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{{Short description|American astronaut (born 1946)}}
{{otherpeople|Robert Gibson}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox Astronaut
| name =Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson {{Other people|Robert Gibson}}
{{Other people|Hoot Gibson}}
| image =RobertLGibson.jpg
{{Infobox astronaut
| type =Astronaut
|name = Robert Gibson
| nationality =]
|image = Gibson-rl.jpg
| date_birth =], ]
|birth_name = Robert Lee Gibson
| place_birth =]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|10|30}}
| occupation =]
|birth_place = ], U.S.
| rank =], ]
|death_date =
| selection =]
| time =36d 04h 15m |death_place =
|other_names = Hoot
| mission =], ], ], ], ]
|education = ] (])<br>] (])
| insignia =]]]]]
|awards = ]<br>]<br>]
|}}
'''Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson (Captain, USN)''' (born ], ]) is a former ] ]. |type = ]
|rank = ], ]
|time = 36d 4h 15m
|selection = ]
|mission = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
|insignia = ] ] ] ] ]
|retirement = November 15, 1996
}}
'''Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson''' (born October 30, 1946), (], ], Ret.), is a former American ] and ], ], and ]. A retired ] ], he also served as ] from 1992 to 1994. Today Gibson is active as a professional pilot, racing regularly at the annual ]. He was inducted into the ] in 2003 and the ] in 2013, and has received several military decorations throughout his career.


==Early life and education==
==Personal data==
Gibson was born October 30, 1946, in ]. He graduated from Huntington High School, ] as a part of the Class of 1964, and went on to earn an ] in ] from ] in 1966. He received a ] degree in ] from ] in 1969.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/gibson_robert.pdf |title=Biographical Data: ROBERT L. GIBSON (CAPTAIN, USN RET.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER) | publisher=NASA |date=September 1997 |access-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref>
Born in ], but considers the ] of east ], to be his hometown. Married to Dr. ] of ], another astronaut. Four children. He enjoys home built aircraft, ], running and surfing during his free time. His mother, Mrs. Paul A. Gibson, resides in ]. His father who is deceased, was an FAA Inspector, and once built his own private plane with help from his family -- in the garage of their home in Long Beach. Family includes brothers, Jon and Don and a sister Kathy.


==Education== ==Military career==
Gibson entered active duty with the ] in 1969. He was commissioned through the ] (AOCS), and proceed to flight training.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/gibson_robert.pdf |title=Biographical Data: ROBERT L. GIBSON (CAPTAIN, USN RET.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER) | publisher=NASA |date=September 1997 |access-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref> He received basic and primary flight training at ] and ], ], and ], ]. He completed advanced flight training at ], ] and was assigned to Fighter Squadron 121 (]) at ], ] for replacement training in the ].
* ]: Graduated from Huntington High School, ]
* ]: Received an associate degree in engineering science from Suffolk County Community College
* ]: Received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from ]


While assigned to Fighter Squadron 111 (]) and Fighter Squadron 1 (]) from April 1972 to September 1975, he saw duty aboard ]s {{USS|Coral Sea|CVA-43|6}} and {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}}, flying ] in ] in the ] with VF-111 and making the initial operational carrier deployment of the ] with VF-1. He is a graduate of the ], also known as "]."
==Special honors==
* Awarded the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) "Louis Bleriot Medal" (])
* Awarded the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) "Freedom of Flight" Award (])
* Established world records for "Altitude in Horizontal Flight," Airplane Class C1A in ], and "Time to Climb to 9000 Meters" in 1994


Gibson returned to the United States and an assignment as an ] instructor pilot with Fighter Squadron 124 (]) at Naval Air Station Miramar. He graduated from the ] at ], ] in June 1977 and later became involved in the test and evaluation of improvements to the F-14A aircraft while assigned to the Naval Air Test Center's Strike Aircraft Test Directorate.
Military awards include:
* the Defense Superior Service Medal
* the Distinguished Flying Cross
* 3 Air Medals
* the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V"
* a Navy Unit Commendation
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal
* Vietnam Campaign Medal


Selected as a NASA astronaut, he continued to be promoted, eventually achieving the rank of ] in the U.S. Navy and the rank at which he retired from active naval service.
==Experience==
Gibson entered active duty with the ] in ]. He received primary and basic flight training at Naval Air Stations Saufley Field and ], and ], and completed advanced flight training at the Naval Air Station at ].


