posted 03-14-2009 11:11 AM               

I am now a "Former NASA Astronaut," & technically unemployed (at least until Monday); too busy with Everest prep to sleep in, though!

posted 03-20-2009 04:04 PM               

Scott Parazynski Joins Wyle Business Development Staff in Houston

A former astronaut and veteran of five space shuttle flights has been named a director of business development for Wyle's Integrated Science and Engineering Group based in Houston, Texas. Dr. Scott Parazynski joins Wyle to assist in the company's continued growth and diversification providing integrated science, engineering, and human health and performance services to the Federal Government. He will also assume the role of medical director for Wyle's Antarctic operations including support of the National Science Foundation's United States Antarctic Program. Wyle is competing for this program as a team member of Antarctic Research Support (ARS), a joint venture between CSC and EG&G.

"Scott brings extensive leadership, technical breadth and depth, and 'hands on' flight experience to assist Wyle as we grow our business," said Bob Ellis, group president of Wyle's Integrated Science and Engineering Group. "His strong leadership, background and qualifications will be a perfect complement to our highly skilled team. We're delighted to have him on board."

Parazynski was selected as a NASA Astronaut in March 1992 and is a veteran of five Space Shuttle flights. He has logged more than 1,381 hours in space including over 47 hours of extra-vehicular activity during seven spacewalks making him one of NASA's most experienced spacewalkers. He has flown to the Russian space station, Mir, and the International Space Station, and in the aftermath of the Columbia tragedy, he was the Astronaut Office Lead for Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System Inspection and Repair.

In addition to Parazynski's extensive space flight experience, he is a commercial, multiengine and instrumented-rated pilot, a licensed physician, entrepreneur and mountaineer. He has scaled major mountains in the Alaska Range, the Cascades, the Rockies and the Andes and this spring, Parazynski will return to Everest with the intention of summiting the world's highest peak.

Parazynski received his medical degree from Stanford University and was selected as a NASA Astronaut during his residency in emergency medicine. He is part of the adjunct faculty at Stanford Medical School, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and Auburn University's College of Engineering. He has received numerous honors and awards including the Flight Achievement Award from the American Astronomical Association and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.

Wyle is the prime contractor for two premier NASA Johnson Space Center contracts. Under the Bioastronautics Contract, Wyle provides medical operations, ground and flight research, space flight hardware development and fabrication, science and mission integration for flight, and habitability and environmental factors in support of the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, Constellation and Human Research programs. Under the Occupational Medicine and Occupational Health contract, Wyle provides clinical and occupational health care for NASA personnel and the astronaut corps.

Wyle, a privately held company, is a leading provider of high tech aerospace engineering and information technology services to the federal government on long-term outsourcing contracts. The company also provides life sciences services for NASA's astronaut corps as well as mission critical support services and space simulation; test and evaluation of aircraft, weapon systems, networks, and other government assets; and other engineering services to the aerospace, defense, nuclear power, communications and transportation industries.

posted 03-24-2009 02:41 PM               

Veteran Astronaut Scott Parazynski Leaves NASA

NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski is leaving the agency to take a job in the private sector. Parazynski, a medical doctor, is a veteran of five space shuttle flights and seven spacewalks.

"Scott is an exceptional astronaut who has served NASA and the Astronaut Office with distinction during these past 17 years," said Steve Lindsey, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "In particular, his spacewalking expertise has helped pave the way to successful assembly of the International Space Station. As a colleague, former crewmate, and friend, I wish him the very best in his future career -- he will be missed."

Parazynski flew on shuttle missions STS-66 in 1994, STS-86 in 1997, STS-95 in 1998, STS-100 in 2001 and STS-120 in 2007. He has logged more than 1,381 hours in space, including more than 47 hours spacewalking. Parazynski flew on missions that traveled to the Russian Mir Space Station and the International Space Station. He was selected as an astronaut in March 1992.

posted 11-09-2009 05:28 PM               

Former Astronaut Scott Parazynski, MD Named Chair-Elect of Challenger Center's Board of Directors

Challenger Center for Space Science Education announced today that former astronaut Scott Parazynski, MD has been named Chair-Elect of its Board of Directors. He will assume the role of the Chair of the Board in November 2010, succeeding Former Astronaut William F. Readdy.

