Frederick D. Gregory piloted one shuttle mission with six fellow astronauts and a messy pack of rats and monkeys and then commanded two Defense Department flights - the first African-American to command a spaceship. He shifted into management and serve as NASA's deputy administrator...
The shuttle commander will answer your questions about his time in space (or here on Earth). The deadline to post your question (as a reply to this topic) is 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) on Thursday, August 4.
Gregory will answer via video, which will be posted here and on ASF's website the following week.
Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-01-2011 10:48 AM
Was the whole Shuttle experience overwhelming at times?
brianjbradley Member
Posts: 114 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2010
posted 08-01-2011 01:16 PM
Would you agree with George Abbey's preferential treatment of astronauts with Navy background vs Air Force background and were you disappointed to start with a Spacelab flight instead of a rendezvous/"sexier" mission that a lot of Navy rookie pilots got?
Tom Member
Posts: 1597 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
posted 08-01-2011 07:03 PM
Cdr Gregory, how difficult was it back in 1989, not being able to discuss your first shuttle command due to security reasons? Thank you.
Greggy_D Member
Posts: 977 From: Michigan Registered: Jul 2006
posted 08-01-2011 07:54 PM
What did you learn from Bob Overmyer, your Commander on your first flight STS-51B?
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 08-01-2011 08:24 PM
quote:Originally posted by brianjbradley: Would you agree with George Abbey's preferential treatment of astronauts with Navy background vs Air Force background and were you disappointed to start with a Spacelab flight instead of a rendezvous/"sexier" mission that a lot of Navy rookie pilots got?
I'd just like to "second" this inquiry. Few USAF astronauts of the early Shuttle era, with the notable exception of Mike Mullane in his book, have publicly addressed the issue of (perceived) Navy over Air Force prejudice with respect to flight assignments during the Abbey regime. I'd greatly appreciate hearing any personal insight or anecdotes relating to this issue that COL Gregory might have to offer.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-01-2011 08:42 PM
If you wanted the Shuttle to orbit Earth in a constant payload-bay-down attitude, would orbital mechanics keep the payload bay facing Earth, or could that only be done using maneuvering thrusters?
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 08-02-2011 02:30 PM
How much training did you and your crew do with David Griggs, the original pilot on STS-33 - and was it hard transitioning that training to working with John Blaha, who replaced Griggs?
As well, does a crew photo exist of the STS-33 crew with Griggs?
chappy Member
Posts: 231 From: Cardiff, S. Wales, UK Registered: Apr 2006
posted 08-02-2011 04:26 PM
Why did you want to become an astronaut? Who is the best astronaut you worked with? Can you describe your boss John Young? He's my hero, thou I've never met him (it's my dream to meet John Young).
rjurek349 Member
Posts: 1190 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002
posted 08-02-2011 04:49 PM
What do you think the Shuttle program's long-term legacy will be in the history of US manned space flight... and, do you have a favorite memento (PPK or otherwise...) from your three missions?
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-02-2011 06:54 PM
You were in the left-hand seat on STS-33 and STS-44. Both flights landed at Edwards AFB. Was the STS-44 re-entry and landing more difficult because of the in-flight Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) failure?
issman1 Member
Posts: 1042 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
posted 08-03-2011 03:50 AM
I've read/seen interviews with your fellow astronaut Richard Covey, but what were your immediate thoughts as you witnessed Challenger destruct from the CAPCOM console in Mission Control?
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-03-2011 02:46 PM
On the long glide back to Earth between re-entry and touchdown, how did all those Shuttle flights manage to avoid any conflicts with commercial aircraft traffic along the ground track?
Sometimes landing opportunities were waived off for an orbit or two, which would completely change the entry ground track flown. Sometimes the final decision to de-orbit was made late because of, for example, improving weather conditions at the landing site. How could they clear all that airspace on such short notice in those situations?
Dave Clow Member
Posts: 236 From: South Pasadena, CA 91030 Registered: Nov 2003
posted 08-03-2011 05:51 PM
What do you value most about your experience as an astronaut?
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-04-2011 06:43 AM
How would you rate the T-38 as a training aircraft for NASA astronauts?
ASF1984 Member
Posts: 167 From: Titusville, Florida USA Registered: Sep 2009
posted 08-31-2011 03:35 PM
Hey cS'ers! Thanks for all the great questions — Colonel Gregory did an excellent job of answering as many as he could.
posted 08-01-2011 09:13 AM
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