Astronauts Steven Swanson, Mike Foreman and Stephen Frick
By Mary Alys Cherry
Three astronauts who helped build the International Space Station are retiring from NASA this summer after two decades with the space agency.
Stephen Frick, a retired Navy captain and U.S. Naval Academy graduate who flew as both a shuttle pilot and commander, left July 13 for a position in the private sector. A Pennsylvania native, he joined NASA in 1996 and spent 23 days in space while serving as pilot for STS-110 on Atlantis and as commander of STS-122, also on Atlantis.
Mike Foreman, also a retired Navy captain and U.S. Naval Academy graduate who flew on two shuttle missions, left July 31 to join a Houston-based consulting firm. The Ohio native spent 26 days in space and performed five spacewalks during the STS-123 mission on Endeavour and the STS-129 mission on Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Steven Swanson, who has a doctorate in computer science from Texas A&M and flew on three missions that included a long-duration stay on the space station, left Aug. 30 to join Boise State University in Idaho as a distinguished educator in residence. In addition to flying on STS-117 on Atlantis and STS-119 on Discovery, he spent six months as commander of the ISS in 2014.
NASA Astronaut Chief Chris Cassidy spoke highly of all three in announcing their departures.