"Scott is a top-notch leader and manager with a passion for education, and I look forward to working with him this year as he transitions to his next role as Chair of the Board," said Chair of the Board William F. Readdy.

"I want to express my gratitude to the Challenger Center Board of Directors, and to Bill Readdy, for placing their confidence in me to take on this leadership role. I am looking forward to supporting Challenger Center and its network of 47 Challenger Learning Centers in their educational mission to inspire students to study science and engineering. I am excited about Challenger Center's new initiatives to engage its millions of alumni and the general public in space and science programs," said Parazynski.

Parazynski is a physician and physiologist with expertise in human adaptation to stressful environments. He was selected to NASA's astronaut corps in 1992, and flew five Space Shuttle Missions and conducted seven spacewalks. He has spent more than eight weeks in space, and 47+ hours outside the vehicle on spacewalks. He has traveled more than 23 million miles in orbit. He is also an accomplished mountaineer, scuba diver, and pilot. Earlier this year he became the first astronaut to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest. He is currently Director of Business Development for Wyle's Integrated Science and Engineering Group based in Houston, Texas.

Parazynski received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Stanford University, continuing on to graduate with honors from Stanford Medical School. He served his medical internship at the Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard Medical School and had completed 22 months of a residency program in emergency medicine in Denver, Colorado when he was selected to the astronaut corps.

For a complete list of the Challenger Center Board of Directors, go to the center's website.

Using space exploration as a theme and simulations as a vehicle, Challenger Center creates positive educational experiences that raise students’ expectations of success, fosters a long-term interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and inspires students to pursue studies and careers in these areas.

posted 01-26-2010 06:18 PM               

Wyle's Scott Parazynski Serves as Honorary Captain of U.S. Luge Team in Vancouver Games

As a former astronaut, Wyle's Scott Parazynski has experienced a bit of speed and excitement in his life. Rocketing into space on five separate occasions aboard NASA Space Shuttles to enormous altitudes, he has also scaled the highest peak on earth, the 29,035-foot Mount Everest, during a May 2009 expedition.

His fascination with speed and adventure started earlier in life, however. He was once a competitive luge athlete, a sport that involves hurtling oneself down an iced track at speeds in excess of 80 miles an hour, pulling high-Gs in the process.

"Launching into space aboard a Shuttle firmly pushes you back against your seat at up to three times your normal body weight or three G's on a ride lasting eight and a half minutes," said Dr. Parazynski, who received a medical degree from Stanford. He also holds a commercial aircraft pilot license.

"In contrast, the quick turns of a luge track can violently slam your body and neck towards the icy track below at six or more G's, which is almost as much as fighter pilots can experience in high speed maneuvers. Thankfully, a ride down the luge track lasts less than a minute, and the accelerations are for very brief instants.

"And just like becoming an astronaut, piloting a luge in competition is something you train for over a long period of time. There's a powerful rush of adrenalin as you rocket down the track as you're first learning to pilot a sled. With experience you learn how to relax and maneuver with precision and efficiency."

Today, Parazynski is a director of business development for Wyle's Integrated Science and Engineering Group in Houston, Tex. The Group provides medical work, hardware like the "Colbert Treadmill" and other unique science and research services to NASA. He is actively involved with expanding the company's space related experience and business base into new markets, such as the National Science Foundation Antarctic Program, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Department of Defense.

As one of several honorary captains of the U.S. Luge team at the upcoming games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Parazynski is excited to again be part of a sport to which he has a strong connection.

