Jeffrey Williams
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Nels Williams (born January 18, 1958) is a retired United States Army
officer and a NASA
astronaut
. He is a veteran of three space flights.
, and raised in Winter, Wisconsin
. As a child, Williams was a Star Scout in the Boy Scouts of America
. During the Jamboree on the Air in October 2009 he communicated with Boy Scouts in the National Scouting Museum
in Texas from the ISS. Williams graduated from Winter High School, Winter, Wisconsin, in 1976. He earned an engineering degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1980, receiving his commission in the United States Army
. Williams served with the army at Johnson Space Center from 1987 to 1992 before training as a test pilot. In 1996, he was selected by NASA
as an astronaut candidate and flew as a mission specialist and flight engineer aboard STS-101
in 2000.
underwater laboratory
, living and working underwater for six days.
During his six-month stint at the International Space Station in 2006, Williams orbited the earth more than 2,800 times. During Expedition 13, he worked on hundreds of experiments, walked in space twice, and captured more photographs of the earth than any other astronaut in history. Many of his photos are found in his book
The Work of His Hands: A View of God's Creation from Space, where he shares personal narrative and vivid photos of the earth.
Williams also served as a Flight Engineer for Expedition 21
and assumed command of Expedition 22
in November 2009 having arrived on the International Space Station
with his crew mates via Soyuz TMA-16
which launched on September 30, 2009. Williams with Expedition 22 Flight Engineer Maksim Surayev landed their Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft on the steppes of Kazakhstan on March 18, 2010, wrapping up a 167 days stay aboard the Space Station.
His total time in space of 362 days currently places him fourth on the all-time U.S. list of long-duration space travelers. Peggy Whitson
, who has spent 377 days in space, tops that list.
Williams also flew aboard the Soyuz TMA-8
mission, replacing Expedition 12
astronaut William S. McArthur
. He was previously in orbit
as the Expedition 13 Flight Engineer and Science Officer aboard the International Space Station. He returned to Earth on September 29, 2006.
On August 24, 2006, a taped message made by him to be played at an official NASA press conference was accidentally played over the air-to-ground loop, the tape revealing that the Crew Exploration Vehicle under development to replace the Space Shuttle
after 2010 would be named Orion after the famed wintertime constellation
.
from the station with members of the public gathered at NASA
Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
This involved the first live Twitter
connection for the astronauts. Previously, astronauts onboard the Space Shuttle or ISS have sent the messages they desire to send as tweets down to Mission Control which then posted the message via the Internet
to Twitter.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer and a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
. He is a veteran of three space flights.
Early life and education
Williams was born in Superior, WisconsinSuperior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
, and raised in Winter, Wisconsin
Winter, Wisconsin
Winter is a village in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 233 at the 2010 census. The village is within the Town of Winter.-Geography:Winter is located at ....
. As a child, Williams was a Star Scout in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. During the Jamboree on the Air in October 2009 he communicated with Boy Scouts in the National Scouting Museum
National Scouting Museum
The National Scouting Museum, located at 1329 West Walnut Hill Lane in Irving, Texas, is the official museum of the Boy Scouts of America.-Locations:The museum was first opened in 1959 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It closed in 1979...
in Texas from the ISS. Williams graduated from Winter High School, Winter, Wisconsin, in 1976. He earned an engineering degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1980, receiving his commission in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Williams served with the army at Johnson Space Center from 1987 to 1992 before training as a test pilot. In 1996, he was selected by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
as an astronaut candidate and flew as a mission specialist and flight engineer aboard STS-101
STS-101
-Mission parameters:* Mass:** Orbiter landing with payload: ** Payload: * Perigee: * Apogee: * Inclination: 51.6°* Period: 91 min-Space walks:* Voss and Williams – EVA 1...
in 2000.
NASA career
In July 2002, Williams served as the commander of the NEEMO 3 mission aboard the AquariusAquarius (laboratory)
The NOAA Aquarius Reef Base is an underwater habitat located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, adjacent to Conch Reef. It is one of the few underwater research facilities in the world dedicated to science...
underwater laboratory
Underwater habitat
Underwater habitats are underwater structures in which people can live for extended periods and carry out most of the basic human functions of a 24-hour day, such as working, resting, eating, attending to personal hygiene, and sleeping...
, living and working underwater for six days.
During his six-month stint at the International Space Station in 2006, Williams orbited the earth more than 2,800 times. During Expedition 13, he worked on hundreds of experiments, walked in space twice, and captured more photographs of the earth than any other astronaut in history. Many of his photos are found in his book
The Work of His Hands: A View of God's Creation from Space, where he shares personal narrative and vivid photos of the earth.
