Dan Brandenstein
Born January 17, 1943, in Watertown, Wisconsin. Graduated from Watertown High School, Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1961; received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Wisconsin (River Falls) in 1965. Brandenstein entered active duty with the Navy in September 1965 and was attached to the Naval Air Training Command for flight training. He was designated a naval aviator at Naval Air Station, Beeville, Texas, in May 1967, and then proceeded to VA-128 for A-6 fleet replacement training. From 1968 to 1970, while attached to VA-196 flying A-6 Intruders, he participated in two combat deployments on board the USS Constellation and the USS Ranger to Southeast Asia and flew 192 combat missions. In subsequent assignments, he was attached to VX-5 for the conduct of operational tests of A-6 weapons systems and tactics; and to the Naval Air Test Center where, upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, Maryland, he conducted tests of electronic warfare systems in various Navy aircraft. Brandenstein made a nine- month deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean on board the USS Ranger while attached to VA-145 flying A-6 Intruders during the period March 1975 to September 1977. Prior to reporting to Houston as an astronaut candidate, he was attached to VA-128 as an A-6 flight instructor. He has logged 6,400 hours flying time in 24 different types of aircraft and has 400 carrier landings. Selected by NASA in January 1978, Brandenstein became an astronaut in August 1979. Brandenstein has logged over 789 hours in space. Following his second space flight, Brandenstein served as the Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations. From April 1987 through September 1992 Brandenstein served as Chief of the Astronaut Office. In October 1992 Brandenstein retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy.
Spaceflights:
No. Mission Position Time Duration
1 STS-8 PLT 30.08. - 05.09.1983 6d 01h 08m
2 STS-51G CDR 17.06. - 24.06.1985 7d 01h 38m
3 STS-32 CDR 09.01. - 20.01.1990 10d 21h 00m
4 STS-49 CDR 07.05. - 16.05.1992 8d 21h 17m
Total 32d 21h 03m