], his copilot on STS-61-C, described Gibson and ] as the two best pilots he had met "in my life in aviation, over thirty-five years; never met two people like them. Everyone else gets into an airplane; John and Hoot wear their airplane. They're just awesome".<ref name="bolden20040106">{{cite interview | title=Charles F. Bolden | date=January 6, 2004 | access-date=January 6, 2014 | last=Bolden | first=Charles F. | subject-link=Charles F. Bolden | interviewer1=Johnson, Sandra| interviewer2=Wright, Rebecca| interviewer3=Ross-Nazzal, Jennifer | work=NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project | location=Houston, Texas | url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/BoldenCF/BoldenCF_1-6-04.htm}}</ref>
While assigned to Fighter Squadrons 111 and 1, during the period April ] to September ], he saw duty aboard the ] (CVA-43) and the ] (CVN-65) -- flying combat missions in ]. He is a graduate of the Naval Fighter Weapons School, "Topgun." Gibson returned to the United States and an assignment as an ] instructor pilot with Fighter Squadron 124. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, ], in June ], and later became involved in the test and evaluation of F-14A aircraft while assigned to the Naval Air Test Center's Strike Aircraft Test Directorate.


His flight experience includes over 6,000 hours in over 50 types of civil and military aircraft. He holds airline transport pilot, multi-engine, and instrument ratings, and has held a private pilot rating since age 17. Gibson has also completed over 300 carrier landings. Gibson's flight experience included over 6,000 flying hours (14,000 hours in total) in over 140 types of civil and military aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/gibson-robert-lee/ |title=Robert Lee Gibson bio |website=Nationalaviation.org |access-date=October 30, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113080258/http://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/gibson-robert-lee/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He holds an airline transport pilot license. In 2006 he was required to stop flying for the airlines because he reached his 60th birthday. He still holds a multi-engine and instrument rating. He has held a private pilot rating since age 17. Gibson has also completed over 300 carrier landings.


==NASA experience== ==NASA career==
Selected by ] in January ], Gibson became an ] in August ]. Gibson has flown five missions: ] in ], ] in ], ] in ], ] in 1992, and ] in ]. Gibson served as Chief of the Astronaut Office (December ] to September ]) and as Deputy Director, Flight Crew Operations (March-November 1996). Selected by ] in January 1978, Gibson became an ] in August 1979. Gibson flew five missions: ] in 1984, ] in 1986, ] in 1988, ] in 1992, and ] in 1995. Gibson served as ] (December 1992 to September 1994) and as Deputy Director, Flight Crew Operations (March–November 1996).


On his first space flight Gibson was the pilot on the crew of STS 41-B which launched from the ], ], on ], ]. The flight accomplished the proper Shuttle deployment of two Hughes 376 communications satellites which failed to reach desired geosynchronous orbits due to upper stage rocket failures. Rendezvous sensors and computer programs were flight tested for the first time. The STS 41-B mission marked the first checkout of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU),and Manipulator Foot Restraint (MFR), with ] and ] performing two spectacular EVA's (space walks). The German Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS), Remote Manipulator System (RMS), six "Getaway Specials," and materials processing experiments were included on the mission. The eight-day orbital flight of Challenger culminated in the first landing on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center on ], ], and Gibson logged 191 hours in space. On his first space flight, Gibson was the pilot on the crew of STS 41-B which launched from the ], Florida, on February 3, 1984. The flight accomplished the deployment of two Hughes 376 communications satellites which later failed to reach desired geosynchronous orbits due to upper-stage rocket failures. The STS 41-B mission marked the first checkout of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), and Manipulator Foot Restraint (MFR), with ] and ] performing two EVAs (spacewalks). The German ] (SPAS), Remote Manipulator System (RMS), six "Getaway Specials", and materials processing experiments were included on the mission. The eight-day orbital flight of ''Challenger'' culminated in the first-ever landing at the Kennedy Space Center on February 11, 1984.


