Astronauts Rick Sturckow (right) and Pat Forrester make a presentation Aug. 2 at NASA Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss., about their recent space shuttle mission, STS-117. Sturckow and Forrester thanked employees for the reliability and safe performance of the space shuttle's main engines, which are all tested and proved flight-worthy at SSC. The astronauts delivered a video of their mission's highlights, held a question-and-answer session, met one-on-one with employees and presented two Silver Snoopy awards during their visit. The STS-117 mission, which launched June 8, delivered a truss segment and a set of U.S. solar arrays, batteries and associated equipment to the International Space Station. Sturckow commanded the mission; Forrester was a mission specialist who performed two of STS-117's four spacewalks.

S117-E-07203 (13 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, uses a computer on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day six activities while docked with the International Space Station.

S117-E-07204 (13 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, uses a computer on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day six activities while docked with the International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- S95-05777-- Astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, commander.

S95-05777 (15 Mar. 1995) --- Astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, commander.

S117-E-06669 (9 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, works with a plastic bag on the middeck of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

S128-E-006483 (29 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, drinks a beverage on the middeck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

S117-E-06622 (9 June 2007) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (left) and Lee Archambault, STS-117 commander and pilot, respectively, look over procedures checklists on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis.

S128-E-008330 (7 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, poses for a photo with the growing collection, in the Unity node, of insignias representing crews who have worked on the International Space Station.

S128-E-006514 (29 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, occupies the commander’s station on the forward flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

S128-E-006315 (29 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, gives a “thumbs-up” signal while exercising on a bicycle ergometer on the middeck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery.

S117-E-06611 (9 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, looks over procedures checklists while seated at the commander's station on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis.

S128-E-009687 (8 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, gives a “thumbs-up” signal on the middeck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day 12 activities.

S128-E-007133 (31 Aug. 2009) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (left), STS-128 commander, and Jose Hernandez, mission specialist, work on the middeck of Space Shuttle Discovery while docked with the International Space Station.

S128-E-006266 (29 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, occupies the commander’s station on the forward flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

S117-E-06948 (10 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, aims binoculars through one of the overhead windows on the aft flight deck of the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it approaches the International Space Station.

S128-E-006858 (30 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, occupies the commander’s station on the forward flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day three activities.

S117-E-06625 (9 June 2007) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (left) and Lee Archambault, STS-117 commander and pilot, respectively, look over procedures checklists on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis.

JSC2006-E-51894 (30 Nov. 2006) --- Astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, STS-117 commander, prepares for a flight in a NASA T-38 trainer jet at Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center.

S128-E-006496 (29 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, is pictured on the middeck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

S128-E-006313 (29 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, gives a “thumbs-up” signal while exercising on a bicycle ergometer on the middeck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery. Astronaut Nicole Stott, mission specialist, is visible at right.

S128-E-007126 (31 Aug. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow (right), STS-128 commander, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20 flight engineer, work in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

S128-E-007122 (31 Aug. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow (right), STS-128 commander, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20 flight engineer, look over a checklist in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

S128-E-007498 (4 Sept. 2009) ---- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, is pictured at the commander's station on the flight deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The shuttle is currently docked with the International Space Station while the STS-128 astronauts work with the Expedition 20 crewmembers aboard the orbital outpost.

STS088-342-034 (13 Dec. 1998) --- NASA astronaut James Newman (left), with NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, pilot, looking on, enjoys some beef jerky on the middeck while Endeavour was in Earth orbit. Photo credit: NASA

JSC2006-E-32647 (3 Aug. 2006) --- While seated at the commander's station, astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, STS-117 commander, participates in a training session in the crew compartment trainer (CCT-2) in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. Sturckow is wearing a training version of his shuttle launch and landing suit.

STS105-E-5167 (13 August 2001) --- Astronauts James S. Voss (left) and Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow install the Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility experiment at the Express 1 rack aboard the Destiny laboratory. The installation is part of the hardware transfer operations that the station and shuttle crews are sharing. Voss has been serving as Expedition Two flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) for five months. Sturckow is the pilot for STS-105. The image was recorded with a digital still camera.

STS088-359-003 (4-15 Dec. 1998) --- Astronaut Frederick W. ?Rick? Sturckow, pilot, holds up a panel while putting final touches on the interior of Node 1 or Unity. Sturckow, who had been working with a battery-powered tool, was joined by other crew members in preparing the module for its International Space Station (ISS) duty.

