First Crew - Robert and Katherine

This crew selection is slightly different in that it is recommending two people at once. 

Robert: @AstroBehnken

The first selection is Robert Behnken who I have chosen as part of the first crewed flight to Mars mainly because of his varied space flight experiences.  

Astronaut (and experienced aquanaut (NEEMO)), Colonel, (USAF), Ph.D in mechanical Engineering, Space shuttle flight STS-123 and 130, mission specialist, 62+ days in space with 55 hours of space walk time. Commercial crew astronaut aboard SpaceX Dragon Capsule, ISS experience. Graduate work included developing real time control algorithms for flexible robotic manipulators and acted as lead flight test engineer for the LM-Boeing Raptor 4004 and has also served in a leadership role as a Chief of the Astronaut Office.

Katherine: @Astro_Megan

The second selection for this post is Astronaut Katherine Megan McArthur.

Oceanographer (PH.D in oceanography – Scripps Institution of Oceanography) and a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering, Katherine is also an accomplished NASA astronaut. (Experienced CAPCOM for the shuttle and ISS. Flown on both the shuttle (STS-125 and SpaceX crew-2, Canadarm operator).

An experienced communicator (CAPCOM and Scripps Birch Aquarium), Katherine has also studied underwater acoustics and digital signal processing and instrument testing.

I have chosen Katherine McArthur as a member of the crew because of her varied background in both inner and outer space. Her experience in hands on operations in both realms and additional experience as lead robotics crew member (STS-125) make her an excellent choice.

An additional reason for the selection of these two highly qualified individuals is that they are also a married couple. For those of you who are Star Trek fans, you would recognize the family oriented structure of the Gene Rodenberry star ship crews. The rigors of a mission to Mars will be quite difficult but less so for those fortunate enough to have a spouse along as part of the crew.

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