Gibson was the spacecraft commander of the STS-61-C mission. The seven-man crew on board the Orbiter '']'' launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on ], ]. During the six-day flight the crew deployed the SATCOM KU satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing. The mission concluded with a successful night landing at ], ], on ], ], and logged him an additional 146 hours in space. Gibson was the commander of the STS-61-C mission, and the first of only four people under the age of 40 to command an STS Orbiter. The seven-man crew on board the Orbiter '']'' launched from the Kennedy Space Center on January 12, 1986. During the six-day flight, the crew deployed the SATCOM Ku satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing. The mission concluded with a successful night landing at ], California, on January 18, 1986.


Gibson subsequently participated in the investigation of the Space Shuttle '']'' accident, and also participated in the redesign and recertification of the solid rocket boosters. Gibson subsequently participated in the investigation of the Space Shuttle '']'' ], and also participated in the redesign and recertification of the solid rocket boosters.<ref name=":0" />
]. It was Gibson who took the photo and later remarked imagining about the caption being "NASA Photo by Hooter" ] in 1984]]
As the commander of ], Gibson and his five-man crew launched from the Kennedy Space Center on December 2, 1988, aboard the Orbiter '']''. The mission carried a ] payload, and a number of secondary payloads. After 68 orbits of the Earth the mission concluded with a dry lakebed landing on Runway 17 at Edwards Air Force Base on December 6, 1988. The mission is noteworthy due to the severe damage ''Atlantis'' sustained to its critical heat-resistant tiles during ascent.


When in training for the 1991 ] mission, Gibson was involved in a collision during a weekend air race in Texas that left a second pilot dead and raised questions about the enforcement of rules banning such high-risk activity by expensively trained astronauts. He lost his flight status on NASA's T-38 training aircraft for one year, thus being unable to participate in the training for the mission.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/07/09/Two-shuttle-commanders-disciplined-grounded/8721647496000/ |title=Two shuttle commanders disciplined, grounded |website=UPI Archive |date=July 9, 1990 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |quote="Gibson also was barred from T-38 jet trainer flights for one year while Walker was grounded for 60 days. Neither pilot will be eligible for reassignment to a shuttle mission until they are back on T-38 flight status."}}</ref>
As the spacecraft commander of ], Gibson and his five-man crew launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on ], ], aboard the Orbiter '']''. The mission carried a ] payload, and a number of secondary payloads. After 68 orbits of the Earth the mission concluded with a dry lakebed landing on Runway 17 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on ], ]. Mission duration was 105 hours.


On Gibson's fourth space flight, the 50th ] mission, he served as spacecraft commander of ], ], which launched on ], ] aboard the Orbiter '']''. The mission was a cooperative venture between the ] and ], and included the first ] as a member of the seven-person crew. During the eight-day flight, the crew focused on life science and materials processing experiments in over forty investigations in the ] laboratory, as well as scientific and engineering tests performed aboard the Orbiter ''Endeavour''. The mission ended with a successful landing on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida after 126 orbits of the ] on ], ]. On Gibson's fourth space flight, the fiftieth ] mission, he served as commander of ], ], which launched on September 12, 1992, aboard the Orbiter '']''. The mission was a cooperative venture between the United States and Japan, and included the first Japanese astronaut, ], and the first African-American woman, ], in the crew. During the eight-day flight, the crew focused on life science and materials processing experiments in over forty investigations in the ] laboratory, as well as scientific and engineering tests performed aboard the Orbiter ''Endeavour''. The mission ended with a successful landing on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 20, 1992.