In the mid-1980's before he became an astronaut, Parazynski was on the USA Luge National "B" Team. He raced in the 1988 Olympic trials and also coached the 1988 Philippine Olympic luge team. Ironically, his lone Filipino athlete is fellow Honorary 2010 U.S. Luge Team Captain, Ray Ocampo. Born in the Philippines and residing in California, Ocampo and Parazynski are longtime friends.

Parazynski, who served as Senator John Glenn's physician on STS-95, brought several USA Luge items with him into orbit, including a patch and a set of pins commemorating the luge team's two Olympic medals in 1998. The items were framed and currently hang on the walls of the USA Luge headquarters in Lake Placid, N.Y. In addition, Scott sent commemorative framed American flags which traveled with the space shuttle crew during each of his five missions. The flags are also displayed at the team's headquarters.

Over the years, Parazynski has remained close with USA Luge, including two visits to Lake Placid where he trained extensively during his time as a luge athlete. While in Lake Placid, he visited the local school children and delivered his inspiring message.

"We are thrilled and honored to have Scott as an honorary team captain," said Gordy Sheer, director of marketing and sponsorship for USA Luge. "He is a true inspiration not only to our athletes, but to people everywhere. His work ethic, achievement and dedication to excellence match up very well with our team's vision."

Parazynski will be in Whistler, B.C. to cheer on the team during their races on Feb. 13 to 17. He will meet with the team at several points during the Games and act as an ambassador for the team at press events leading up to the races.

Wyle is a leading provider of high tech aerospace engineering and information technology services to the federal government on long-term outsourcing contracts. The company also provides biomedical and engineering services for NASA's human space missions; test and evaluation of aircraft, weapon systems, networks, and other government assets; and other engineering services to the aerospace, defense, and nuclear power industries.

posted 02-15-2011 08:53 AM               

Physician and Former Astronaut Joins the Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Physician and former NASA Astronaut Scott Parazynski has been named Chief Medical Officer and Chief Technology Officer of The Methodist Hospital Research Institute.

One of NASA's most experienced spacewalkers, Parazynski spent 16 years as a Mission Specialist Astronaut. His innovations and patent filings include tools for extravehicular activity, spaceflight exercise countermeasures, medical devices and technologies for mountaineering safety and other harsh environments. He flew on five shuttle missions between 1994 and 2007 and has logged more than 1,381 hours in space, including more than 47 hours spacewalking.

"Dr. Parazynski will bring to Methodist a wealth of experience in taking new ideas from conception through trials to final execution," said Dr. Mauro Ferrari, president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston. "He will help catalyze innovation at the Research Institute with his unique background, combining medicine and technology to solve high-stakes challenges."

Parazynski comes to Methodist with an extensive history of innovation in challenging, extreme environments. With NASA, his expertise helped pave the way to successful assembly of the International Space Station.

"Scott Parazynski is one of the most capable and driven individuals I've had the pleasure of working with while serving at NASA," said Kent Rominger, former Chief of the Astronaut Office and Commander of the STS-100 Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station with Parazynski. "His innovative approach to solving complex issues made him invaluable to the space shuttle program."

In his role as Chief Technology Officer, Parazynski will have a broad view across The Methodist Hospital's clinical system to create solutions to clinical needs with new technology or new techniques.

"I plan to meet regularly with clinicians, be in the operating rooms, in the emergency department and in the clinics to help identify ideas for tools and technology that can help provide better, more effective medical care to our patients and patients across the world," Parazynski said. "Clinicians are busy people. I'm here to help them see their good, innovative ideas to fruition."

As Chief Medical Officer, Parazynski will have a parallel role. He will drive technological advancements that benefit patients and support translational research at Methodist. In doing this, he will integrate his knowledge of medicine and technology to streamline an effective process for seeing innovation move successfully from initial concept through design, patient safety testing and regulatory requirements to final product.

"I've been very privileged to know many great people in my life - great scholars and leaders, Nobel Laureates, inventors and entrepreneurs," said Dr. Greg Kovacs, professor of electrical engineering and medicine at Stanford University. "Scott stands out among them as one of the most down-to-Earth and humble, despite his incredible achievements as astronaut, explorer, inventor and physician."

