John E. Blaha का स्रोत देखें

{{Short description|American astronaut}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          =John E. Blaha
|image         =John Elmer Blaha.jpg
|type          =[[NASA]] [[Astronaut]]
|status        = Retired
|nationality   =American
|birth_name    =John Elmer Blaha
|birth_date    ={{Birth date and age|1942|8|26}}
|birth_place   =[[San Antonio, Texas]], U.S. 
|occupation    =[[Fighter pilot]]
|alma_mater    =[[United States Air Force Academy|USAFA]], B.S. 1965<br />[[Purdue University]], M.S. 1966
|rank          =[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Colonel]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|selection     =[[List of astronauts by selection#1980|1980 NASA Group 9]]
|time          =161d 02h 45m
|mission       =[[STS-29]], [[STS-33]], [[STS-43]], [[STS-58]], [[STS-79]] (up),  [[STS-81]] (down).
|insignia      =[[Image:Sts-29-patch.png|40px]] [[Image:Sts-33-patch.png|40px]] [[Image:Sts-43-patch.png|40px]] [[Image:Sts-58-patch.png|45px]] [[File:STS-79 patch.svg|40px]] [[Image:Sts-81-patch.png|40px]]
}}
'''John Elmer Blaha''' (born August 26, 1942, in [[San Antonio, Texas]]) is a retired [[United States Air Force]] [[colonel]] and a former [[NASA]] [[astronaut]]. He is a veteran of five space missions aboard the [[Space Shuttle]] and [[Mir]].

Blaha is married to the former Brenda I. Walters of [[St. Louis, Missouri]]. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.

==Education==
Blaha graduated from [[Granby High School]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], in 1960; received a [[Bachelor of Science]] in [[engineering science]] from the [[United States Air Force Academy]] in 1965; and received a [[Master of Science]] in [[astronautical engineering]] from [[Purdue University]] in 1966.

==Air Force service==
Blaha received his [[United States Aviator Badge|pilot wings]] at [[Williams Air Force Base]], Arizona, in 1967. He was subsequently assigned as an operational pilot flying [[F-4 Phantom II|F-4]], [[F-102 Delta Dagger|F-102]], [[F-106 Delta Dart|F-106]], and [[A-37 Dragonfly|A-37]] aircraft (completing 361 combat missions in [[Vietnam]]). He attended the [[USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School]] at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California, in 1971, and piloted the [[NF-104]] research aircraft to 104,400 feet. Following graduation, he served as an [[F-104 Starfighter|F-104]] instructor pilot at the test pilot school, teaching low lift-to-drag approach, zoom, performance, stability/control, and spin flight test techniques. In 1973, he was assigned as a [[test pilot]] working with the [[Royal Air Force]] at the [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment]], [[Boscombe Down]], United Kingdom. During a three-year tour, he flew stability/control, performance, spin, and weapons delivery flight tests in the [[SEPECAT Jaguar]], [[Blackburn Buccaneer]], [[BAE Hawk]], and [[BAC Jet Provost]] aircraft. In 1976, he attended the U.S. Air Force [[Air Command and Staff College]]. After graduation, he was assigned to work for the Assistant Chief of Staff, Studies and Analyses, at Headquarters USAF in the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]]. During this tour, he presented [[F-15 Eagle]] and [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] study results to [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], [[United States Department of State|State Department]], and Congressional staffs.

==NASA==
[[Image:John Blaha.jpg|thumb|John Blaha at Kennedy Space Center in Nov '08 after a ''Meet an Astronaut'' event.]]
Selected as an astronaut in May 1980, Blaha has logged 161 days in space on five space missions. He served as pilot on [[STS-33]] and [[STS-29]], was [[spacecraft]] Commander on [[STS-58]] and [[STS-43]], served on [[Mir]] 22 as Board Engineer 2, and was a Mission Specialist on [[STS-79]] and [[STS-81]].

In addition to flying five space missions, Blaha has served as the Chairman, NASA Space Flight Safety Panel; Weather Manager, Mission Management Team; lead spacecraft communicator; member, NASA Space Shuttle Improvement Panel. Blaha also led the design, development, and integration of the Orbiter Head Up Display system. Additionally, he led the development of contingency abort procedures which significantly improve crew survivability in the event of multiple main engine failures during ascent. He has logged more than 7,000 hours of flying time in 34 different aircraft, and has written numerous technical articles on spacecraft performance and control.

John Blaha retired from NASA in September 1997 to return to his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, where he joined the executive management team of the [[United Services Automobile Association]].

===Space flights===
[[STS-29]] ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'' launched from [[Kennedy Space Center]], Florida, on March 13, 1989, and landed at Edwards Air Force Base on March 18, 1989. During this successful mission the five-man crew aboard Shuttle ''Discovery'' deployed the East [[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite]], and performed eight scientific/medical experiments.

