NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, second from right, speaks to Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton, second from left, and Astrobotic Mission Director, Sharad Bhaskaran, left, about their lunar lander, Friday, May 31, 2019, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Md. Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Orbit Beyond have been selected to provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program's lunar surface exploration. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, second from right, speaks to Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton, left, and Astrobotic Mission Director, Sharad Bhaskaran, second from left, about their lunar lander, Friday, May 31, 2019, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Md. Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Orbit Beyond have been selected to provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program's lunar surface exploration. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton, second from right, speaks about their lunar lander, Friday, May 31, 2019, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Md. Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Orbit Beyond have been selected to provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program's lunar surface exploration. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
From left to right, NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen; Astrobotic Mission Director, Sharad Bhaskaran; Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton; Chairman of the Board of Intuitive Machines, Kam Ghaffarian; VP of Research and Development of Intuitive Machines, Tim Crain; President and CEO of OrbitBeyond, Siba Padhi; Chief Science Officer, OrbitBeyond, Jon Morse; and NASA Press Officer, Felicia Chou, front center, put their thumbs up at the conclusion of an event announcing the companies that will provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program's lunar surface exploration, Friday, May 31, 2019, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Md. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
From left to right, NASA Press Officer, Felicia Chou; NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen; Astrobotic Mission Director, Sharad Bhaskaran; Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton; Chairman of the Board of Intuitive Machines, Kam Ghaffarian; VP of Research and Development of Intuitive Machines, Tim Crain; President and CEO of OrbitBeyond, Siba Padhi; and Chief Science Officer, OrbitBeyond, Jon Morse talk about their lunar landers, Friday, May 31, 2019, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Md. Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and OrbitBeyond have been selected to provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program's lunar surface exploration. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Chief Science Officer, OrbitBeyond, Jon Morse speaks about their lunar lander with, from left to right, NASA Press Officer, Felicia Chou; NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen; Astrobotic Mission Director, Sharad Bhaskaran; Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton; Chairman of the Board of Intuitive Machines, Kam Ghaffarian; VP of Research and Development of Intuitive Machines, Tim Crain; President and CEO of OrbitBeyond, Siba Padhi, Friday, May 31, 2019, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Md. Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and OrbitBeyond have been selected to provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program's lunar surface exploration. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Astrobotic Mission Director, Sharad Bhaskaran , third from left, speaks about their lunar lander with, from left to right, NASA Press Officer, Felicia Chou; NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen; Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton; Chairman of the Board of Intuitive Machines, Kam Ghaffarian; VP of Research and Development of Intuitive Machines, Tim Crain; President and CEO of OrbitBeyond, Siba Padhi; and Chief Science Officer, OrbitBeyond, Jon Morse, Friday, May 31, 2019, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Md. Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and OrbitBeyond have been selected to provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program's lunar surface exploration. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton, fourth from left, speaks about their lunar lander with, from left to right, NASA Press Officer, Felicia Chou; NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen; Astrobotic Mission Director, Sharad Bhaskaran; Chairman of the Board of Intuitive Machines, Kam Ghaffarian; VP of Research and Development of Intuitive Machines, Tim Crain; President and CEO of OrbitBeyond, Siba Padhi; and Chief Science Officer, OrbitBeyond, Jon Morse, Friday, May 31, 2019, at Goddard Space Flight Center in Md. Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and OrbitBeyond have been selected to provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program's lunar surface exploration. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, left, and NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate Thomas Zurbuchen, right, pose for a photograph with the representatives of the nine U.S. companies that are eligible to bid on NASA delivery services to the lunar surface through Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contracts, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The representatives of the companies are: Steve Altemus, President and CEO of Intuitive Machines; 2nd from left, Sean Mahoney, CEO, Masten Space Systems Inc; Eric Salwan, Director of Commercial Business Development, Firefly Aerospace; Jennifer Jensen, Vice President, National Security & Space, Draper; Joe Landon, VP of Advanced Programs, Commercial Civil Space, Lockheed Martin Space; Steve Bailey, Deep Space Systems Inc; Daven Maharaj, Chief Operating Officer, Moon Express Inc; John Thornton, CEO, Astrobotic Technology Inc; and Jeff Patton, Chief Engineering Advisor, Orbit Beyond Inc, 2nd from right. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
STS-33 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, crewmembers, wearing orange launch and entry suits (LESs) and launch and entry helmets (LEHs), are seated in their launch and entry positions on crew compartment trainer (CCT) flight deck during a training exercise in JSC Mockup and Integration Laboratory (MAIL) Bldg 9A. Commander Frederick D. Gregory (far right) is stationed at forward flight deck commanders controls, Pilot John E. Blaha (far left) at the pilots controls and on aft flight deck are mission specialists Manley L. Carter, Jr (left), MS F. Story Musgrave (center, holding clipboard), and MS Kathryn C. Thornton (standing). Overhead forward control panels are visible above the astronauts and aft flight deck onorbit station control panels and windows are visible in the background. Thornton is on the flight deck for this photo but during launch and entry will be seated on the middeck.
