Rick Hieb

Rick Hieb is known for a remarkable achievement: in 1992, he piloted the space shuttle Endeavour on a mission to save the Intelsat VI satellite. Launched two years earlier, the satellite had found itself in too low an orbit, jeopardizing its mission.

Working alongside his skilled colleagues, Rick oversaw a crucial refurbishment, equipping the satellite with a new engine. Once revitalized, Intelsat VI ascended to its intended orbit, an impressive 36,000 kilometers above Earth.

This special repair mission was the second of Rick’s three space flights. His first mission was in 1991 (STS-39), and his final flight took place in 1994 (STS-65), where the crew conducted over eighty ground-breaking scientific experiments. Rick's contributions to space exploration continue to inspire!

Did you know this about Rick?

• He applied twice to become an astronaut, the first time he did not pass the selection.

• The name Hieb is originally from Germany. Just like Rick's family, who emigrated from Europe to the United States in the seventeenth century.

• After three space shuttle missions, Rick permanently hung up his flight overalls. He went to work for several satellite companies and then Lockheed Martin.

• He worked at NASA's legendary Mission Control in Houston during the very first space shuttle flight in 1981.

• Rick was part of the only spacewalk in history done by three astronauts at the same time.

• Rick's second mission was the very first flight of the space shuttle Endeavour.

• Rick flew more than 750 hours in space. He made three spacewalks totalling 17 hours. After his missions, the ‘odometer’ stood at nearly 21 million kilometres travelled around Earth.