Most recently, (] to ], ]), Captain Gibson commanded a crew of seven-members (up) and eight-members (down) on Space Shuttle mission ]. This was the first Space Shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Space Station ], and involved an exchange of crews. The '']'' Space Shuttle was modified to carry a docking system compatible with the Russian Mir Space Station. It also carried a Spacelab module in the payload bay in which the crew performed various life sciences experiments and data collections. Mission duration was 235 hours, 23 minutes. On his last flight, (June 27 to July 7, 1995), Gibson commanded a crew of seven-members (up) and eight-members (down) on Space Shuttle mission ]. This was the first Space Shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Space Station ], and involved an exchange of crews. The '']'' Space Shuttle was modified to carry a docking system compatible with the Russian Mir Space Station. It also carried a Spacelab module in the payload bay in which the crew performed various life sciences experiments and data collections. When the hatch separating the two modules was opened, Gibson and Vladimir Dezhurov shook hands, symbolizing the newly-found cooperation between the United States of America and the ]. Later that day, ] ] in a statement mentioned that this handshake was a major breakthrough towards the ending of the ].


When giving public speeches, Gibson often jokes that he ended the Cold War.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/GibsonRL/GibsonRL_10-14-20.htm |title=Edited Oral History Transcript Robert L. "Hoot" Gibson |website=NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project |date=October 14, 2020 |access-date=November 7, 2021 |quote="Now Bill Clinton didn’t say, 'Well, Hoot ended the Cold War.' I’ve interpreted it that way."}}</ref>
In five space flights, Gibson has completed a total of 36&frac12; days in space.


In five space flights, Gibson completed a total of 36.5 days in space.
==Post-NASA experience==


==Post-NASA career ==
Gibson left NASA in November 1996 to and became a pilot for ]. In ], as reported by NASA Watch, Gibson was forced to retire as mandated by the ] for commercial airline pilots. Gibson has publically spoken out again federal regulations which require airline pilots to retire at age 60. <ref> http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou061027_gj_pilotsretire60.7e3e4603.html </ref> In December 2006, he joined the ] as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Test Pilot.
Gibson left NASA in November 1996 and became a pilot for ]. In 2006, as reported by NASA Watch, Gibson was forced to retire as mandated by the ] for commercial airline pilots. Gibson has publicly spoken out against federal regulations which require airline pilots to retire at age 60.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210215/http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou061027_gj_pilotsretire60.7e3e4603.html |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref> In December 2006, he joined the ] as ] and chief test pilot.<ref name="bensonspace">{{cite web|url=http://bensonspace.com/press/release12-14-06.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308103939/http://bensonspace.com/press/release12-14-06.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2007|title=Benson Space Company|date=March 8, 2007|access-date=September 8, 2018}}</ref> Gibson has flown 111 different aircraft types,<ref name="everything">{{cite journal |last=White |first=Robin |date=May 1, 2009 |title=The Man Who's Flown Everything |journal=] |publisher=] |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/The-Man-Whos-Flown-Everything.html}}</ref> and has become a regular competitor at the annual ].<ref name="everything"/> In 1998, Gibson flying the ] "Riff-Raff" won the Unlimited Class in the Inaugural Running of the EAA ] Race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airventurecuprace.com/racers/race-results/1998-race-results/|title=1998 EAA AirVenture Cup Official Race Results|date=January 11, 2017 }}</ref>


]
Source:
Beginning in 2009, Gibson flew as a demonstration pilot for ] Corporation to showcase the Premier 1A light business jet across the United States and overseas.

In 2010, The ], the United States' national aeromodeling organization, named Gibson a spokesperson and Ambassador to promote the hobby of radio controlled model flight and to encourage an interest in aviation amongst young people. Gibson has stated that his interest in manned flight and his career as a test pilot and astronaut has its origin in his building of model aircraft as a youth. Gibson remains an avid radio controlled model hobbyist and is reportedly constructing a flyable version of the experimental vertical take off and landing ] ''Pogo'' of the 1950s.