Parazynski received his medical degree from Stanford Medical School. While at Stanford, he was supported by an NIH fellowship in cancer biology and received the NASA Graduate Student Researcher's Award. He completed his medical internship at the Brigham & Women's Hospital of Harvard Medical School. He had completed 22 months of a residency in emergency medicine in Denver when he was selected by NASA in 1992 to join the astronaut corps.

Parazynski is also an accomplished mountain climber, having summited Mount Everest and many other peaks worldwide. Additionally, he was the honorary captain of the U.S. Olympic luge team for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

He has authored numerous publications in the fields of space physiology, aerospace medicine, human adaptation to stressful environments and exobiology (the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe).

He holds several national and international teaching appointments. He is currently a visiting professor of space medicine at the University of Oxford, a consulting professor in the department of medicine at Stanford Medical School, and a clinical assistant professor of aerospace medicine at UTMB-Galveston. He is also chairman of the board of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education non-profit organization, motivating 400,000 school kids each year with simulated space missions.

posted 10-16-2014 06:47 AM               

Renowned space and Earth explorer joins SESE faculty

Scott Parazynski, a technology innovator, will engage students and develop research and programs to support human health in challenging environments

Arizona State University's first designated University Explorer, Scott Parazynski, has scaled Everest, orbited the Earth at 17,500 miles an hour and invented devices for surgery, spacewalking and the consumer market.

Parazynski joins the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and the School of Earth and Space Exploration in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as a professor of practice on Oct. 1.

He comes to ASU from the University of Texas Medical Branch's Center for Polar Medical Operations, where he was director and chief medical officer. There, he oversaw health care and medical screening for the National Science Foundation's U.S. Antarctic Program, both on-the-ice care and medical screenings, including telemedicine.

"Dr. Parazynski is remarkable, as a physical explorer and former astronaut, and as an entrepreneur who navigates many different areas of endeavor," said ASU President Michael M. Crow. "His experience and perspective can inform ASU's space initiatives, help pioneer our high performance medicine partnerships with the Mayo Clinic and build bridges in the areas of bioengineering, earth and space sciences."

Parazynski holds a doctor of medicine with deep expertise in the fields of space physiology, aviation, biotechnology and human adaptation to extreme environments. He says that while he wanted to help people, he also looked to the stars from an early age.

"My father worked on Apollo, and it was always a dream of mine to go to space," said Parazynski. "However, it only became tangible when I began my medical training at Stanford Medical School. It was there that I realized, with NASA's Ames Research Center just down the street, I could craft a career that combined my two life-long career aspirations: to be an explorer and physician."

Over the course of 16 years, Parazynski was a mission specialist, physician, flight engineer and one of NASA's most experienced spacewalkers. He flew on five Space Shuttle missions, including STS 66/Atlantis, STS 86/Atlantis to the Russian Space Station Mir, STS 95/Discovery and STS 100/Endeavour to the International Space Station. On his last mission, STS 120/Discovery, he led the unplanned repair of a live solar array, a $1 billion national asset that required new tools and technical development in less than 72 hours.

Parazynski is the recipient of two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, five NASA Space Flight Medals, the Randolph C. Lovelace Award from the Society of NASA Flight Surgeons, the Aviation Week Laureate Award and Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorer's Club for his contributions.

Parazynski believes that his greatest skill set is creative problem-solving. As a technology innovator, he hopes to engage ASU students in clinical and laboratory environments, and develop research and technology programs to support human health in challenging environments. As a scientist, his unique perspectives can support ASU's NASA and commercial space endeavors. And as an inventor, he believes that building multidisciplinary teams offers the power to navigate uncharted territories and engineer new approaches, from the challenges of deep space exploration to rural telemedicine, commercialization of inventions and STEM education.

