Thomas Akers
{{short description|American astronaut (born 1951)}}
{{about|the NASA astronaut|the attorney, college professor, and member of the United States House of Representatives|Thomas Peter Akers}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name = Thomas Akers
|image = Thomas D Akers.jpg
|birth_name = Thomas Dale Akers
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|5|20}}
|birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|education = Missouri University of Science and Technology (BS, MS)
|type = NASA astronaut
|time = 33d 22h 44m
|selection = NASA Group 12 (1987)
|mission = STS-41
STS-49
STS-61
STS-79
|insignia = 40px 40px 40px 40px
}}
Thomas Dale Akers (born May 20, 1951) is a former American astronaut in NASA's Space Shuttle program.{{cite web |author1=Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center |author1-link=Johnson Space Center |title=Tom Akers |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/akers_thomas.pdf |website=Biographical Data |publisher=NASA |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507073910/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/akers_thomas.pdf |archive-date=7 May 2021 |location=Houston, Texas |date=September 2020 |url-status=live}}
Education
Akers was the valedictorian of his 29-member 1969 senior class from Eminence, Missouri. He worked summers as a park ranger in the 80,000 acre federal wilderness that borders Eminence.{{cite web |last1=Nachtigal |first1=Jerry |title=Endeavour Astronaut Helps Put Tiny Hometown on Map |url=https://apnews.com/article/522bc39b45fbb62e57a82a1e63c408b4 |website=AP News |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516155926/https://apnews.com/article/522bc39b45fbb62e57a82a1e63c408b4 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |location=Eminence, Missouri |date=8 December 1993 |url-status=live}} He graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology) with B.S. and M.S. degrees in applied mathematics in 1973 and 1975, respectively. At the age of 24, he returned to Eminence to become its math teacher, and subsequently its high school principal.{{cite news |title=Discovery's Crew Has 2 Missourians |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77790792/discoverys-crew-has-2-missourians/ |access-date=16 May 2021 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Pulitzer, Inc. |date=6 October 1990 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516162710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77790792/discoverys-crew-has-2-missourians/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |page=7 |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com }} In 1979, when a United States Air Force recruiter left brochures on his desk for his students, it was Akers who decided to sign up. He was selected for the astronaut program in 1987{{cite web |title=Air Force Maj. Thomas D. Akers, 39: Discovery astronaut |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/10/05/Air-Force-Maj-Thomas-D-Akers-39-Discovery-astronaut/5416655099200/ |website=UPI Archives |publisher=United Press International |access-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516155452/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/10/05/Air-Force-Maj-Thomas-D-Akers-39-Discovery-astronaut/5416655099200/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |date=5 October 1990 |url-status=live}} and officially became an astronaut in 1988. As part of his training with NASA, Akers taught science classes at Troy State University for a brief period of time.
NASA career
Akers is a veteran of four shuttle flights in which he spent over 800 hours in orbit, including more than 29 hours of extra-vehicular activity (EVA) experience. In each of his flights, his role was as a mission specialist.
=STS-41=
His first space flight was in 1990 on STS-41,{{cite news |title=Mission details at-a-glance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77791275/mission-details-at-a-glance/ |access-date=16 May 2021 |work=Pacific Daily News |agency=United Press International |date=7 October 1990 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516163556/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77791275/mission-details-at-a-glance/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |page=7 |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com }} the 11th flight of Space Shuttle Discovery.{{cite news |title=Next on the launch pad: Atlantis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77791075/next-on-the-launch-pad-atlantis/ |access-date=16 May 2021 |work=Pensacola News Journal |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Gannett |date=11 October 1990 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516163223/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77791075/next-on-the-launch-pad-atlantis/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |location=Cape Canaveral, Florida |page=4 |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com }} He was instrumental in deploying the European Space Agency satellite Ulysses, a solar-exploration craft, as well as tending several secondary payloads and experiments.{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-41 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-41.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=NASA |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506145857/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-41.html |archive-date=6 May 2021 |date=18 February 2010 |url-status=live}}
=STS-49=
File:Three Crew Members Capture Intelsat VI - GPN-2000-001035.jpg, Akers, Pierre J. Thuot.]]