Gibson worked with the ] following the ]. This was documented in an '']'' episode several years later.

In September 2013, Gibson qualified the Hawker Sea Fury known as "September Fury" in race #232 at the 50th National Championship Air Races at a speed of 479.164&nbsp;mph. This is the fastest Sea Fury qualifying time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reports.airrace.org/2013/2013.Unlimited.Race.232.Report.html|title=2013 Aircraft Report|website=Reports.airrace.org|access-date=September 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202525/http://reports.airrace.org/2013/2013.Unlimited.Race.232.Report.html|archive-date=September 8, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2015, Gibson qualified the P-51D, known as "Strega" at the 52nd National Championship Air Races at a speed of 475.043, and won the Gold Unlimited Race finishing at 488.983&nbsp;mph average speed. He was crowned the Unlimited Gold Champion for 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reports.airrace.org/2015/2015.Unlimited.Gold.Results.Report.pdf|title=2015 Gold Unlimited Report|website=Reports.airrace.org|access-date=October 30, 2018|archive-date=October 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031052330/http://reports.airrace.org/2015/2015.Unlimited.Gold.Results.Report.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
On May 30, 1981, he married fellow astronaut, ] of ]. Their first child was born in July 1982. Gibson already had one child, a daughter, from his first marriage. Gibson and Seddon had two further children.

Gibson enjoys home-built aircraft, ], Unlimited Class Air Racing, ] and ] during his free time.

In October 2007, Gibson was a contestant on '']''. During his appearance, he became the first contestant to make it to the million-dollar question without using any of his cheats. He incorrectly answered the $1,000,000 question ("How many factors do 32 and 28 share?"). The correct answer is three; 1, 2, and 4. He answered with two (2 and 4). All of his prize money ($25,000) went to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

==Awards and honors==
* Awarded the ] (FAI) "]" (1991 and 2004)<ref name=faiawards> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518101058/http://www.fai.org/awards/recipient.asp?id=26300 |date=May 18, 2011 }}</ref>
* Awarded the "] Gold Medal" by the FAI<ref name=faiawards/>
* Awarded the ] (EAA) "Freedom of Flight" Award (1989)
* ] (2003)
* ] (2012)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/inducted-aviation-hall-fame-ohio-18002429#.UM_tDOQ71XE | title=4 to Be Inducted in Aviation Hall of Fame in Ohio | publisher=] | access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref>
* Established FAI world records for "Altitude in Horizontal Flight," Airplane Class C1A in 1991,<ref name="fai-8474">{{cite web |title=Robert Gibson (USA) (8474) |url=https://www.fai.org/record/8474 |website=Records |publisher=] |access-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330100255/https://www.fai.org/record/8474 |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |date=January 31, 1991 |url-status=live}}</ref> "Time to Climb to 9000 Meters" in 1994<ref name="fai-2059">{{cite web |title=Robert Gibson (USA) (2059) |url=https://www.fai.org/record/2059 |website=Records |publisher=] |access-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330100443/https://www.fai.org/record/2059 |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |date=November 12, 1994 |url-status=live}}</ref> and "Speed over a closed course" in 2004.<ref name="fai-9253">{{cite web |title=Robert L. Gibson (USA) (9253) |url=https://www.fai.org/record/9253 |website=Records |publisher=] |access-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330100715/https://www.fai.org/record/9253 |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |date=April 28, 2004 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Awarded the William F. Shea award for contribution to aviation from the ] (2012)<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Aviation Week & Space Technology|title=Robert L. Gibson|date=May 7, 2012|page=10}}</ref>
* ] Hall of Fame (2012)

Military awards include the:
* ]
* ]
* ] (3)
* ] with ]
* ]
* ]
* ] (2)
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/gibson_robert.pdf |title=Biographical Data: ROBERT L. GIBSON (CAPTAIN, USN RET.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER) | publisher=NASA |date=September 1997 |access-date=February 3, 2021}}
* *
* *
*


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Latest revision as of 20:36, 12 December 2024

