NASA astronaut James P. Dutton Jr., pilot

NASA astronaut James P. Dutton Jr., pilot STS-131

EXPERIENCE: Dutton has more than 3,300 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft. Prior to joining NASA, he tested the F-22 Raptor with the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California. He logged more than 350 F-22 flight hours between August 2002 and June 2004 performing avionics testing and high-risk envelope expansion testing.

 

As a member of the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1991, Dutton was a member of the intercollegiate Cadet Competition Flying Team and Cadet Squadrons CS-12 “Dirty Dozen” and CS-29 “Black Panthers.” After graduation, he attended undergraduate pilot training at Sheppard AFB, Texas. He went on to complete his advanced studies at the University of Washington in Seattle from 1993-1994 prior to attending F-15C training at Tyndall AFB, Florida, in 1995. Dutton flew as an operational F-15C pilot with the 493rd Fighter Squadron “Grim Reapers” at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, from October 1995 to May 1998. He has flown over 100 combat hours providing air superiority in support of Operations Provide Comfort and Northern Watch over northern Iraq.

 

In May 1998, Dutton was reassigned to the 422nd Test & Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada, where he flew operational test missions in the F-15C. He was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS) and graduated with Class 00A in December 2000. After TPS, he flight tested the F-16 as a member of the 416th Flight Test Squadron until June 2002, when he joined the F-22 Combined Test Force.

 

NASA EXPERIENCE: Dutton was selected in May 2004 as one of 14 members of the 19th NASA astronaut class. In February 2006 he completed Astronaut Candidate Training that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. Dutton was initially assigned to the Exploration Branch working on the development of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) cockpit and to the Capcom Branch as a shuttle capsule communicator. He was the Ascent/Entry Capcom for STS-122 in February 2008 and STS-123 in March 2008. Dutton is assigned as pilot on the crew of STS-131, targeted for launch in April 2010.

MARCH 2010

NASA astronaut James P. Dutton Jr., pilot STS-131