JSC2006-E-32682 (3 Aug. 2006) --- Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and landing suits, astronauts Patrick G. Forrester (left) and Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, STS-117 mission specialist and commander, respectively, participate in a training session in the high fidelity mockup/trainers in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. Trainer Robert H. Tomaro assisted Forrester and Sturckow.

JSC2009-E-207787 (12 Sept. 2009) --- Stephen Lindsey, chief of the astronaut office, greets NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, as the STS-128 crew members exit a Gulfstream aircraft prior to the crew return ceremonies at Ellington Field near NASA?s Johnson Space Center. Pictured behind Sturckow (front to back) are NASA astronauts Kevin Ford, pilot; Patrick Forrester and Jose Hernandez, both mission specialists. Crew members not pictured are NASA astronauts John ?Danny? Olivas and Tim Kopra; along with European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, all mission specialists.

STS105-E-5283 (16 August 2001) --- Astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, STS-105 pilot, reviews a procedures checklist on the aft flight deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery which is currently docked to the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.

S128-E-007834 (6 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, works in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), temporarily attached to the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

STS088-306-020 (4-15 December 1998) --- Astronauts Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (top), pilot, and Jerry L. Ross, mission specialist, are ready for their sleep period in this middeck scene aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Endeavour.

S128-E-007939 (7 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, adds his crew’s patch to the growing collection, in the Unity node, of insignias representing crews who have worked on the International Space Station.

S128-E-007889 (6 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Rick Sturckow (left), STS-128 commander; Nicole Stott, Expedition 20 flight engineer; and Tim Kopra, STS-128 mission specialist, pose for a photo on the middeck of Space Shuttle Discovery while docked with the International Space Station.

S128-E-006516 (29 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, holds a rendezvous procedure manual while occupying the commander’s station on the forward flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

S117-E-09480 (17 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, gives a "thumbs-up" signal after placing the STS-117 mission insignia along with others in the Unity node of the International Space Station.

ISS003-E-5165 (17 August 2001) --- Astronauts Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow (left), STS-105 pilot, Daniel T. Barry and Patrick G. Forrester, both mission specialists, work on various tasks in the Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.

S128-E-006857 (30 Aug. 2009) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (left) and Kevin Ford, STS-128 commander and pilot, respectively, occupy their stations on the forward flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day three activities.

ISS003-E-6201 (August 2001) --- Astronauts Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow (left), STS-105 pilot, and Patrick G. Forrester, mission specialist, exchange handshakes aboard the Unity node on the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.

S128-E-007828 (6 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, works in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), temporarily attached to the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

S128-E-007940 (7 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, adds his crew’s patch to the growing collection, in the Unity node, of insignias representing crews who have worked on the International Space Station.

JSC2009-E-207807 (12 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-128 crew return ceremony on Sept. 12, 2009 at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S117-E-07050 (12 June 2007) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (left) and Jim Reilly, STS-117 commander and mission specialist, respectively, use a computer in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station during flight day five activities while Space Shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station.

S128-E-007472 (3 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Rick Sturckow (right) and Patrick Forrester, STS-128 commander and mission specialist, respectively, are pictured as they work on the middeck of Space Shuttle Discovery while docked with the International Space Station.

Members of the crew of STS-128, from left, Commander Rick Sturckow, mission specialists Patrick Forrester, Jose Hernandez and European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, speak to the audience during a presentation in the auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

ISS003-E-6185 (August 2001) --- Astronauts Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow (left), STS-105 pilot, and Scott J. Horowitz, mission commander, add their names to the ship’s log of visitors in the Unity node on the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.

JSC2009-E-207841 (12 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, is pictured at the STS-128 crew return ceremony on Sept. 12, 2009 at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center.

STS105-E-5290 (16 August 2001) --- Astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, STS-105 pilot, reviews a procedures checklist on the aft flight deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery which is currently docked to the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.

ISS015-E-11970 (12 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, poses for a photo in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station during flight day five activities while Space Shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station.

ISS015-E-12924 (12 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, holds a camera near a hatch on the International Space Station during flight day five activities while Space Shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station.

STS105-E-5187 (14 August 2001) --- Astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, STS-105 pilot, uses a camcorder to document supplies and hardware on the mid deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery, which is currently docked to the International Space Station (ISS). The image was recorded with a digital still camera.

