylab Space Station.

Science-pilot of Skylab IV, the final manned mission to Skylab, November 16, 1973-February 8, 1974.

Post-NASA Career

Left NASA in December 1974 to do research on Skylab solar physics data as a senior staff scientist with the Aerospace Corporation of Los Angeles, California.

Consultant to ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GmbH, in West Germany, on Spacelab design, 1976-1977.

Returned to the Astronaut Office in March 1977.

Started Gibson International Corp., which provides consulting services on program management, market development and space infrastructure design and operations, in October 1990.

Organizations

fellow, American Astronautical Society
member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
member, Tau Beta Pi
member, Sigma Xi
member, Theta Chi
member, Seniors Track Club

Awards and Honors

National Science Foundation Fellowship
R.C. Baker Fellowship, California Institute of Technology
Johnson Space Center Certificate of Commendation (1970)
NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1974)
City of New York Gold Medal (1974)
Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1973 (1974)
Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy for 1975 (1975)
Federation Aeronautique Internationale's De La Vaulx Medal for 1974 (1975)
Federation Aeronautique Internationale's V.M. Komarov Diploma for 1974 (1975)
American Astronautical Society's 1975 Flight Achievement Award (1976)
AIAA Haley Astronautics Award for 1975 (1976)
Senior U.S. Scientist Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (1976)
Johnson Space Center Special Achievement Award (1978)

SOURCE
Astronaut Biographies www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/gibson-eg.html

SEE ALSO
New York
Skylab Space Station
Skylab IV

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This page was last updated on 05/27/2017.