Rusty Schweickart
Russell Louis Schweickart arrived in Neptune Township, New Jersey on the 25th of October 1935. He grew up on a hardscrabble farm that produced hay and vegetables while raising poultry and cows. His family income stood at just $1800 annually when he received his scholarship to Massachusetts Institute of Technology after graduating from Manasquan High School in 1952. Young Rusty dreamed of becoming both a pilot and a cowboy during those early years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering through that scholarship program. Later he secured a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics by 1963.
Schweickart flew aboard Apollo 9 in March 1969 as the Lunar Module Pilot for the first crewed test flight. He spent just over 241 hours in space performing the very first extravehicular activity of the Apollo program. The mission tested the portable life support system used later by twelve astronauts who walked on the Moon. Schweickart suffered from space adaptation syndrome on the first day which forced postponement of the planned spacewalk. He eventually performed a brief EVA with his feet restrained on the LM porch platform. Command Module Pilot Scott conducted a stand-up EVA through the open hatch of the command module. During a five-minute pause tethered outside his spacecraft Schweickart felt he underwent a metaphysical experience staring at Earth.
Deke Slayton initially considered Schweickart a logical lunar module pilot for subsequent missions despite concerns about motion sickness. A bout of space sickness worried everyone so they did not put him back into another flight immediately. Schweickart became a motion sickness guinea pig for six months while testing procedures. He cycled into Skylab when Al Shepard assigned him to that role instead of returning him to Apollo. Alongside backup science pilot Story Musgrave and backup pilot Bruce McCandless II he served as backup commander of Skylab 2. Following loss of the station's thermal shield during launch he developed hardware and procedures for emergency solar shade deployment. These operations saved the space station after its solar array wing jammed shut.
Schweickart left NASA in 1977 to serve two years as California Governor Jerry Brown's assistant for science and technology. Brown then appointed him to California's Energy Commission where he served for five and a half years. He chaired that commission for three years during his tenure there. His work involved transferring NASA technology primarily Landsat 1 applications to outside users like the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He found this position thankless due to resistance from potential clients regarding new processes. The dearth of immediate flight opportunities ultimately precipitated his departure from NASA in 1977.
Inspired by friendship with Michael Murphy Schweickart established the Association of Space Explorers between 1984 and 1985. He co-founded the B612 Foundation in 2002 along with fellow former astronaut Ed Lu and two planetary scientists. This non-profit organization dedicated itself to defending Earth from asteroid impacts. Schweickart chaired the foundation before becoming its chair emeritus. In May 2005 he testified before the U.S. Congress on dangers posed by asteroid 99942 Apophis. He advocated increasing NASA's annual budget by $250M to $300M over ten years to catalog threatening near-Earth objects.
Schweickart retired from ALOHA Networks Inc in 1998 after serving as President and Chief Executive Officer since 1996. That company specialized in high performance wireless internet access equipment. He previously served as Executive Vice President of CTA Commercial Systems Inc directing Low Earth Orbit systems. Schweickart led efforts developing the GEMnet system a second generation LEO communication satellite constellation for global electronic messaging. Prior to that work he founded Courier Satellite Services Inc providing worldwide affordable data services through LEO satellites. His telecommunications career involved participation in the 1992 and 1995 World Radiocommunication Conferences of the International Telecommunication Union.
He received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1969 and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale De la Vaulx Medal in 1970. Schweickart won the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special Trustees Award in 1969 for transmitting first live TV pictures from space. The NASA Exceptional Service Medal followed in 1973 recognizing his leadership role during Skylab rescue efforts. He entered the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983 and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997. Main-belt asteroid was named in his honor. In 2012 Schweickart joined the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at San Diego Air & Space Museum. His grandfather Jacques emigrated from Lembach France to the United States in 1892 earning Rusty honorary citizenship of that town.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was Rusty Schweickart born?
Russell Louis Schweickart arrived in Neptune Township, New Jersey on the 25th of October 1935. He grew up on a hardscrabble farm that produced hay and vegetables while raising poultry and cows.
What mission did Rusty Schweickart fly as Lunar Module Pilot?
Schweickart flew aboard Apollo 9 in March 1969 as the Lunar Module Pilot for the first crewed test flight. He spent just over 241 hours in space performing the very first extravehicular activity of the Apollo program.
Why did Rusty Schweickart leave NASA in 1977?
The dearth of immediate flight opportunities ultimately precipitated his departure from NASA in 1977. He left to serve two years as California Governor Jerry Brown's assistant for science and technology.
Which organizations did Rusty Schweickart co-found or establish?
Rusty Schweickart established the Association of Space Explorers between 1984 and 1985. He also co-founded the B612 Foundation in 2002 along with fellow former astronaut Ed Lu and two planetary scientists.
When was Rusty Schweickart inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame?
He entered the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983 and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2012 Schweickart joined the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at San Diego Air & Space Museum.