STS117-S-051 (22 June 2007) --- NASA Dryden Flight Research Center director Kevin Petersen greets astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, as the crewmembers exit NASA's Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV) after a successful landing at 12:49 p.m. (PDT) on June 22, 2007 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Following behind Sturckow are astronauts Lee Archambault, pilot; Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson and John "Danny" Olivas, all mission specialists. Not pictured is astronaut Jim Reilly, mission specialist.

ISS020-E-038338 (5 Sept. 2009) --- The STS-128 crewmembers found a few moments on a day between two spacewalk days to pose for some portraits on the International Space Station. Pictured on the front row, from the left, are astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander, Jose Hernandez and Patrick Forrester, both mission specialists. In the back, from left, are astronauts Kevin Ford, pilot, and John "Danny" Olivas, with European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, both mission specialists.

STS088-319-019 (4 - 15 DECEMBER 1998) --- A planning session on Endeavour's middeck includes all but one of the crew members. From the left are astronaut Jerry L. Ross, cosmonaut Sergei K. Krikalev, and astronauts Robert D. Cabana, James H. Newman and Nancy J. Currie. Missing from the scene is astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, who took the photo.

ISS020-E-038329 (5 Sept. 2009) --- The STS-128 crewmembers found a few moments on a day between two spacewalk days to pose for some portraits on the International Space Station. Pictured on the front row, from the left, are astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander, Jose Hernandez and Patrick Forrester, both mission specialists. In the back, from left, are astronauts Kevin Ford, pilot, and John "Danny" Olivas, with European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, both mission specialists.

ISS020-E-037314 (1 Sept. 2009) --- This scene, showing the cabin of Space Shuttle Discovery while docked with the International Space Station, was photographed by one of the space walking astronauts during the mission?s first session of extravehicular activity (EVA). Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, can be seen through a forward flight deck window.

JSC2009-E-207857 (12 Sept. 2009) --- NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) director Michael L. Coats addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-128 crew return ceremony on Sept. 12, 2009 at Ellington Field near JSC. Also pictured (from the second left) are NASA astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Kevin Ford, pilot; Patrick Forrester, Jose Hernandez, John ?Danny? Olivas and European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, all mission specialists.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS117-S-002 -- These six astronauts take a break from traiing to pose for the STS-117 crew portrait. Scheduled to launch aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis are (from the left) astronauts James F. Reilly II and Steven R. Swanson, mission specialists; Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, commander; Lee J. Archambault, pilot; Patrick G. Forrester and John D. (Danny) Olivas, mission specialists. The crew members are attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits.

ISS003-E-5188 (17 August 2001) --- Astronaut James S. Voss, Expedition Two flight engineer, photographs astronauts Scott J. Horowitz (front left), STS-105 mission commander, Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, pilot, Daniel T. Barry (back left), and Patrick G. Forrester, both mission specialists, in the Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.

STS088-370-006 (4-15 Dec. 1998) --- The STS-88 crew members pose for the traditional inflight crew portrait in the U.S.-built Unity connecting module. From left to right, bottom, are astronauts Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, pilot; Robert D. Cabana, mission commander; and Nancy J. Currie, mission specialist. Top row, cosmonaut Sergei K. Krikalev, representing the Russian Space Agency, along with astronauts James H. Newman and Jerry L. Ross, all mission specialists.

ISS015-E-11788 (10 June 2007) --- The STS-117 crewmembers pose for a portrait in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station shortly after Space Shuttle Atlantis docked with the station. From the left (front row) are astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Lee Archambault, pilot; and Patrick Forrester, mission specialist. From the left (back row) are astronauts John "Danny" Olivas, Clayton Anderson, Jim Reilly and Steven Swanson, all mission specialists.

S128-E-009976 (8 Sept. 2009) --- European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang (center), NASA astronauts Jose Hernandez (left background), Tim Kopra (left mostly out of frame), all STS-128 mission specialists; along with Rick Sturckow, commander, are pictured on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day 12 activities.

ISS015-E-11794 (10 June 2007) --- The STS-117 crewmembers pose for a portrait in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station shortly after Space Shuttle Atlantis docked with the station. From the left (front row) are astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Lee Archambault, pilot; and Patrick Forrester, mission specialist. From the left (back row) are astronauts John "Danny" Olivas, Clayton Anderson, Jim Reilly and Steven Swanson, all mission specialists.

