posted 09-09-2005 08:21 AM               

Rocketplane has announced Oklahoma astronaut John B. Herrington joined the company Sept. 6, 2005 as Vice President/Director of Flight Systems. He will also serve as Chief Test Pilot for the XP Spaceplane.

"John is a NASA astronaut, however, it is his many spectacular talents and abilities that make him valuable to the Rocketplane team," said Rocketplane President George French.

"He is a military test pilot, knows flight avionics and astronautics, and knows the environment of space. To us, John is an asset in that he brings education, knowledge, experience, and skills to finish and test our spaceplane, which will regularly take civilian astronauts into space."

posted 09-09-2005 02:46 PM               

Astronaut John Herrington (Cmdr., USN) has departed NASA to pursue a career as a commercial test pilot. Herrington is joining Rocketplane Limited Inc. in Oklahoma City, to serve as Vice President; Director of Flight Systems; and Chief Test Pilot.

Herrington is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. He is the first Native American to fly in space and perform a spacewalk. Herrington was selected by NASA as an astronaut in 1996. He flew aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-113 to the International Space Station in November 2002.

"John Herrington is a remarkable aviator and astronaut," said Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger. "We'll miss his can-do spirit, but I know John will continue to do great things in private sector aerospace initiatives and in reaching out to young people everywhere."

posted 01-09-2007 10:48 PM               

University of Colorado release

The first U.S. Native American astronaut and an alumnus of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will lead the university's Center for Space Studies.

John B. Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation who flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2002, will direct the Center for Space Studies, one of three centers within the National Institute of Science, Space and Security Centers at UCCS. The Center for Space Studies is responsible for developing future space professionals and takes a lead role in organizing a consortium of universities to offer courses to members of the military and civilians in the aerospace industry.

Herrington is currently vice president and director of flight operations for Oklahoma City-based Rocketplane-Kistler, Inc. He will retain his position with Rocketplane in addition to half-time duties with UCCS. He begins Dec. 4.

"We are honored to have a distinguished university alumnus and one of America's heroes join the university," Peg Bacon, interim vice chancellor, Academic Affairs, said. "With John Herrington's leadership, I believe we will build successful partnerships with the military, with industry, and with other universities, to educate the next generation of space professionals."

Herrington served as U.S. Naval aviator, instructor, and test pilot, achieving the rank of Captain. He joined NASA in 1996 where he served in numerous capacities supporting the space shuttle and space station programs. In Nov. 2002, he served as the flight engineer aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station. He logged more than 330 hours in space, of which nearly 20 hours were spent performing spacewalks. He left NASA in 2005 to join Rocketplane where he is responsible for the development and flight test of the world's first hybrid space vehicle as well as mission operations for commercial cargo re-supply of the International Space Station.

He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from UCCS in 1983 and a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. He has maintained close ties to the university, inviting former instructors to the launch of the Space Shuttle and returning to campus to address students.

Herrington has served as a television commentator and is active in promoting science and math careers to youth.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to return to UCCS in an active role to promote space studies," Herrington said. "UCCS was responsible for laying the groundwork for my career and I look forward to returning the favor to the next generation of students."

UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 26 bachelor's degrees, 17 master's and three doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,600 students annually.

posted 01-03-2008 01:37 AM               

Former astronaut John Herrington recently resigned from Rocketplane Global Inc., the Oklahoma City-based company that plans to operate a commercial spacecraft that will take travelers to space.

Herrington was slated to pilot Rocketplane's vehicle, the XP.

"I was fortunate during my tenure at Rocketplane to work with an incredibly talented group of professionals," Herrington said. "My decision to leave was a difficult one."

Herrington said he plans to continue doing public speaking engagements as well as work with the Chickasaw Nation.

posted 07-14-2008 10:58 PM               

John Herrington, who orbited Earth six years ago, will get a different view as he rides a bicycle across the country.

The former astronaut told legislators from 16 states at the Southern Leadership Conference of the Council of State Governments on Monday that the purpose of his trip is to get students interested in mathematics and the sciences.

Many scientists who have been with NASA since the Apollo moon missions of the 1960s and early 1970s are retiring, Herrington said.

Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, plans to leave Cape Flattery, Wash., on Aug. 13 and pedal his way southeast through Oklahoma until he arrives in Cape Canaveral, Fla. He plans to log about 100 miles a day and stop at several schools and Indian tribes along the 4,000-mile trip.

Herrington, 49, who lives near Guthrie, will talk with students at a school near Ada and stop by the headquarters of the Chickasaw Nation, one sponsor of his trip, dubbed Rocketrek. He will write about his progress on a Web site, rocketrek.net, which is still being developed.