Photo courtesy of NASA Astronaut William Oefelein moves a stowage bag through the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station on Dec. 11, 2006, while Space Shuttle Discovery was docked with the station.

OSU alumnus William Oefelein, who piloted Space Shuttle Discovery in December, hopes to visit campus next month

William Oefelein may have spent less than two weeks in space, but five years of NASA training and a lifetime of education as well as personal and professional development made that journey possible.

Oefelein, an Oregon State University College of Engineering alumnus, piloted the Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station in December. He and the rest of the seven-member crew reconfigured the station’s electrical system and added a truss segment to accommodate more solar arrays, which provide electrical power.

“It was awesome,” Oefelein said of his first voyage into space. “We trained a long time for this. We were technically ready, but you can’t really prepare for zero gravity.”

He said floating was fun, and likened the journey to “camping in space,” complete with sleeping bags and dehydrated food. Other than his family, the earthly pursuits he missed most were going to the gym and riding his bike.

Oefelein said he laid the foundation for his career as a Naval pilot and NASA astronaut at OSU.

He majored in electrical engineering, and belonged to Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He also was active in intramural sports.

To pay homage to the Beavers, he took two OSU bronze seals and a College of Engineering baseball cap with him into space. He also flew a Sigma Alpha Epsilon banner that he later signed.

The Discovery landed Dec. 22, bringing Oefelein back to Earth in time for Christmas.

He hopes to come to campus, possibly Feb. 23, to deliver the cap and seals to OSU leaders, present the banner to his fraternity, visit local schools and give a community presentation detailing his experience in space.

His visit will correspond with OSU’s celebration of National Engineers Month.

Oefelein said OSU taught him as much about life outside the classroom as it did math and science.

“You don’t come out of college with just book smarts. It gives you a base to build from not just from the classroom, but from learning to work with people and developing as a person,” he said.

After graduating from OSU in 1988, Oefelein joined the U.S. Navy and eventually became a test pilot.

When NASA tapped him in 1998, Oefelein contacted OSU to share the news. In 2000, the College of Engineering gave him an Oregon Stater Award, which recognizes distinguished alumni.

Oefelein invited Chris Bell, associate dean of the college, and his wife, Elizabeth, to attend the launch in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

“We thought, ‘Why not?’ It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Bell said.

Originally scheduled for the evening of Dec. 7, the launch was delayed due to inclement weather.

When the Discovery finally lifted off at 8:47 p.m. Dec. 9, Bell and his wife were about seven miles away from the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center.

“It was a sort of ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ experience,” Bell said.

After a 10-second countdown, Bell saw a flash of light and heard a slight rumble. The craft shot up into the air, and was out of sight within a minute.

“It becomes a speck of light and disappears,” he said.

While relatively short-lived, the experience was well worth the trip, Bell said.

Oefelein had planned to visit OSU in 2003 when the Discovery was originally scheduled to launch, but the Columbia shuttle disaster during re-entry delayed his mission and his return to his alma mater.

Bell said he’s looking forward to seeing Oefelein during his planned visit in late February.

“It’s phenomenal to think you know someone, let alone an alum and someone you’re very proud of, sitting on top of that ball of fire,” Bell said.

Mary Ann Albright covers higher education. She can be reached at maryann.albright@lee.net or 758-9518.

GT Reader Comments

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Space Watcher wrote on Feb 5, 2007 9:59 PM: " "Other than his family, the earthly pursuits he missed most were going to the gym and riding his bike." They should have added "and his many girlfriends" - see Schneider, AP "Astronaut Charged with Kidnap Attempt" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/05/AR2007020501536.html " Jay, New York wrote on Apr 24, 2007 6:47 AM: " Space Watcher wrote on February 05, 2007: "Oefelein said OSU taught him as much about life outside the classroom as it did math and science". I sure hope OSU didn't teach him what he learned outside the classroom. If they did, they sure missed the mark on INTEGRITY. "

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