Williams also served as a Flight Engineer for Expedition 21
Expedition 21
Expedition 21 was the 21st long-duration mission to the International Space Station . The expedition began on 30 September 2009, with Frank de Winne becoming the first ESA astronaut to command a space mission....
and assumed command of Expedition 22
Expedition 22
Expedition 22 was the 22nd long duration crew flight to the International Space Station . This expedition began in November 2009 when the Expedition 21 crew departed. For a period of 3 weeks, there were only 2 crew members; it was the first time that had happened since STS-114 had delivered a third...
in November 2009 having arrived on the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
with his crew mates via Soyuz TMA-16
Soyuz TMA-16
The Soyuz TMA-16 was a manned flight to and from the International Space Station . It transported two members of the Expedition 21 crew and a Canadian entrepreneur from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the ISS. TMA-16 was the 103rd flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first flight launching...
which launched on September 30, 2009. Williams with Expedition 22 Flight Engineer Maksim Surayev landed their Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft on the steppes of Kazakhstan on March 18, 2010, wrapping up a 167 days stay aboard the Space Station.
His total time in space of 362 days currently places him fourth on the all-time U.S. list of long-duration space travelers. Peggy Whitson
Peggy Whitson
Peggy Annette Whitson is an American biochemistry researcher, NASA astronaut, and NASA's Chief Astronaut. Her first space mission was in 2002, with an extended stay aboard the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 5. Her second mission launched October 10, 2007, as the first female...
, who has spent 377 days in space, tops that list.
Williams also flew aboard the Soyuz TMA-8
Soyuz TMA-8
-Back-up crew:-Docking with ISS:*Docked to ISS: April 1, 2006, 04:19 UTC *Undocked from ISS: September 28, 2006, 21:53 UTC -Mission highlights:29th manned flight to ISS...
mission, replacing Expedition 12
Expedition 12
Expedition 12 was the 12th expedition to the International Space Station, launched from Kazakhstan using the Russian Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft...
astronaut William S. McArthur
William S. McArthur
William Surles McArthur, Jr. is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, a NASA astronaut, and a veteran of three space shuttle missions and one expedition to the International Space Station via the Russian Soyuz capsule.-Army career:...
. He was previously in orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
as the Expedition 13 Flight Engineer and Science Officer aboard the International Space Station. He returned to Earth on September 29, 2006.
On August 24, 2006, a taped message made by him to be played at an official NASA press conference was accidentally played over the air-to-ground loop, the tape revealing that the Crew Exploration Vehicle under development to replace the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
after 2010 would be named Orion after the famed wintertime constellation
Orion (constellation)
Orion, often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and visible throughout the world. It is one of the most conspicuous, and most recognizable constellations in the night sky...
.
First live tweetup from space
On October 21, 2009, Jeff Williams and his Expedition 21 crewmate, Nicole Stott, participated in the first NASA TweetupNASA Tweetup
NASA has hosted many events for its Twitter enthusiasts called NASA Tweetups. These events provide guests with VIP access to NASA facilities and speakers with the goal of leveraging participants' social networks to further the outreach requirements of NASA as laid out in the National Aeronautics...
from the station with members of the public gathered at NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
This involved the first live Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
connection for the astronauts. Previously, astronauts onboard the Space Shuttle or ISS have sent the messages they desire to send as tweets down to Mission Control which then posted the message via the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
to Twitter.
Awards
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
 |
Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."... |
with oak leaf cluster |
 |
Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... |
with oak leaf cluster |
 |
Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal The Meritorious Service Medal is a senior level military decoration presented to denote acts of meritorious service worthy of recognition. This medal can be awarded in a combat or non- combat theatre... |
with oak leaf clusters |
 |
Army Commendation Medal | |
 |
National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... |
with one award star |
 |
Army Service Ribbon Army Service Ribbon The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990.... |
|
 |
NASA Distinguished Service Medal NASA Distinguished Service Medal The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States... |
|
 |
NASA Exceptional Service Medal NASA Exceptional Service Medal The NASA Exceptional Service Medal is an award granted to U.S. government employees for significant sustained performance characterized by unusual initiative or creative ability that clearly demonstrates substantial improvement in engineering, aeronautics, space flight, administration, support, or... |
|
 |
NASA Space Flight Medal | with two oak leaf clusters |
External links
- Jeffrey Williams' book The Work of His Hands: A View of God's Creation from Space
- NASA Biography
- Spacefacts biography of Jeffrey N. Williams