American astronaut (born 1946)

For other people named Robert Gibson, see Robert Gibson (disambiguation). For other people named Hoot Gibson, see Hoot Gibson (disambiguation).
Robert Gibson
BornRobert Lee Gibson
(1946-10-30) October 30, 1946 (age 78)
Cooperstown, New York, U.S.
Other namesHoot
EducationSuffolk County Community College (AS)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (BS)
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Space career
NASA astronaut
RankCaptain, USN
Time in space36d 4h 15m
SelectionNASA Group 8 (1978)
MissionsSTS-41-B
STS-61-C
STS-27
STS-47
STS-71
Mission insignia
RetirementNovember 15, 1996

Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson (born October 30, 1946), (Capt, USN, Ret.), is a former American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and aeronautical engineer. A retired NASA astronaut, he also served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1992 to 1994. Today Gibson is active as a professional pilot, racing regularly at the annual Reno Air Races. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2003 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013, and has received several military decorations throughout his career.

Early life and education

Gibson was born October 30, 1946, in Cooperstown, New York. He graduated from Huntington High School, Huntington, New York as a part of the Class of 1964, and went on to earn an Associate degree in engineering science from Suffolk County Community College in 1966. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from California Polytechnic State University in 1969.

Military career

Gibson entered active duty with the U.S. Navy in 1969. He was commissioned through the Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS), and proceed to flight training. He received basic and primary flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola and Naval Air Station Saufley Field, Florida, and Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi. He completed advanced flight training at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas and was assigned to Fighter Squadron 121 (VF-121) at Naval Air Station Miramar, California for replacement training in the F-4 Phantom II.

While assigned to Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111) and Fighter Squadron 1 (VF-1) from April 1972 to September 1975, he saw duty aboard aircraft carriers USS Coral Sea and USS Enterprise, flying combat missions in Southeast Asia in the F-4 with VF-111 and making the initial operational carrier deployment of the F-14 Tomcat with VF-1. He is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, also known as "TOPGUN."

Gibson returned to the United States and an assignment as an F-14A instructor pilot with Fighter Squadron 124 (VF-124) at Naval Air Station Miramar. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland in June 1977 and later became involved in the test and evaluation of improvements to the F-14A aircraft while assigned to the Naval Air Test Center's Strike Aircraft Test Directorate.

Selected as a NASA astronaut, he continued to be promoted, eventually achieving the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy and the rank at which he retired from active naval service.

Charles F. Bolden, his copilot on STS-61-C, described Gibson and John Young as the two best pilots he had met "in my life in aviation, over thirty-five years; never met two people like them. Everyone else gets into an airplane; John and Hoot wear their airplane. They're just awesome".

Gibson's flight experience included over 6,000 flying hours (14,000 hours in total) in over 140 types of civil and military aircraft. He holds an airline transport pilot license. In 2006 he was required to stop flying for the airlines because he reached his 60th birthday. He still holds a multi-engine and instrument rating. He has held a private pilot rating since age 17. Gibson has also completed over 300 carrier landings.

NASA career

Selected by NASA in January 1978, Gibson became an astronaut in August 1979. Gibson flew five missions: STS-41-B in 1984, STS-61-C in 1986, STS-27 in 1988, STS-47 in 1992, and STS-71 in 1995. Gibson served as Chief of the Astronaut Office (December 1992 to September 1994) and as Deputy Director, Flight Crew Operations (March–November 1996).

On his first space flight, Gibson was the pilot on the crew of STS 41-B which launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on February 3, 1984. The flight accomplished the deployment of two Hughes 376 communications satellites which later failed to reach desired geosynchronous orbits due to upper-stage rocket failures. The STS 41-B mission marked the first checkout of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), and Manipulator Foot Restraint (MFR), with Bruce McCandless II and Bob Stewart performing two EVAs (spacewalks). The German Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS), Remote Manipulator System (RMS), six "Getaway Specials", and materials processing experiments were included on the mission. The eight-day orbital flight of Challenger culminated in the first-ever landing at the Kennedy Space Center on February 11, 1984.

