Colonel Guy S. Gardner Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Guy S. Gardner
NASA Astronaut (Former)

PERSONAL DATA: Born January 6, 1948, in Alta Vista, Virginia, and grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. Married to the former Linda A. McCabe of Guilderland, New York. They have three wonderful children: Jennifer, Sarah, and Jason.

EDUCATION: Was graduated from George Washington High School in Alexandria, Virginia in 1965; received a bachelor of science degree with majors in astronautics, mathematics, and engineering sciences from the United States Air Force Academy in 1969 and a master of science degree in astronautics from Purdue University in 1970.

SPECIAL HONORS: Air Force Legion of Merit, 2 Defense Superior Service Medals, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, 3 Air Force Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Air Medals, National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, Distinguished Graduate of the USAF Academy, Top Graduate in Pilot Training, and Top Graduate from the USAF Test Pilot School, Test Pilot School Outstanding Academic Instructor, Test Pilot School Outstanding Flying Instructor, and Distinguished Astronaut Engineering Alumnus of Purdue University.

EXPERIENCE: Gardner completed U.S. Air Force pilot training at Craig Air Force Base, Alabama, and F-4 upgrade training at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida in 1971. In 1972, he flew 177 combat missions in Southeast Asia while stationed in Uborn, Thailand. In 1973-74, he was an F-4 instructor and operational pilot at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. He attended the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base California, in 1975, and then served as a test pilot with the 6512th Test Squadron located at Edwards in 1976. In 1977-78, he was an instructor test pilot at the USAF Test Pilot School. In 1979-1980, he was operations officer of the 1st Test Squadron at Clark Air Base, Philippines.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Gardner was selected as a pilot astronaut by NASA in May 1980. During his 11 years as an astronaut, he worked in many areas of Space Shuttle and Space Station development and support. In 1984, he was assigned as pilot on the first Space Shuttle mission to launch from Vandenberg AFB, California. That mission was later canceled. Gardner first flew in space as pilot on the crew of STS-27, aboard the Orbiter Atlantis, on December 2-6, 1988. The mission carried a Department of Defense payload. Gardner next flew as pilot on the crew of STS-35, aboard the Orbiter Columbia, on December 2-10, 1990. The mission carried the ASTRO-1 astronomy laboratory consisting of three ultraviolet telescopes and one x-ray telescope.

Gardner left NASA in June 1991 to command the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

In August 1992, Gardner retired from the Air Force and returned to NASA to direct the joint U.S. and Russian Shuttle-Mir Program.