[[STS-33]] ''Discovery'' (November 22–27, 1989). Launched at night, this five-day mission carried Department of Defense payloads and other secondary payloads. After 79 orbits of the [[Earth]], this highly successful mission concluded with a hard surface landing on Runway 4 at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

[[STS-43]] ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]'' (August 2–11, 1991) launched from the Kennedy Space Center carrying a five-person crew. During the nine-day mission the crew deployed the West [[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite]], and conducted 32 physical, material, and life science experiments that supported the development of the Extended Duration Orbiter and Space Station. After 142 orbits of the Earth, this very significant mission concluded with a landing on Runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

[[STS-58]] ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' (October 18 to November 1, 1993) launched from the Kennedy Space Center carrying a seven-person crew. This record duration fourteen-day life science research mission has been recognized by NASA management as the most successful and efficient [[Spacelab]] flight that NASA has flown. The crew performed [[Vestibular system|neurovestibular]], [[cardiovascular]], [[cardiopulmonary]], metabolic, and musculoskeletal medical experiments on themselves and 48 rats, expanding our knowledge of human and animal [[physiology]] both on Earth and in space flight. In addition, the crew performed 16 engineering tests aboard the Orbiter ''Columbia'' and 20 Extended Duration Orbiter Medical Project experiments. Landing was at Edwards Air Force Base on Runway 22.
[[File:John Blaha and wife.jpg|thumb|Blaha with his wife, Brenda, after his return to Earth from Mir.]]
Blaha began [[Russian language]] training in August 1994 at the [[Defense Language Institute]] in [[Monterey, California]], and commenced an intensive training program at the [[Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center]], [[Star City, Russia|Star City]], Russia in January 1995. He launched on [[STS-79]] on September 16, 1996. After docking he transferred to the [[Mir|Mir Space Station]]. Assigned as a Board Engineer 2, he spent the following 4 months with the Mir 22 [[Cosmonaut]] crew conducting [[materials science|material science]], fluid science, and life science research. Blaha returned to Earth aboard [[STS-81]] on January 22, 1997.

Blaha was not permitted to vote in the [[1996 United States elections|November 1996 election]], because his mission on [[Mir]] began before ballots were finalized, and lasted beyond Election Day.<ref name="NYT19970826">{{cite news|last=Verhovek|first=Sam Howe|title=Giant Leap for the Space Crowd: Voting |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E4D91F3EF935A1575BC0A961958260 |access-date=2010-11-02| newspaper=New York Times |date=1997-08-26}}</ref> In 1997, Texas amended its election statutes to permit voting from outer space, as a result of his predicament.<ref name="NYT19970826"/>

==Honors==
*[[Defense Superior Service Medal]]
*[[Legion of Merit]]
*[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Crosses]] (two)
*[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]
*[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]s (three)
*[[Air Medal]]s (18)
*[[Air Force Commendation Medal]]
*[[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]s (two)
*[[NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal]]
*[[NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]
*[[NASA Space Flight Medal]]s (five)
*[[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)]]
*Russian [[Order of Friendship]]
*[[Vietnam Cross of Gallantry]]
*Purdue Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award
*Purdue Engineering Alumnus Award
*Outstanding Pilot, F-4 Combat Crew Training
*Outstanding Junior Officer of the Year, [[3d Wing|3d Tactical Fighter Wing]]
*Distinguished Graduate [[U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School]]
*Distinguished Graduate [[Air Command and Staff College]]
*''Countdown Magazine'' Outstanding Astronaut of 1991
*University Roundtable Annual Best and Brightest Award
*Name given to minor planet [[22442 Blaha]]
*Grand Marshal Fiesta Flambeau Parade
*Grand Marshal Battle of Flowers Parade
*Granby High School Hall of Fame
*[[Astronaut Hall of Fame]] (May 2008).<ref>[http://www.astronautscholarship.org/ahof_bios.html U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductee Biographies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509144252/http://www.astronautscholarship.org/ahof_bios.html |date=2008-05-09 }}, retrieved 2008-03-25</ref><ref>[http://kennedyspacecenter.stores.yahoo.net/2008ahof.html 2007 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315095125/http://kennedyspacecenter.stores.yahoo.net/2008ahof.html |date=2008-03-15 }}, retrieved 2008-03-25</ref>

==References==
{{Include-NASA}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|John Elmer Blaha}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/blaha_john.pdf |title=JOHN E. BLAHA (COLONEL, USAF, RET.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)|publisher=NASA |date=May 2008 |access-date=January 9, 2021}}
*[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/blaha_john.htm Spacefacts biography of John E. Blaha]

{{NASA Astronaut Group 9}}
{{Shuttle-Mir}}
{{U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blaha, John Elmer}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:United States Air Force astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Military personnel from San Antonio]]
[[Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics alumni]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Air Force colonels]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:Aviators from Texas]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]
[[Category:American people of Czech descent]]
[[Category:Amateur radio people]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)]]
[[Category:Mir crew members]]
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