Astronaut Profile
Charles Bolden
Pilot
Charles Bolden piloted the mission that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and later served as NASA Administrator from 2009 to 2017.
OrbitingTruths Archive
Pilot • Living
Biography
The person behind the mission
Charles F. Bolden Jr. was a U.S. Marine Corps aviator who flew four Space Shuttle missions, including STS-31 in 1990, which deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. He later commanded two additional missions before leaving NASA. In 2009, Bolden was appointed NASA Administrator, becoming the first African American to serve permanently in that role, leading the agency through the retirement of the Space Shuttle and the rise of commercial spaceflight partnerships.
Astronaut Details
Born
August 19, 1946
Birthplace
Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Role
Pilot
Program
Space Shuttle
Time in Space
28 days, 8 hours, 36 minutes
Missions
STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-45, STS-60
Recognition
Awards & Honors
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Marine Corps Distinguished Flying Cross