Robert L. Curbeam

Former Astronaut Robert Curbeam was born and raised in Baltimore Maryland in 1962. He enjoys weightlifting, backpacking and sports. Robert has two children

A 1980 graduate from Woodlawn High School in Baltimore County, Robert continued his education to include a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1984. In addition he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School (1990). In 1991 Robert, completed his degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate school.

Robert is currently a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and the Association of Old Crows.

Special honors include Fighter Wing One Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) of the Year for 1989 and U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Best Developmental Thesis (DT-II) Award for Class 100.

In 1984 Robert graduated from the United States Naval Academy followed by Naval Flight Officer training. In 1986, he reported to Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11)and made overseas deployments to the Mediterranean and Caribbean Sea. In addition he was deployed to the Arctic and Indian Ocean flying F-14 Tomcats from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CV-59).

During his tour in VF-11, Robert served as a branch and division officer in the maintenance department as well as serving as squadron RIO training officer. He also attended Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top gun). Upon completion of USN Test Pilot School in December of 1991, Curbeam reported to the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate where he was the project officer for the F-14A/B Air-to-Grounds Weapons Separation Program. His three year effort in the job resulted in flight clearances for fleet crews of the F-14 Tomcat to carry 25 new types of ordnance and external stores. In August 1994, he returned to the U. S. Naval Academy as an instructor in the Weapons and Systems Engineering Department. He has over 3000 flight hours in more than 25 different aircraft and spacecraft.

Selected by NASA in December 1994, Curbeam reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. After completing a year of training and evaluation, he was assigned to the Computer Support Branch in the Astronaut Office. Curbeam served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) responsible for relaying all voice communication between Mission Control and crews aboard the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, CAPCOM Branch Chief and Payloads Group Lead. He was also responsible for representing the crew office in the design, training and operation of on orbit experiments and Safety Branch Chief for the astronaut office.

During the spring of 2002, he served as Deputy Associate Administrator Safety and Mission Assurance at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. He also served as Director of Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance for the Constellation Program, and as Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations. A veteran of three space flights (STS-85, -98, and -116), Curbeam has logged over 900 hours in space, including 7 EVAs totaling 45 hours and 34 minutes of spacewalking time.

In September 2007, Robert left NASA and also retired from the Navy .

Curbeam was the Flight Engineer on STS-85 onboard the space shuttle Discovery (August 7-19, 1997). During this mission, the crew deployed and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS payload, operated the Japanese Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm, studied changes in the Earth’s atmosphere and tested technology destined for use on the future International Space Station. Mission duration was 11 days, 20 hours, 26 minutes.

Curbeam was a mission specialist onboard the space shuttle Atlantis for STS-98 (February 7-20, 2001). This mission continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station (ISS) by delivering the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The Shuttle spent seven days docked to the station and Curbeam logged over 19 hours EVA hours in 3 space walks. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.

Curbeam was the flight engineer and lead spacewalker onboard the space shuttle Discovery for STS-116 (December 9-22, 2006). The crew continued construction of the ISS during three scheduled spacewalks by adding the P5 spacer truss segment and rewiring the station’s power system, preparing it to support the addition of European and Japanese sciencemodules by future shuttle crews. An additional spacewalk was added to allow the crew to retract a malfunctioning solar panel, resulting in Curbeam logging over 25 hours of EVA time during the four spacewalks. Mission duration was 12 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes.

Robert Curbeam (USN Ret.) joined ARES Corporation as Vice President and Manager of Houston Operations, on December 3, 2007. He presently serves as the Senior Vice President in charge of ARES’ Aerospace and Defense Division.