Renowned NASA astronaut and American Aerospace Engineer Commander Susan Kilrain is a distinguished former Navy Test Pilot. She is the youngest person to pilot a space shuttle, one of only three women to do so.
Kilrain has flown more than 3,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft and was honored with the Defense Superior Service Medal. When she wasn’t training for space flights, she worked in Mission Control during the launches and landings for other space shuttle missions. She has also worked at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in the offices of safety and legislative affairs.
Kilrain was born as Susan Leigh Still in Augusta, Georgia, the only sister among nine siblings. She dreamed of becoming an astronaut since childhood and was supported by her family from the beginning. She completed training to become a private pilot and began flying when she was only a senior in high-school. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and then a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1985. While in graduate school and before joining the navy, she was a wind tunnel project officer at Lockheed Corporation.
Kilrain joined the military to increase her chances of being accepted into the astronaut program. In 1985, she was commissioned into the U.S. Navy where she was later designated a Naval Aviator. She was a flight instructor in the TA-4J Skyhawk and went on to fly EA-6A Electric Intruders for Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 33 (VAQ-33) in Key West, Florida.
Kilrain was selected by NASA as part of the 15th Astronaut Training Group in 1995. Her first mission into space was supposed to last 16 days but ended up being cut short due to a potentially life-threatening systems failure. Her second mission focused on materials and combustion science research in microgravity, completing the full 16 days.
Kilrain retired from the Astronaut Office in December 2002 and from the Navy in June 2005. Awards and honors garnered throughout her career include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, two NASA Space Flight Medals, and the National Defense Service Medal. She is currently a consultant and motivational speaker, specializing in encouraging young women and underprivileged teens to excel in STEM careers.