Astronaut Profile
Richard O. Covey
Commander
Richard Covey piloted the mission that returned the Space Shuttle to flight after the Challenger disaster, then commanded the dramatic first repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
OrbitingTruths Archive
Commander • Living
Biography
The person behind the mission
Richard O. Covey was a United States Air Force pilot and NASA astronaut who flew four Space Shuttle missions. As pilot of STS-26 in 1988, he helped return the Shuttle fleet to flight following the Challenger disaster. In 1993 he commanded STS-61, the high-stakes first servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, during which spacewalking astronauts corrected the flaw in Hubble's mirror and saved the observatory's mission.
Astronaut Details
Born
August 1, 1946
Birthplace
Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
Role
Commander
Program
Space Shuttle
Time in Space
Approximately 26 days, 6 hours
Missions
STS-51-I, STS-26, STS-38, STS-61
Recognition
Awards & Honors
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- NASA Exceptional Service Medal
- NASA Space Flight Medal