On November 22, 1989, at 7:23:30pm (EST), five astronauts were launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery for the 5th Department of Defense (DOD) mission, STS-33. Crew members included Frederick D. Gregory, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and mission specialists Kathryn C. Thornton, Manley L. (Sonny) Carter, and F. Story Musgrave.
S89-45737 (19 September 1989) --- Official STS-33 crew portrait. These five astronauts will be aboard the space shuttle Discovery for a scheduled November 1989 mission for the Department of Defense (DOD). Frederick D. Gregory (center, front) is mission commander. He is flanked by Kathryn C. Thornton and F. Story Musgrave, mission specialists. At rear are Manley L. Carter, Jr., mission specialist, and John E. Blaha, pilot.
On November 22, 1989, at 7:23:30pm (EST), five astronauts were launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery for the 5th Department of Defense (DOD) mission, STS-33. Crew members included Frederick D. Gregory, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and mission specialists Kathryn C. Thornton, Manley L. (Sonny) Carter, and F. Story Musgrave.
On November 22, 1989, at 7:23:30pm (EST), 5 astronauts were launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery for the 5th Department of Defense mission, STS-33. Photographed from left to right are Kathryn C. Thornton, mission specialist 3; Manley L. (Sonny) Carter, mission specialist 2; Frederick D. Gregory, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and F. Story Musgrave, mission specialist 1.
STS033-22-035 (22-27 Nov. 1989) --- STS-33 crewmembers, wearing mission polo shirts, pose on the middeck of the Space Shuttle Discovery for an in-flight crew portrait. Clockwise (starting at left) are astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, commander; Kathryn C. Thornton, mission specialist; John E. Blaha, pilot; Manley L. (Sonny) Carter Jr., and F. Story Musgrave, mission specialists.
STS033-S-010 (27 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery, with a crew of five astronauts aboard, touches down on a runway at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. The landing occurred at 16:31:02 p.m. (PST), Nov. 27, 1989. Onboard Discovery for the DOD-devoted mission were astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, Kathryn C. Thornton, F. Story Musgrave and Manley L. Carter.
On November 22, 1989, at 7:23:30pm (EST), five astronauts were launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery for the 5th Department of Defense (DOD) mission, STS-33. Crew members included Frederick D. Gregory, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and mission specialists Kathryn C. Thornton, Manley L. (Sonny) Carter, and F. Story Musgrave.
STS033-S-002 (22 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery heads for Earth orbit on the first post-Challenger nocturnal launch. Liftoff occurred at 7:23:29:989 p.m. (EST), November 22, 1989. This picture shows a side view of Discovery, one of its two solid rocket boosters (SRB) and the external tank. It represents a good example of the "diamond shock" effect, in the plume from the main engine, associated with Shuttle launches. Onboard for the DOD-devoted mission were Astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, F. Story Musgrave, Kathryn C. Thornton and Manley L. Carter.