ISS020-E-037104 (31 Aug. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow (right), STS-128 commander; along with European Space Agency astronauts Frank De Winne (left), Expedition 20 flight engineer; and Christer Fuglesang, STS-128 mission specialist, prepare to open the hatch that will lead into the temporarily installed Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module while Space Shuttle Discovery remains docked with the International Space Station.

ISS020-E-037312 (1 Sept. 2009) --- This scene, showing the cabin of Space Shuttle Discovery while docked with the International Space Station, was photographed by one of the space walking astronauts during the mission?s first session of extravehicular activity (EVA). Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, can be seen through a forward flight deck window.

STS088-307-005 (4-15 December 1998) --- Astronauts James H. Newman (left) and Jerry L. Ross, both mission specialists, congratulate each other following one of their three extravehicular activities (EVA). The two had just doffed their Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMU) with the aid of astronaut Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (out of frame), pilot.

STS105-314-024 (10-22 August 2001) --- Astronaut Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow (center), STS-105 pilot, is about to add his name to the log of visitors to the International Space Station (ISS) during a brief break in the orbital outpost's Unity node. Astronaut Scott J. Horowitz, STS-105 mission commander, is at right.

S117-E-07676 (16 June 2007) --- The STS-117 crewmembers gather for a group portrait during a joint crew press conference in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station. From the left (front row) are astronauts Lee Archambault and Rick Sturckow, pilot and commander, respectively. From the left (back row) are astronauts Patrick Forrester, Jim Reilly, Steven Swanson and John "Danny" Olivas, all mission specialists.

S117-E-07679 (16 June 2007) --- The STS-117 crewmembers gather for a group portrait during a joint crew press conference in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station. From the left (front row) are astronauts Lee Archambault and Rick Sturckow, pilot and commander, respectively. From the left (back row) are astronauts Patrick Forrester, Jim Reilly, Steven Swanson and John "Danny" Olivas, all mission specialists.

ISS015-E-11959 (12 June 2007) --- STS-117 crewmembers take a moment to pose for a photo while working various tasks in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station during flight day five activities while Space Shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station. Pictured at left are astronauts Patrick Forrester (foreground), Jim Reilly, both mission specialists; and Rick Sturckow, commander. On the right are astronauts Steven Swanson (foreground) and John "Danny" Olivas, both mission specialists.

JSC2010-E-046777 (5 April 2010) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) for the STS-131 mission, is pictured at his console in the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center during launch countdown activities a few hundred miles away in Florida, site of space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 launch.

STS-88 crew members participate in the Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT) for that mission in KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Discussing the mission are, from left to right, Pilot Rick Sturckow, Mission Specialists Jerry Ross and Nancy Currie, and Commander Bob Cabana. The CEIT gives astronauts an opportunity to get a hands-on look at the payloads with which they will be working on-orbit. STS-88, the first ISS assembly flight, is targeted for launch in July 1998 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour

JSC2010-E-046772 (5 April 2010) --- Astronauts George Zamka (left) and Rick Sturckow, both spacecraft communicators (CAPCOM) for the STS-131 mission, are pictured at their consoles in the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center during launch countdown activities a few hundred miles away in Florida, site of space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 launch.

Pilot Rick Sturckow, left of center, and Mission Specialist Jerry Ross, right of center, participate in the Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT) for STS-88 in KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. The CEIT gives astronauts an opportunity to get a hands-on look at the payloads with which they will be working on-orbit. Here, the crew is inspecting electrical connections that will be used in assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). STS-88, the first ISS assembly flight, is targeted for launch in July 1998 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour

ISS003-E-5186 (17 August 2001) --- Astronauts Scott J. Horowitz (bottom left), STS-105 mission commander, Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, pilot, Daniel T. Barry (top left), and Patrick G. Forrester, both mission specialists, pause from their daily activities to pose for this photo in the Destiny laboratory while visiting the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.

STS088-329-025 (4-15 Dec. 1998) --- Astronauts Robert D. Cabana, commander (left), seated in the commanders station; Frederick W. “Rick” Sturckow, pilot (right), seated in the pilot’s station; and Nancy J. Currie, mission specialist, on the flight deck of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The three were involved with rendezvous operations with the Russian-built FGB Module (Zarya) at the time the photo was taken.

S128-E-007008 (30 Aug. 2009) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (right), STS-128 commander; and Patrick Forrester, mission specialist, are pictured near the hatch on the middeck of Space Shuttle Discovery after docking with the International Space Station. The two spacecraft docked at 7:54 p.m. (CDT), and the Discovery crew entered the orbital outpost at 9:59 p.m. (CDT) on Aug. 30.

