Bob Dempsey

Not to be confused with the First Nations artist Dempsey Bob.
Robert C. Dempsey

Photo of Bob Dempsey

Bob Dempsey
Nationality American
Other names Bob Dempsey
Alma mater University of Michigan, University of Toledo
Occupation Physicist/Astronomer
Known for Flight Director for the ISS

Robert "Bob" Dempsey is a NASA flight director for the International Space Station, selected in 2005. As astronomer he worked at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) prior to joining the ISS project. For 5 years he worked in the Onboard Data Interfaces and Networks (ODIN) group and then as a Communication and Tracking Officer before being selected as a flight director in 2005.[1]

He was the lead flight director for Expedition 15, worked several ISS assembly missions including STS-122 (1E), STS-123 (1J/A), and STS-124 (1J), and was the lead for STS-130 (20A) and for ATV-2 (Johannes Kepler). He was an undergraduate at University of Michigan, and received his Ph.D. in physics and astronomy from the University of Toledo. He grew up in Michigan, is married to his wife Dorothea, and he enjoys cooking and traveling.[2] Dempsey is a member of the International Astronomical Union[3]

Expedition 15

Dempsey oversaw the jettisoning of the 1,400-pound (640 kg), refrigerator-sized Early Ammonia Servicer (EAS), along with an unused stanchion which had previously held a camera, from the International Space Station during Expedition 15. What is left of the refrigerator after re-entry impacted Earth in the summer of 2008. Dempsey stated that the decision to jettison the equipment in this required some planning, saying "It's not a decision that's made lightly. Besides the fact that it might have some use in the future, it provides space debris that could later impact the space station," and further adding that this was necessary largely due to space and timing constraints on available Space Shuttle payloads.[4]

Bibliography

References

  1. "The Ground". Air & Space Magazine. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  2. James, Donald (January 9, 2007). "Meet: Robert Dempsey, Ph.D.". NASA Quest. NASA. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  3. "Robert C. Dempsey". IAU. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  4. Mosher, Dave (July 18, 2007). "'Refrigerator-Sized' Object to be Tossed From Space Station". Space.com. Imaginova. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
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