Early Life and Education
Robert Shane Kimbrough, popularly known as Shane Kimbrough, was born on June 4, 1967, in Killeen, Texas. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended The Lovett School for his high school education. Kimbrough went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1989. He later received a Master of Science degree in Operations Research from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Military Career
After graduating from West Point, Kimbrough served as an Army officer for several years. He completed helicopter pilot training and flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. Kimbrough also served as a tactics instructor at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Selection as an Astronaut
In 2004, Kimbrough was selected by NASA to be an astronaut candidate. He completed his training in 2006 and was assigned technical duties within the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Kimbrough served as the lead astronaut for the International Space Station (ISS) Systems Branch and was also a member of the Space Shuttle Branch.
Space Missions
Kimbrough’s first spaceflight was on Space Shuttle Endeavour’s STS-126 mission in November 2008. During this mission, he served as a Mission Specialist and participated in three spacewalks to perform maintenance tasks on the ISS. Kimbrough’s second spaceflight was aboard Soyuz MS-02 in October 2016, where he spent six months living and working on the ISS as part of Expedition 49/50.
Expedition 49/50
As part of Expedition 49/50, Kimbrough conducted numerous scientific experiments onboard the ISS and participated in multiple spacewalks to upgrade the station’s systems. He also welcomed several cargo resupply missions and new crew members during his time on the ISS.
Return to Earth
Kimbrough returned to Earth in April 2017 after spending a total of 189 days in space. During his time on the ISS, he traveled over 122 million miles and orbited the Earth more than 4,000 times. Kimbrough’s contributions to scientific research and space exploration have been significant and have helped further our understanding of living and working in space.
Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Kimbrough has received numerous awards and honors for his service to NASA and contributions to space exploration. These include the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the NASA Space Flight Medal for his participation in space missions.
Personal Life
Kimbrough is married to Robbie Lynn Nickels, and they have two children together. He also has a sibling, Michael Scott Kimbrough, who has supported him throughout his career as an astronaut.
Legacy
Shane Kimbrough’s legacy as an astronaut will continue to inspire future generations of space explorers. His dedication to scientific research and commitment to advancing our knowledge of space have made him a valuable asset to NASA and the international space community.
Future Endeavors
While Kimbrough has already accomplished a great deal in his career as an astronaut, he continues to look towards the future with optimism and enthusiasm. He remains actively involved in training new astronauts and supporting future space missions.
