posted 10-01-2024 06:21 PM               

Three-time Spacewalker Josh Cassada Retires from NASA

NASA astronaut Josh Cassada retired Oct. 1, after 11 years of service to the agency across multiple programs, including 157 days in space and three spacewalks. Cassada also is a retired United States Navy captain and naval aviator with more than two decades of service.

Cassada served as pilot of NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 mission and Expedition 68 flight engineer aboard the International Space Station, executing myriad maintenance, contingency, and upgrade activities inside the station while also contributing to hundreds of experiments and technology demonstrations. His three spacewalks outside of the orbiting laboratory totaled more than 21 hours, successfully installing a pair of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSAs) to boost the station's electrical capacity. Cassada, alongside crewmate NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, also assembled the infrastructure for a future IROSA installation and fully restored a malfunctioning legacy solar array.

"I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Josh for his dedication and service to human space exploration," said NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. "Josh's contributions and achievements to the advancement of science and exploration will inspire the next generation of explorers, the Artemis generation, and benefit humanity for decades to come."

Throughout Expedition 68, Cassada and his crewmates completed extensive problem-solving with ground teams, including the modification of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to accommodate an additional crew member in the event of an emergency return, and leveraged the crew's various skill sets and training to ensure continued safe and effective operations for current and future crews.

In Houston, Cassada served as a capsule communicator in NASA's Mission Control Center and assistant to the chief of the Astronaut Office for space station operations. As a physicist and test pilot, Cassada also contributed to the development of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and Orion spacecraft and represented the Astronaut Office in technical and operational reviews of scientific experiments such as the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and Cold Atom Lab.

"Josh has played a significant role in NASA's deliverance of reliable and cost-effective human transportation to and from the space station," said Norm Knight, director of flight operations at NASA Johnson. "Through his dedication and commitment to human spaceflight exploration, Josh's work will continue to push us forward on our journey back to the Moon, and beyond. We will miss him and are excited to see what his next journey entails."

As he transitions from government service, Cassada will return to the private sector, working on extremely low light detection technologies with broad and emerging applications in various areas, including quantum networks and computing, remote sensing, long-range communication, semiconductor manufacturing, and medical imaging.

"I am incredibly grateful for my many opportunities here at NASA," Cassada said, "and especially to have served alongside some of the most amazing people both on and off our planet, accomplishing things that are only possible when we work and innovate together as a team. As humans, we explore . And each scientific adventure, whether in a lab on Earth or in space, requires courage to explore and advance society. I am incredibly fortunate to have been surrounded by explorers during my entire career so far and going forward. An expedition may seem daunting, but it's a lot less so when you're prepared and with the right crewmates."

Before his selection by NASA in 2013 as a member of NASA's 21st Class, Cassada earned his doctorate in High Energy Particle Physics from the University of Rochester, New York and was a U.S. Navy pilot, instructor pilot, test pilot, and instructor test pilot. Throughout his career, Cassada has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in over 50 different aircraft and has been awarded various military and civilian awards.

Cassada graduated from White Bear Lake Area High School in Minnesota in 1991 and received his bachelor's in Physics in 1995 from Albion College in Michigan.

posted 10-15-2024 08:15 PM               

Illuminating the Future: Veteran Astronaut Josh Cassada to Lead Research, Development for World's Most Sensitive Light Detection Technology

Quantum Opus LLC, the industry leader in producing the world's most sensitive light detection systems through single-photon technology, has announced the return of astronaut Dr. Josh Cassada as head of research and development.

Cassada, who co-founded the company in 2013 with Aaron and Holly Miller, brings a wealth of experience from his 11 years at NASA, including 157 days in space and three spacewalks. He holds a Ph.D. in high energy particle physics and has served as a military test pilot, recently retiring from the Navy after 24 years of active service. In his new role, Cassada will advance innovations in biomedical imaging and long-range space communications.

Dr. Aaron Miller, co-founder and president of Quantum Opus, expressed enthusiasm for Cassada's return, emphasizing the transformative potential of single-photon detection technologies in various applications.

"The team at Quantum Opus is elated to have Dr. Cassada rejoin our innovation efforts," he said. "Single-photon detection technologies are poised to transform life-improving applications, both on the ground and beyond, and his vision and expertise will accelerate those efforts."

Quantum Opus has evolved from serving academic researchers to collaborating with federal agencies and commercial enterprises. Current projects include groundbreaking medical research on cancer detection and non-invasive cerebral blood flow monitoring. The company's technologies are also vital for advanced communications in near-Earth and deep space missions, as well as in quantum computing.

"I am grateful for the experience gained through human spaceflight, and now I'm incredibly excited to rejoin Quantum Opus' cutting-edge exploration right here on Earth. The exceptional team at Quantum Opus has proven themselves to be world leaders in this sector over the last decade, and the opportunities to apply this technology to life-saving and life-enhancing applications are limitless. I am ready to get back to both physics and Quantum Opus and to bring my operational experience to the vital problems we can solve here, together."

Cassada's NASA tenure included key contributions to the Commercial Crew Program and the Orion spacecraft, along with extensive training in robotics and International Space Station operations. Notably, he installed solar arrays on the ISS during the Expedition 68/SpaceX Crew-5 mission, completing 21 hours of spacewalks.