Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, announced today that Brian Duffy, Vice President of Johnson Space Center Exploration Programs for the company’s Propulsion Systems Division, received the honor of being inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Duffy was selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 1985. A veteran of four spaceflights – two as pilot and two as commander – he logged 977 hours and spent nearly 40 days in space. On his first two shuttle flights, STS-45 in 1992 and STS-57 in 1993, he served as the pilot of Atlantis and Endeavour on missions to study the effects of the Sun on the Earth’s atmosphere and to work on the first commercially developed Spacehab module. In 1996 as commander of Endeavour STS-72, Duffy led the retrieval of a Japanese microgravity research spacecraft from orbit. Four years later he commanded Discovery’s STS-92 mission to continue assembly of the International Space Station.
“Brian Duffy was an outstanding astronaut,” said Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division and previous Astronaut Hall of Fame inductee. “I am proud to have him as a leader on my team as he continues to contribute to the progress of human space flight supporting NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion programs.”
Duffy, who joined Orbital ATK in 2011, primarily supports the program team providing the five-segment solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Space Launch System. The SLS, along with NASA’s Orion spacecraft, provides a flexible deep space exploration platform to take humans and cargo to multiple destinations across our solar system. The second SLS booster qualification motor, QM-2, is now being prepared for its static-fire test, scheduled for June 28.
“Brian was a great role model in the astronaut office and was known for his strong leadership-by-example style,” said Kent Rominger, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division and previous Astronaut Hall of Fame inductee. “His flying skills, both as an astronaut and fighter pilot, were legendary—the rest of us tried to emulate him.”
Duffy is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, having served for 26 years. While in the Air Force, he was an F-15 pilot. Following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, he served as a test pilot and program manager for uniquely modified F-15 aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base. Duffy has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 25 different types of aircraft.
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Duffy received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California.
