Joseph M. Acaba

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Joseph Michael "Joe" Acaba
Joseph M. Acaba
NASA Astronaut
Nationality American
Status Active
Born May 17, 1967 (1967-05-17) (age 41)
Inglewood, California
Other occupation Hydrogeologist
Selection 2004 NASA Group 19
Missions

Joseph Michael "Joe" Acabá (born May 17, 1967) is a Puerto Rican-American teacher, hydrogeologist and NASA astronaut.[1][2] In May 2004 he became the first person of Puerto Rican heritage to be named as a NASA astronaut candidate when he was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Training Group 19.[3] He completed his training on February 10, 2006 and is currently assigned to STS-119, tentatively set to launch on December 4, 2008 to deliver the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.

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[edit] Early life

Acabá's parents, Ralph and Elsie Acabá, moved from Puerto Rico in the mid-1960s to Inglewood, California. They later moved to Anaheim in the same state. Since his childhood, Acabá enjoyed reading, especially science fiction. In school, he excelled in both science and math. As a child, his parents constantly exposed him to educational films, but it was the 8-mm film showing astronaut Neil Armstrong's Moon landing which really intrigued him about outer space. During his senior year in high school, Acabá became interested in scuba diving and became a certified scuba diver through a job training program at his school. This experience inspired him to further his academic education in the field of geology.[4] In 1985, he graduated with honors from Esperanza High School in Anaheim.[5]

[edit] Education

In 1990, Acabá received his Bachelor's Degree in Geology from the University of California - Santa Barbara and in 1992, he earned his Master's Degree in Geology from the University of Arizona. Acabá was a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserves where he served for six years. He also worked as a hydrogeologist in Los Angeles, California. Acabá spent two years in the United States Peace Corps and trained over 300 teachers in the Dominican Republic in modern teaching methodologies. He then served as Island Manager of the Caribbean Marine Research at Lee Stocking Island in the Exumas, Bahamas. Upon his return to the U.S., Acabá moved to Florida where he became Shoreline Revegetation Coordinator in Vero Beach. Acabá taught one year of science and math in high school and four years at the Dunnellon Middle School.[6]

[edit] NASA career

STS-119 Mission Insignia
STS-119 Mission Insignia

On May 6, 2004, Acabá and ten other people where selected among 99 applicants by NASA as astronaut candidates. NASA's administrator, Sean O'Keefe, in the presence of John Glenn, announced the members of the "19th group of Astronaut Candidates", an event which hasn't been repeated since 1958 when the original group of astronauts was presented to the world.

Acabá, who is an Educator Mission Specialist, completed his astronaut training on February 10, 2006 along with the other ten Astronaut Candidates.[7][8] Upon completion of his training, Acabá was assigned to the Hardware Integration Team in the International Space Station branch, working technical issues with European Space Agency (ESA) hardware.[1][9]

Acabá is assigned to the crew of STS-119 as Mission Specialist Educator, tentatively scheduled to launch on December 4, 2008 to deliver the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.[10]

[edit] Recognition

On March 18, 2008 he was honored by the Senate of Puerto Rico, which sponsored his first trip to that American territory since being selected for space flight.[11] During his visit, which was announced by the President of the Puerto Rican Senate, the Honorable Kenneth McClintock, he met with schoolchildren at the Capitol, as well as at the Bayamón, Puerto Rico Science Park, which includes a planetarium and several surplus NASA rockets among its exhibits.

[edit] See also

Puerto Rico Portal
United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b NASA (February 2006). Astronaut Bio: Joseph Acaba. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
  2. ^ NASA. NASA Hispanic Astronauts. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
  3. ^ NASA. Astronaut Class of 2004 (Group 19). NASA. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
  4. ^ NASA (2006). Astronaut Candidate Interviews - Joseph Acaba. NASA. Retrieved on November 21, 2007.
  5. ^ NASA (May 6, 2004). Joe Acaba, Mission Specialist-Educator. 2004 Astronaut Class. NASA. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
  6. ^ NASA (February 2006). Astronaut Bio: Joseph Acaba. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
  7. ^ NASA (May 6, 2004). Joe Acaba, Mission Specialist-Educator. 2004 Astronaut Class. NASA. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
  8. ^ NASA (September 23, 2004). Meet NASA's Future Explorer - Joe Acaba. NASA. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
  9. ^ NASA (September 23, 2004). Meet NASA's Future Explorer - Joe Acaba. NASA. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
  10. ^ NASA (2007). NASA Assigns Crew for Final Solar Array Delivery to Station (English). NASA. Retrieved on October 19, 2007.
  11. ^ ADENDI

[edit] External links

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