His next mission was in 1992 on STS-49, the maiden flight of Shuttle Endeavour.{{cite news |last1=Halvorson |first1=Todd |title=Diverse backgrounds, shared dreams |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77791503/diverse-backgrounds-shared-dreams/ |access-date=16 May 2021 |work=Florida Today |publisher=Gannett |date=5 May 1992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516164018/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77791503/diverse-backgrounds-shared-dreams/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |page=50}} A primary goal of that mission was to capture and repair the non-functional Intelsat VI-F3 satellite. The first two attempts failed; Akers joined the third attempt which was successful.{{cite news |title=Astronauts rescue stranded satellite |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77792046/astronauts-rescue-stranded-satellite/ |access-date=16 May 2021 |work=Chippewa Herald-Telegram |agency=Associated Press |date=14 May 1992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516165016/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77792046/astronauts-rescue-stranded-satellite/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |location=Cape Canaveral, Florida |page=8 |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com }} This marks the first three-person EVA in human history{{cite news |title=Astronauts triple-team satellite: Historic spacewalk pays off |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77803999/astronauts-triple-team-satellite/ |access-date=16 May 2021 |work=The Victoria Advocate |agency=Associated Press |date=14 May 1992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516200321/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77803999/astronauts-triple-team-satellite/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |location=Cape Canaveral, Florida |page=1 |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com }} and was also the longest EVA (8 hours, 29 minutes) ever conducted to that time.{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-49 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-49.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=NASA |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506154147/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-49.html |archive-date=6 May 2021 |date=2 April 2010 |url-status=live}}
=STS-61=
On Akers' third mission in 1993 on STS-61, the fifth flight of Endeavour, he was one of four mission specialists who repaired and upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope on its first servicing mission.{{cite news |last1=Halvorson |first1=Todd |title=Time will tell whether Hubble is repaired |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77848762/time-will-tell-whether-hubble-is/ |access-date=17 May 2021 |work=Florida Today |publisher=Gannett |date=14 December 1993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517155145/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77848762/time-will-tell-whether-hubble-is/ |archive-date=17 May 2021 |location=Brevard County, Florida |page=2 |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com] }} Akers spent just under 13.5 hours outside the Endeavour in two EVAs.{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-61 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-61.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=NASA |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507070108/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-61.html |archive-date=7 May 2021 |date=31 March 2010 |url-status=live}}
On May 18, 1994, Akers appeared on Home Improvement as himself along with rest of the STS-61 crew.{{cite web |title=Thomas Akers: Astronaut and Educator |url=https://influence.mst.edu/2011/thomasakers/ |website=Alumni of Influence |publisher=Missouri University of Science and Technology |access-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516162235/https://influence.mst.edu/2011/thomasakers/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |date=2011 |url-status=live}}
=STS-79=
His last mission was in 1996 on STS-79, the 17th flight of shuttle Atlantis.{{cite news |last1=Kleinberg |first1=Eliot |title=Six months in space smoothed face |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77849409/six-months-in-space-smoothed-face/ |access-date=17 May 2021 |work=The Palm Beach Post |publisher=Gannett |date=16 September 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517160414/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77849409/six-months-in-space-smoothed-face/ |archive-date=17 May 2021 |page=5 |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com }} This was the fourth shuttle flight to rendezvous with the Russian space station Mir and the first to exchange U.S. astronauts with Mir, returning Shannon Lucid to earth and leaving John Blaha.{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-79 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-79.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=NASA |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506153032/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-79.html |archive-date=6 May 2021 |date=23 November 2007 |url-status=live}}
After NASA
Akers retired from NASA in 1997 and the Air Force in 1999 at the rank of colonel, taking a position as instructor of Mathematics at the University of Missouri–Rolla, which in 2008 changed its name to the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Akers retired from teaching in 2010.{{cite web |title=To infinity and beyond… |url=https://discover.mst.edu/2011/12/14/to_infinity_and_beyond/ |website=Discover Missouri S&T |publisher=Missouri University of Science and Technology |access-date=10 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516160246/https://discover.mst.edu/2011/12/14/to_infinity_and_beyond/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |date=14 December 2011 |url-status=live}}
Other work
Akers made a cameo appearance on the TV show Home Improvement by Touchstone Television. In Series 3, Episode 24, "Reality Bytes", Akers and the Hubble crew appeared as guests on Tool Time and showed some of the tools they used in space. They also brought a video showing the first Tim Taylor 'grunt' used in communications during a space walk.
Special honors
High School Valedictorian. Graduated summa cum laude from University of Missouri-Rolla. Named a Distinguished Graduate of U.S. Air Force Officer Training School, Squadron Officer School, and U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Legion of Merit Award; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal; Air Force Achievement Medal; NASA Distinguished Service Medal; two NASA Exceptional Service Medals; four NASA Space Flight Medals. Awarded an honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1992. Awarded ten Outstanding Teacher awards from UMR/S&T 2000–2010,{{cn|date=May 2021}} and the Missouri Governors Teaching Award 2004.{{cite web |title=Tom Akers receives Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching |url=https://news.mst.edu/2004/12/tom_akers_receives_governors_a/ |website=News and Events |publisher=Missouri University of Science and Technology |access-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516161202/https://news.mst.edu/2004/12/tom_akers_receives_governors_a/ |archive-date=16 May 2021 |date=2 December 2004 |url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/akers_thomas.pdf NASA Astronaut bio: T. Akers], September 2020
- [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/akers_thomas.htm Spacefacts biography of Thomas Akers]
- [http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-41.htm Spaceflight mission report: STS-41]
- [http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-49.htm Spaceflight mission report: STS-49]
- [http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-61.htm Spaceflight mission report: STS-61]
- [http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-79.htm Spaceflight mission report: STS-79]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070922023608/http://www.crossandcrescent.com/2006/09/astronaut-to-math-teacher/ Article "Astronaut to Math Teacher"]
- {{C-SPAN|22416}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 12}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akers, Thomas}}
Category:United States Air Force astronauts
Category:People from Shannon County, Missouri
Category:Missouri University of Science and Technology alumni
Category:Missouri University of Science and Technology faculty
Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni
Category:United States Air Force officers
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal
Category:Recipients of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal
Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts
Category:Mathematicians from Missouri
Category:Scientists from Missouri
Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)