Dr. Richard Michael Linnehan

Dr Richard M. Linnehan is an experienced NASA astronaut with graduate training as a veterinarian, who has logged over 59 days in space and has taken six space walks. Currently, he is jointly assigned to both the Exploration and Integration branches of the Johnson Space Center’s Astronaut Office, as well as NASA’s IRB (Institutional Review Board) and IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee). Drawing from his firsthand knowledge of spaceflight, Dr. Linnehan continues to work on advanced initiatives in space suit design, EVA (extravehicular activity) training and physiological modeling research, while also directly supporting the development of next-generation spaceflight resistive exercise hardware and on-orbital exercise methodologies.

Dr. Anna Fisher

Born in New York City and raised in Southern California, Dr. Fisher holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry, as well as a Doctor of Medicine degree, from the University of California, Los Angeles. Selected as an astronaut in January 1978, Dr. Fisher was one of the “original six” women accepted into NASA’s Astronaut Training Program. Dr. Fisher became the first mother in space when she served as a mission specialist on STS-51A aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, which launched on November 8, 1984. During her NASA career, which spanned more than three decades, Dr. Fisher contributed to three major initiatives: the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and Orion, NASA’s new crew-rated exploration spacecraft. Prior to her retirement in April 2017, Dr. Fisher was also the oldest active American astronaut. In celebration of her retirement, Dr. Fisher sailed on the Viking itinerary Rhine Getaway in July 2017. Dr Fisher is also the godmother of Viking Orion.

Colonel Jack Fischer

Former NASA astronaut Colonel Jack Fischer is an air force command pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in 45-plus types of aircraft. After earning his BS in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and his master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT, he received his first assignment as an operational fighter pilot. Two combat tours and two rotations at the Pentagon later, he was selected by NASA in 2009 and served as a flight engineer in 2017 on board the International Space Station for Expeditions 51 and 52, logging 136 days in space with two space walks. The following year, he returned to the US Air Force to take a position at the Air Force Space Command.

In addition to numerous commendations and group awards for innovation and achievement, Colonel Fischer has received the Defense Superior Service and Meritorious Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, and NASA’s Distinguished Service and Space Flight Medals.

Barbara Morgan

Barbara Morgan served on Space Shuttle mission STS-118 after following a unique path to becoming a NASA astronaut. NASA selected Morgan as backup to Teacher-in-Space Christa McAuliffe, and together they trained with the Challenger Space Shuttle crew. After the 1986 Challenger accident,

Morgan assumed the role of Teacher-in-Space designee, speaking to educational organizations throughout the country. Later that year, Morgan returned to her public school classroom in Idaho until NASA selected her for the astronaut candidate class of 1998. In 2007, Morgan flew on board the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a two-week mission to help construct the International Space Station. By the time Morgan retired from NASA in 2008, she had logged more than 305 hours in space.

Following her retirement, Morgan accepted an appointment as Boise State University’s Distinguished Educator in Residence (now emeritus). She continues to work with the university, national and international education organizations, NASA and nonprofits.