"Young people are excited by the allure of invention, but often don't understand the difficulties of taking an idea into the marketplace. Math and the sciences are the core languages of the future, even if pursuing careers outside of science," said Parazynski, who received an R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine for one of the top innovations in 2010. "Bringing together multidisciplinary teams, including engineering, scientific, legal, financial, marketing and other expertise, is often the missing link. Many new businesses fail because they get too enamored of their idea without thinking through all the other steps.

"ASU offers a remarkable environment in which to work and teach. It is a powerhouse for innovation, entrepreneurship and student training – with the incubator at Skysong, the rapid prototyping facility at the Polytechnic School, the Grand Challenges efforts pursued in W.P. Carey School of Business, The Biodesign Institute and partnerships with the Mayo Clinic. If you get all the smart people in the room looking at a problem from all their different angles – you have a much stronger chance of success," he said.

Parazynski was a young achiever. His first invention was a bike-powered lawnmower at age eight. Since then, he's continued to invent, founded start-up ventures and been consultant to a myriad of commercial enterprises. An experienced diver, pilot and mountaineer, he's climbed Everest and summited all 59 of Colorado's peaks over 14,000 feet (called the "Colorado Grand Slam").

"My bucket list is always full," said Parazynski. "However, my biggest passion now is the inventive process, working with students and helping people bring out the best in themselves."

posted 06-10-2016 11:50 PM               

Former NASA Astronaut Dr. Scott Parazynski joins Blue Abyss

Aquatic, aerospace and extreme environment research and training company, Blue Abyss Ltd., has appointed Dr. Scott Parazynski as Non-Executive Director. Dr. Parazynski will advise and guide on neutral buoyancy training for astronauts and human physiology in extreme environments.

Former NASA astronaut, physician, mountaineer, pilot, diver, inventor and TED Talk speaker, Dr. Parazynski joins Blue Abyss as they prepare to build Europe's largest commercial aquatic centre. Blue Abyss will be the most comprehensive, extreme environment research, training and testing facility of its kind, designed to support the sea and Space communities.

Dr. Parazynski says, "My life's journey has provided me with insightful knowledge of the rigours, risks and rewards of human adaptation in high-stress environments. I'm delighted to be a part of such a pioneering and innovative business. Blue Abyss will take the future of spaceflight research and training to new horizons, as well as present numerous benefits for education, sports and health care."

A graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Medical School, Dr. Parazynski trained at Harvard University and in Denver, Colorado in emergency medicine and trauma. He boasts an accomplished career, which includes serving as a NASA astronaut for 17 years, and he has received a number of prestigious awards including two NASA Distinguished Service Medals and five NASA Spaceflight Medals.

During his time as an astronaut, Dr. Parazynski flew five Space Shuttle Missions and conducted seven spacewalks (EVAs). His last spacewalk in 2007 is regarded by many as one of the most challenging and dangerous ever performed. During this highly complex maneuver, he was positioned by a 90-foot robotic boom farther than any orbiting astronaut had ever ventured from the safety of their airlock. Altogether, Dr. Parazynski has completed more than 47 hours on spacewalks and over eight weeks in Space, and travelled 23 million miles in orbit.

Additionally, Dr. Parazynski is a commercial pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours, and an accomplished scuba diver and mountaineer. In 2009, on his second Mt. Everest attempt, he became the first astronaut to stand on top of the world.

John Vickers, CEO, Blue Abyss Ltd. says, "Having a distinguished and qualified specialist such as Scott join the Blue Abyss team really strengthens our collective knowledgebase. Scott is a published expert in the field of Space physiology with particular expertise in human adaptation to stressful environments. His experience and understanding of the extreme will help Blue Abyss to become a global asset – enabling Britain to lead in the field of extreme environment training and research, particularly as commercial human spaceflight is about to take off."

Blue Abyss Ltd. is in the final stages of securing investment to build the facility. Blue Abyss is scheduled to be fully operational in mid-2018 and will be located on the University of Essex's Knowledge Gateway site in Colchester.