NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock, Expedition 24 flight engineer and Expedition 25 commander, attired in a Russian Sokol launch and entry suit, takes a break from training in Star City, Russia to pose for a portrait. Photo credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center

NASA EXPERIENCE: Colonel Wheelock reported for Astronaut Candidate Training in August 1998. Following the initial two years of intensive Space Shuttle and Space Station training, he was assigned to the Astronaut Office ISS Operations Branch as a Russian Liaison, participating in the testing and integration of Russian hardware and software products developed for the ISS. He worked extensively with the Energia Aerospace Company in Moscow, Russia, developing and verifying dual-language procedures for ISS crews. Colonel Wheelock led joint U.S./Russian teams to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to oversee bench reviews, inventory, loading and launch of the first four unmanned ISS resupply capsules. In 2001, Colonel Wheelock assumed duties as the Crew Support Astronaut for the ISS Expedition 2 crew, which was on orbit for 147 days from March 2001 to August 2001, and for the ISS Expedition 4 crew, which was on orbit for 195 days (U.S. long-duration record) from December 2001 to June 2002. He was the primary contact for all crew needs, coordination, planning and interactions, and was the primary representative of the crews while they were on orbit. In August 2002, Colonel Wheelock was assigned as a Spacecraft Communicator (CAPCOM) in the Mission Control Center in Houston. In this role, he was the primary communication link between crews on orbit and the ground support team in the Control Center. His work as a CAPCOM culminated in his assignment as the lead CAPCOM for the ISS Expedition 8 mission, which was 194 days in duration. In January 2005, Colonel Wheelock was assigned to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, as NASA’s Director of Operations–Russia. He was responsible for supporting Russia-based training, logistic, and administrative needs of NASA astronauts preparing for flight on the ISS. Colonel Wheelock was the primary liaison between Star City and NASA operations in Houston, including medical, training, science, contracting, public affairs, and administration departments. He was also responsible for liaison duties between NASA and the Russian Space Agency, as well as the Russian aerospace industry. Colonel Wheelock is qualified to fly aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. He has completed qualification in the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Skills program, the Canadian Space Agency MSS Robotics Operator (MRO) course, and qualification as a Cosmonaut Flight Engineer in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. In July 2004, Colonel Wheelock completed training in the NASA Extreme Environments Mission Operations (NEEMO) program, during a 10-day undersea mission aboard the National Undersea Research Center’s Aquarius habitat. Colonel Wheelock is assigned to Space Shuttle mission STS-120, designated as flight 10A in the ISS assembly sequence. The crew will deliver the Italian-built Node 2 connecting module to the ISS, as well as relocate the P-6 truss segment to allow for future ISS expansion and increased power generation. Colonel Wheelock will conduct both EVA and robotics operations during the mission’s three scheduled spacewalks. The STS-120 crew is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2007, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.