Gibson was the commander of the STS-61-C mission, and the first of only four people under the age of 40 to command an STS Orbiter. The seven-man crew on board the Orbiter Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center on January 12, 1986. During the six-day flight, the crew deployed the SATCOM Ku satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing. The mission concluded with a successful night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on January 18, 1986.

Gibson subsequently participated in the investigation of the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, and also participated in the redesign and recertification of the solid rocket boosters.

The famous photo showing McCandless using the MMU. It was Gibson who took the photo and later remarked imagining about the caption being "NASA Photo by Hooter" STS-41-B in 1984

As the commander of STS-27, Gibson and his five-man crew launched from the Kennedy Space Center on December 2, 1988, aboard the Orbiter Atlantis. The mission carried a Department of Defense payload, and a number of secondary payloads. After 68 orbits of the Earth the mission concluded with a dry lakebed landing on Runway 17 at Edwards Air Force Base on December 6, 1988. The mission is noteworthy due to the severe damage Atlantis sustained to its critical heat-resistant tiles during ascent.

When in training for the 1991 STS-46 mission, Gibson was involved in a collision during a weekend air race in Texas that left a second pilot dead and raised questions about the enforcement of rules banning such high-risk activity by expensively trained astronauts. He lost his flight status on NASA's T-38 training aircraft for one year, thus being unable to participate in the training for the mission.

On Gibson's fourth space flight, the fiftieth Space Shuttle mission, he served as commander of STS-47, Spacelab-J, which launched on September 12, 1992, aboard the Orbiter Endeavour. The mission was a cooperative venture between the United States and Japan, and included the first Japanese astronaut, Mamoru Mohri, and the first African-American woman, Mae Jemison, in the crew. During the eight-day flight, the crew focused on life science and materials processing experiments in over forty investigations in the Spacelab laboratory, as well as scientific and engineering tests performed aboard the Orbiter Endeavour. The mission ended with a successful landing on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 20, 1992.

On his last flight, (June 27 to July 7, 1995), Gibson commanded a crew of seven-members (up) and eight-members (down) on Space Shuttle mission STS-71. This was the first Space Shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir, and involved an exchange of crews. The Atlantis Space Shuttle was modified to carry a docking system compatible with the Russian Mir Space Station. It also carried a Spacelab module in the payload bay in which the crew performed various life sciences experiments and data collections. When the hatch separating the two modules was opened, Gibson and Vladimir Dezhurov shook hands, symbolizing the newly-found cooperation between the United States of America and the Russian Federation. Later that day, President Bill Clinton in a statement mentioned that this handshake was a major breakthrough towards the ending of the Cold War.

When giving public speeches, Gibson often jokes that he ended the Cold War.

In five space flights, Gibson completed a total of 36.5 days in space.

Post-NASA career

Gibson left NASA in November 1996 and became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. In 2006, as reported by NASA Watch, Gibson was forced to retire as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration for commercial airline pilots. Gibson has publicly spoken out against federal regulations which require airline pilots to retire at age 60. In December 2006, he joined the Benson Space Company as chief operating officer and chief test pilot. Gibson has flown 111 different aircraft types, and has become a regular competitor at the annual Reno Air Races. In 1998, Gibson flying the Hawker Sea Fury "Riff-Raff" won the Unlimited Class in the Inaugural Running of the EAA AirVenture Cup Race.

Hawker Sea Fury aka September Fury race 232

Beginning in 2009, Gibson flew as a demonstration pilot for Hawker Beechcraft Corporation to showcase the Premier 1A light business jet across the United States and overseas.

In 2010, The Academy of Model Aeronautics, the United States' national aeromodeling organization, named Gibson a spokesperson and Ambassador to promote the hobby of radio controlled model flight and to encourage an interest in aviation amongst young people. Gibson has stated that his interest in manned flight and his career as a test pilot and astronaut has its origin in his building of model aircraft as a youth. Gibson remains an avid radio controlled model hobbyist and is reportedly constructing a flyable version of the experimental vertical take off and landing Convair XFY-1 Pogo of the 1950s.

