- Born
- Birth nameRonald John Grabe
- Nickname
- Ron
- Ronald J. Grabe was born on June 13, 1945 in New York, New York, USA. He is married to Lynn O'Keefe. They have three children.
- SpouseLynn O'Keefe(? - present) (3 children)
- Grabe became a NASA astronaut in August 1981. He served as a chief verification pilot for (Space Transportation System) STS-3 and STS-4 entry guidance, navigation and control simulation testing; as the Deputy Manager for Operations Integration, Space Shuttle Program Office; and subsequently as the Chief of Training within the Astronaut Office. A veteran of four space flights, Grabe served as pilot on STS 51-J (October 3-7, 1985) and STS-30 (May 4-8, 1989), and was the mission commander on STS-42 (January 22-30, 1992) and STS-57 (June 21 to July 1, 1993).
- As a test pilot, Grabe logged more than 5,500 hours flying time, and as an astronaut logged over 627 hours in space.
- His educational experience included graduation from Stuyvesant High School, New York, in 1962; a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering science from the United States Air Force Academy in 1966; and studied aeronautics as a Fulbright Scholar at the Technische Hochschule, Darmstadt, West Germany, in 1967.
- His special honors include The Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Liethen-Tittle Award (for Outstanding Student at the USAF Test Pilot School), the Royal Air Force Cross, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and NASA Space Flight Medals.
- He served as an exchange test pilot with the Royal Air Force at Boscombe Down, United Kingdom, from 1976 to 1979. During this tour of duty, he served as the chief project pilot for the Royal Air Force Harrier and the Royal Navy Sea Harrier.
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