Jerry M. Linenger.pdf

J. M. Linenger, M.D., M.S.S.M., M.P.H., Ph.D., is a former NASA astronaut and captain in the US Navy. Born on January 16, 1955, in Eastpointe, Michigan, he graduated from the US Naval Academy and received degrees from Wayne State University, University of Southern California, and University of North Carolina. Linenger is board certified in preventive medicine and a member of several organizations, including the American Medical Association and the Aerospace Medicine Association. He has received numerous awards, including the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, and two NASA Space Flight Medals.

Linenger's experience includes serving as a naval flight surgeon, medical advisor, and research principal investigator. He joined NASA in 1992 and flew on STS-64 in 1994, logging 10 days in space. He then trained at the Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and spent 132 days on the Russian Space Station Mir in 1997, conducting over 100 experiments and becoming the first American to conduct a spacewalk from a foreign space station.

During his time on Mir, Linenger and his crew faced several challenges, including a severe fire and system failures, but still accomplished all mission goals. He retired from NASA and the US Navy in 1998 and currently lives in Northern Michigan with his family.