Gibson worked with the National Transportation Safety Board following the 2011 Reno Air Races crash. This was documented in an Air Disasters episode several years later.

In September 2013, Gibson qualified the Hawker Sea Fury known as "September Fury" in race #232 at the 50th National Championship Air Races at a speed of 479.164 mph. This is the fastest Sea Fury qualifying time.

In September 2015, Gibson qualified the P-51D, known as "Strega" at the 52nd National Championship Air Races at a speed of 475.043, and won the Gold Unlimited Race finishing at 488.983 mph average speed. He was crowned the Unlimited Gold Champion for 2015.

Personal life

On May 30, 1981, he married fellow astronaut, Rhea Seddon of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Their first child was born in July 1982. Gibson already had one child, a daughter, from his first marriage. Gibson and Seddon had two further children.

Gibson enjoys home-built aircraft, Formula One Air Racing, Unlimited Class Air Racing, running and surfing during his free time.

In October 2007, Gibson was a contestant on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?. During his appearance, he became the first contestant to make it to the million-dollar question without using any of his cheats. He incorrectly answered the $1,000,000 question ("How many factors do 32 and 28 share?"). The correct answer is three; 1, 2, and 4. He answered with two (2 and 4). All of his prize money ($25,000) went to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

Awards and honors

Military awards include the:

References

  1. ^ "Biographical Data: ROBERT L. GIBSON (CAPTAIN, USN RET.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)" (PDF). NASA. September 1997. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  2. "Biographical Data: ROBERT L. GIBSON (CAPTAIN, USN RET.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)" (PDF). NASA. September 1997. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  3. Bolden, Charles F. (January 6, 2004). "Charles F. Bolden". NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project (Interview). Interviewed by Johnson, Sandra; Wright, Rebecca; Ross-Nazzal, Jennifer. Houston, Texas. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  4. "Robert Lee Gibson bio". Nationalaviation.org. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  5. "Two shuttle commanders disciplined, grounded". UPI Archive. July 9, 1990. Retrieved January 18, 2022. Gibson also was barred from T-38 jet trainer flights for one year while Walker was grounded for 60 days. Neither pilot will be eligible for reassignment to a shuttle mission until they are back on T-38 flight status.
  6. "Edited Oral History Transcript Robert L. "Hoot" Gibson". NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. October 14, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2021. Now Bill Clinton didn't say, 'Well, Hoot ended the Cold War.' I've interpreted it that way.
  7. TOP STORIES | KHOU.com | News for Houston, Texas Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Benson Space Company". March 8, 2007. Archived from the original on March 8, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  9. ^ White, Robin (May 1, 2009). "The Man Who's Flown Everything". Air & Space. Smithsonian Institution.
  10. "1998 EAA AirVenture Cup Official Race Results". January 11, 2017.
  11. "2013 Aircraft Report". Reports.airrace.org. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  12. "2015 Gold Unlimited Report" (PDF). Reports.airrace.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  13. ^ FAI Awards Database Archived May 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  14. "4 to Be Inducted in Aviation Hall of Fame in Ohio". ABC News. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  15. "Robert Gibson (USA) (8474)". Records. FAI. January 31, 1991. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  16. "Robert Gibson (USA) (2059)". Records. FAI. November 12, 1994. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  17. "Robert L. Gibson (USA) (9253)". Records. FAI. April 28, 2004. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  18. "Robert L. Gibson". Aviation Week & Space Technology: 10. May 7, 2012.

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Preceded byDaniel C. Brandenstein Chief of the Astronaut Office
1992–1994 		Succeeded byRobert D. Cabana
NASA Astronaut Group 8, "TFNG (Thirty-Five New Guys)", 1978
NASA Astronaut Group 7 ← NASA Astronaut Group 8 → NASA Astronaut Group 9
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