In the quiet expanse of space back in February 1994, Charles F. Bolden took his place at the commander’s station aboard the space shuttle Discovery. An iconic image from this era shows Bolden, STS-60 commander, in the forward flight deck, ready to steer Discovery on its ambitious mission. The venture’s highlights included an attempt to deploy the Wake Shield Facility-1, aimed at creating an ultra-high vacuum in low Earth orbit to enable unique experiments—exceeding Earth-based vacuum capabilities by a staggering factor of 10,000. Throughout the mission, the crew engaged in medical studies and conversed with global leaders from their orbital post.
Bolden’s tenure at NASA’s Astronaut Office spanned an impressive 14 years, starting in 1980. During this time, he journeyed into space four times from 1986 to 1994, twice as commander and twice as pilot of these pioneering shuttle flights.
His accomplishments soared even higher as he assumed the role of the 12th NASA Administrator. Under his leadership, NASA gave a significant boost to commercial space endeavors, specifically for low Earth orbital operations, enabling commercial cargo missions to the International Space Station, and laying the groundwork to allow American companies to launch astronauts from U.S. soil by 2017. Bolden also championed advancements in the aviation sector, pushing for the development of technology for quieter, cleaner, and faster aircraft. During the Bolden era, NASA achieved remarkable scientific milestones: placing Curiosity rover on Martian soil, launching a mission to Jupiter, enhancing Earth observation satellite systems, as well as paving the way for the anticipated launch of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Explore the incredible journey of Charles Bolden in detail by watching the first episode of “The Color of Space: The Series”.
Credit: NASA
Charles Bolden traveled to space four times.
The Wake Shield Facility-1 aimed to create a vacuum wake in low Earth orbit with purity levels 10,000 times higher than on Earth.
Charles Bolden became NASA Administrator in July 2009.
They included the promotion of commercial space transportation, Curiosity rover’s landing on Mars, launch of a Jupiter mission, advancement in Earth’s satellite fleet, and progress toward the James Webb Space Telescope launch.
You can watch “The Color of Space: The Series,” which provides a deep dive into Charles Bolden’s extraordinary life and career.
The legacy of Charles F. Bolden, shaped during his astronautical voyages and his tenure as NASA Administrator, is one marked by incredible achievements in space exploration, technological innovation, and scientific discovery. His leadership not only helped to progress human spaceflight but also ensured that earthbound pursuits were not left behind, nurturing advancements in aviation and satellite technology. Charlie Bolden’s story serves as an inspiration and showcases the endless possibilities when dedication meets opportunity under the stars.
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