S128-E-007468 (2 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Rick Sturckow (left) and Jose Hernandez, STS-128 commander and mission specialist, respectively, pose for a photo with an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), temporarily attached to the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

S117-E-07229 (13 June 2007) --- Crewmembers on the International Space Station give a "thumbs-up" signal following a successful session of extravehicular activity (EVA) while Space Shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station. Pictured (from the left, clockwise) are astronauts Jim Reilly, John "Danny" Olivas, Steven Swanson, Sunita Williams, all STS-117 mission specialists; Clayton Anderson, Expedition 15 flight engineer; Patrick Forrester, STS-117 mission specialist; and Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander.

S128-E-007010 (30 Aug. 2009) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (bottom), STS-128 commander; John “Danny” Olivas (right) and Patrick Forrester, both mission specialists, are pictured near the hatch on the middeck of Space Shuttle Discovery after docking with the International Space Station. The two spacecraft docked at 7:54 p.m. (CDT), and the Discovery crew entered the orbital outpost at 9:59 p.m. (CDT) on Aug. 30.

JSC2010-E-046809 (5 April 2010) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (foreground) and George Zamka, both spacecraft communicators (CAPCOM) for the STS-131 mission, are pictured in the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center during launch countdown activities a few hundred miles away in Florida, site of space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 launch.

STS117-S-052 (22 June 2007) --- The STS-117 crew poses in front of the Space Shuttle Atlantis after a successful landing at 12:49 p.m. (PDT) on June 22, 2007 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. From the left are astronauts Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, both mission specialists; Rick Sturckow, commander; Lee Archambault, pilot; John "Danny" Olivas and Jim Reilly, both mission specialists.

JSC2010-E-046802 (5 April 2010) --- An overall view of the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center during launch countdown activities a few hundred miles away in Florida, site of space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 launch. Visible in the foreground (from the left) are flight directors Tony Ceccacci and Bryan Lunney; along with astronauts Rick Sturckow and George Zamka, both spacecraft communicators (CAPCOM).

JSC2010-E-018976 (7 Feb. 2010) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-130 spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM), is pictured at his console in the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center during the first launch attempt of the STS-130 mission. The launch was postponed until Feb. 8, due to weather conditions.

JSC2010-E-019017 (8 Feb. 2010) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow (left), STS-130 spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM); and flight director Norm Knight are pictured at their consoles in the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center during launch countdown activities a few hundred miles away in Florida, site of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 launch. Flight directors Bryan Lunney (left) and Tony Ceccacci are visible in the background.

JSC2010-E-046808 (5 April 2010) --- Astronauts Rick Sturckow (foreground) and George Zamka, both spacecraft communicators (CAPCOM) for the STS-131 mission, watch the big screens in the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center during launch countdown activities a few hundred miles away in Florida, site of space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 launch.

S128-E-007465 (2 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Rick Sturckow (foreground) and Jose Hernandez, STS-128 commander and mission specialist, respectively, work in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), temporarily attached to the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. An empty Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit floats nearby inside the module.

STS105-E-5198 (15 August 2001) --- Ten astronauts and cosmonauts dine in the Zvezda Service Module. Clockwise from lower left corner are Scott J. Horowitz, Frederick W. (Rick) Sturckow, Vladimir N. Dezhurov, Mikhail Tyurin, Susan J. Helms, Frank L. Culbertson, Yury V. Usachev, James S. Voss and Patrick G. Forrester. Daniel T. Barry is out of frame at lower right. Dezhurov, Tyurin and Usachev represent Rosaviakosmos. The image was recorded with a digital still camera.

JSC2010-E-018924 (7 Feb. 2010) --- Astronauts Steve Frick (left) and Rick Sturckow, both STS-130 spacecraft communicators (CAPCOM), monitor data at their consoles in the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center as they anticipate the launch of STS-130. The launch attempt was later postponed until Feb. 8, due to weather conditions.

Despite the launch scrub of Space Shuttle Mission STS-88, Commander Robert D. Cabana has a big smile as he returns to the crew quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building. Behind him in the astronaut van is Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow. The Space Shuttle Endeavour is slated to make another liftoff attempt on Friday, Dec. 4, for the first U.S. mission dedicated to the assembly of the International Space Station

JSC2010-E-019014 (8 Feb. 2010) --- An overall view of the space shuttle flight control room in the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center during launch countdown activities a few hundred miles away in Florida, site of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 launch. In the foreground are astronauts Rick Sturckow (left) and Steve Frick at the spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) console.

