CHICKASAW NASA ASTRONAUT JOHN HERRINGTON BECOMES 1ST ENROLLED NATIVE AMERICAN IN SPACE
Born September 14, 1958, in Wetumka, Oklahoma, John graduated high school in Plano, Texas (1976) and earned a Bachelor of Science (Applied Mathematics) from the University of Colorado (1983). Entering the U.S. Navy (1984), he earned his wings and flew the P-3C Orion. In 1990, Herrington graduated from the Navy’s Test Pilot School and earned a Masters in Science (Aeronautical Engineering) from U.S. Naval Postgraduate School (1995). Selected by NASA (1996), John flew on STS-113 Endeavour (2002) and did 3 EVAs (spacewalks). In 2004, he commanded NEEMO 6 aboard the Aquarius underwater laboratory. Retiring from the Navy & NASA (2005), Herrington worked at Rocketplane until 2007. In 2008, he made a 3-month bicycle trip across America. John earned his PhD (education) from the University of Idaho (2014). He is in the Chickasaw (2002), International Air & Space (2017), and National Native American (2018) Halls of Fame. In 2016, he authored a children’s book called Mission to Space.
Sources: “John Bennett Herrington (Commander, USN, Ret.) NASA Astronaut (Former), Biographical Data, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 8/2/2020, https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/herrington_john.pdf “NEEMO-6,” National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 8/3/2004. Retrieved 8/2/2020, NASA https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/support/training/neemo/neemo6/ Photo: NASA, 2002. Public Domain. Source: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-113/html/jsc2002e21740.html.
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