posted 09-27-2011 10:03 AM               

Astronaut Charles Hobaugh Leaves NASA

NASA astronaut Charles Hobaugh has left the agency to pursue an outside career. Hobaugh's last day with NASA was Sept. 23.

"Charlie is one of a kind. Not only an immensely skilled aviator, he continuously strived for and pushed for the best from our office and our larger mission support team," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office.

Hobaugh, a retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He flew as a pilot on STS-104 in 2001 and STS-118 in 2007. He went on to command STS-129 in 2009, ending his NASA career with more than 875 hours of spaceflight experience.