S90-27591 (23 Jan 1990) --- STS-33 crewmembers, wearing launch and entry suit (LES), take a break from training activities to pose for group portrait in front of Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, at the 195 ft level elevator entrance at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39B. Left to right are Pilot John E. Blaha, Mission Specialist (MS) Kathryn C. Thornton, MS Manley L. Carter, Jr, Commander Frederick D. Gregory, and MS F. Story Musgrave. Visible in the background is the catwalk to OV-103's side hatch.
STS033-S-014 (27 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery is silhouetted against late afternoon California skies as it approaches the runway for landing at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. A five-member crew aboard was about to complete the DOD-devoted STS-33 mission. The landing occurred at 16:31:02 p.m. (PST), Nov. 27, 1989. Onboard Discovery for the mission were Astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, Kathryn C. Thornton, F. Story Musgrave and Manley L. Carter.
STS033-S-017 (27 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery is approached by safing vehicles and team members following its late-afternoon landing at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. A five member crew aboard had just completed the DOD-devoted STS-33 mission. The landing occurred at 16:31:02 p.m. (PST), Nov. 27, 1989. Onboard Discovery for the mission and still aboard the craft when this photo was made were Astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, Kathryn C. Thornton, F. Story Musgrave and Manley L. Carter.
STS033-S-003 (22 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery heads for Earth-orbit on the first post-Challenger nocturnal launch. Liftoff occurred at 7:23:29:989 p.m. (EST), November 22, 1989. This picture shows almost a full front view of the Space Shuttle Discovery, its two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) and the External Tank (ET). Onboard for the Department of the Defense (DOD) devoted mission were astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, F. Story Musgrave, Kathryn C. Thornton and Manley L. Carter.
STS033-S-009 (22 Nov 1989) --- Leaving the operations and checkout building for catching a van ride to the launch pad are the five astronaut crewmembers assigned to STS-33, a DOD-devoted mission. Displaying smiles and waves for the crowd on hand are (left to right) Astronauts Manley L. Carter, Kathryn C. Thornton; Frederick D. Gregory, commander; F. Story Musgrave and John E. Blaha. Behind them are (left to right), Olan J. Bertrand, Michael L. Coats (partially obscured) and Donald R. Puddy of the Johnson Space Center (JSC).
![KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seventeen new astronaut candidates visited the Vehicle Assembly Building as part of an orientation tour of KSC facilities. Here they are grouped around one of the external fuel tanks in the transfer aisle of the VAB. This latest group of candidates is the tenth chosen since the original seven Mercury astronauts. [From left, Michael J. McCulley, Curtis L. Brown Jr., Frank L. Culbertson Jr., Kathryn C. Thornton, Mark N. Brown, Mark C. Lee, Kenneth D. Cameron, John H. Casper, L. Blaine Hammond Jr., Charles Lacy Veach (deceased), James C. Adamson, William M. Shepherd, Sidney M. Gutierrez, Marsha S. Ivins, David G. Low, Michael J. Smith (deceased), Ellen S. Baker, Sonny Carter (deceased).]](https://images-assets.nasa.gov/image/108-KSC-84P-339/108-KSC-84P-339~medium.jpg)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seventeen new astronaut candidates visited the Vehicle Assembly Building as part of an orientation tour of KSC facilities. Here they are grouped around one of the external fuel tanks in the transfer aisle of the VAB. This latest group of candidates is the tenth chosen since the original seven Mercury astronauts. [From left, Michael J. McCulley, Curtis L. Brown Jr., Frank L. Culbertson Jr., Kathryn C. Thornton, Mark N. Brown, Mark C. Lee, Kenneth D. Cameron, John H. Casper, L. Blaine Hammond Jr., Charles Lacy Veach (deceased), James C. Adamson, William M. Shepherd, Sidney M. Gutierrez, Marsha S. Ivins, David G. Low, Michael J. Smith (deceased), Ellen S. Baker, Sonny Carter (deceased).]