posted 07-11-2012 04:35 PM               

NASA astronaut Mark Polansky leaves agency

NASA astronaut Mark Polansky has left the agency. His last day with NASA was June 30.

Above: Mark Polansky, STS-127 commander, is pictured near the control panels and windows on the aft flight deck of the space shuttle Endeavour.

Polansky is a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He flew as a pilot on the STS-98 mission in 2001 and served as commander for STS-116 in 2006 and STS-127 in 2009. Polansky ends his NASA career with more than 41 days in space.

"Mark is a remarkably talented individual," Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office, said. "His skills as an aviator coupled with his engineering expertise were a valuable contribution to our team. We wish him well in his future endeavors."

A former U.S. Air Force officer, Polansky joined NASA as a research pilot in 1992 and was selected for the astronaut corps in 1996. Before flying in space, Polansky served in multiple technical roles including space shuttle capsule communicator and chief instructor astronaut. His most recent NASA assignment included duties as director of operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical and astronautical engineering and a Master of Science in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

posted 09-18-2012 02:30 PM               

Barrios Technology welcomes former NASA Astronaut Mark Polansky to our senior management team. Polansky will serve as Mission Integration Manager on Barrios' newest contract, Mission and Program Integration (MAPI) as well as assume the lead role for Barrios' commercial space business.

Polansky, who left the space agency June 30, was a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He flew as a pilot on the STS-98 mission in 2001 and served as commander for STS-116 in 2006 and STS-127 in 2009. Polansky ends his NASA career with more than 41 days in space.

"I am very excited and proud to join the Barrios team," Polansky said. "Barrios has a reputation for excellence in providing engineering and programmatic services to the ISS Program, especially with respect to flight manifesting and certification processes for all vehicle traffic to ISS. I look forward to contributing to this great team as we start the new MAPI contract, as well as our development and involvement with commercial space."

A former U.S. Air Force officer, Polansky joined NASA as a research pilot in 1992 and was selected for the astronaut corps in 1996. His most recent NASA assignment included duties as director of operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.