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Megan McArthur Retires from NASA, leaving Legacy on Hubble and Commercial Spaceflight
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A trailblazing career spanning more than two decades has come to a close as astronaut Megan McArthur has retired from NASA, marking the end of an era for both human space exploration and the agency’s transition to commercial partnerships. McArthur logged 213 days in orbit across two spaceflights and held key leadership positions, solidifying her place in NASA history.
A Career Defined by Firsts
mcarthur’s journey began with a childhood shaped by frequent moves as the daughter of a Navy family, according to a NASA statement. She pursued her passion for the cosmos with a degree in aerospace engineering from UCLA and a doctorate in oceanography from UC San Diego’s scripps institution,ultimately being selected for NASA’s astronaut class in 2000.
Did you know?– McArthur operated the space shuttle’s robotic arm during the final servicing flight to the Hubble Space Telescope. she is credited as the last person to physically interact with the telescope, releasing it from the arm at the mission’s conclusion. This mission was in 2009.
Her first mission launched in May 2009 aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on STS-125, the final servicing flight to the Hubble space Telescope. During the two-week mission, McArthur skillfully operated the shuttle’s robotic arm, grappling the telescope while her crewmates conducted critical repairs and upgrades. NASA credits McArthur as the last person to physically interact with Hubble, releasing it from the robotic arm at the mission’s conclusion.
did you know?– In 2021, McArthur became the first woman to pilot SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. This historic flight carried her to the International Space Station for a six-month mission. She supported station maintenance and conducted research into human physiology, robotics, and materials science.
In 2021, McArthur onc again broke barriers, becoming the first woman to pilot SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. This historic flight carried her to the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-month, long-duration mission as a flight engineer for Expeditions 65/66. She and her three crewmates supported station maintenance and conducted research into human physiology, robotics, and materials science.
Bridging Eras of Space Exploration
McArthur’s career represents a pivotal moment in spaceflight. She is recognized as one of the first astronauts to usher NASA into an era of collaboration with commercial space companies like SpaceX. Her husband, fellow NASA astronaut Bob Behnken, previously piloted SpaceX’s first crewed flight, Demo-2, in 2020, further cementing the family’s role in this transition.McArthur followed shortly after, launching aboard the same spacecraft for her ISS rotation.
Pro tip:– McArthur’s career highlights NASA’s shift toward commercial partnerships. Her flights with spacex, following her husband’s, exemplify this transition. This collaboration allows NASA to focus on deep space exploration while private companies handle ISS missions.
Between her two flights, McArthur contributed to NASA leadership at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. She served as the assistant director of flight operations for the ISS beginning in 2017, and in 2019, she became deputy division chief of the Astronaut Office, supporting astronaut training and growth.
Continuing to Inspire the next Generation
In 2022, McArthur transitioned to the role of chief science officer at Space Center Houston, NASA’s official visitor center. She will continue in this capacity following her NASA departure,focusing on promoting spaceflight and STEM (science,technology,engineering,and math) education to students and families.
Reader question:– What is STEM? STEM stands for science,technology,engineering,and math. McArthur is promoting STEM education to inspire future generations. this is a key part of her role at Space Center Houston, following her NASA retirement.
“It was an amazing privilege to serve as a NASA astronaut, working with scientists from around the world on cutting-edge research that continues to have a lasting impact here on Earth and prepares humanity for future exploration at the moon and Mars,” McArthur said in a statement.