S117-E-07902 (18 June 2007) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, commander, pauses for a crewmate to take his picture during one of the rare moments of leisure during the STS-117 mission, following the crew's return to the Space Shuttle Atlantis. In chorus with the cosmonauts and astronauts on the International Space Station, Sturckow's crew earlier had successfully carried off four sessions of extravehicular activity to perform important work on the ISS. Crews aboard the space shuttle Atlantis and the space station bid farewell to one another and closed the hatches between their spacecraft at 5:51 p.m. on this day in preparation for the shuttle's departure the following morning at 9:42 a.m. The hatch closing wrapped up eight days of docked operations.

ISS020-E-037050 (30 Aug. 2009) --- Expedition 20 crew members are pictured in the Harmony node of the International Space Station as Space Shuttle Discovery’s crew ingress through the station’s Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA-2). Pictured (from the left) are Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne and NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, all flight engineers; along with Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka (partially out of frame at right), commander. Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, is visible in the background as he leads his crew onto the space station.

ISS020-E-038341 (5 Sept. 2009) --- The STS-128 crewmembers found a few moments on a day between two spacewalk days to pose for some portraits on the International Space Station. Pictured on the front row, from the left, are astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Jose Hernandez and Patrick Forrester, both mission specialists. In the middle of the "clock" arrangement is astronaut Nicole Stott, an Expedition 20 flight engineer who came up to the orbital outpost with this crew. In the back, from left, are astronauts Kevin Ford, pilot, and John "Danny" Olivas, with European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, both mission specialists.

Five NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut assigned to the STS-88 mission pose for a crew portrait. Seated in front (left to right) are mission specialists Sergei K. Krikalev, representing the Russian Space Agency (RSA), and astronaut Nancy J. Currie. In the rear from the left, are astronauts Jerry L. Ross, mission specialist; Robert D. Cabana, mission commander; Frederick W. “Rick” Sturckow, pilot; and James H. Newman, mission specialist. The STS-88 mission launched aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor on December 4, 1998 at 2:35 a.m. (CST) to deliver the Unity Node to the International Space Station (ISS).

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, Houston – STS128-S-002 (30 Jan. 2009) --- Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, these seven astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-128 crew portrait. Seated are NASA astronauts Rick Sturckow (right), commander; and Kevin Ford, pilot. From the left (standing) are astronauts Jose Hernandez, John "Danny" Olivas, Nicole Stott, European Space Agency's Christer Fuglesang and Patrick Forrester, all mission specialists. Stott is scheduled to join Expedition 20 as flight engineer after launching to the International Space Station on STS-128.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The astronauts for space shuttle Discovery’s STS-128 mission arrive at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility at 6:34 p.m. EDT in a NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft. Here, Commander Rick Sturckow disembarks from the modified Gulfstream II jet. Sturckow is making his fourth spaceflight. The crew has returned to Kennedy to prepare for launch on Aug. 25 at 1:36 a.m. EDT. The 13-day mission will deliver a new crew member and 33,000 pounds of equipment to the International Space Station. The equipment includes science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – STS-128 Commander Rick Sturckow is welcomed to Kennedy Space Center by Center Director Bob Cabana, a former astronaut himself. Sturckow will be making his fourth spaceflight. Space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission crew members arrived in a NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft, a modified Gulfstream II jet, at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility at 6:34 p.m. EDT. The crew has returned to Kennedy to prepare for launch on Aug. 25 at 1:36 a.m. EDT. The 13-day mission will deliver a new crew member and 33,000 pounds of equipment to the International Space Station. The equipment includes science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

STS088-352-034 (4-15 Dec. 1998) --- This scene photographed from the top of Node 1 shows the nose of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, during one of three space walks. Astronaut James H. Newman, mission specialist (frame center), was joined by astronaut Jerry L. Ross, mission specialist (out of frame), for the extravehicular activity (EVA) to ready for release the recently-joined Russian-built Zarya Module (FGB) and the United States-built Unity (Node 1) Module. Fellow crew members Robert D. Cabana, commander (left window), and Frederick W. ?Rick? Sturckow, pilot, observe the EVA through aft flight deck overhead windows at left center.