STS-115 Crew

Commander Mark Polansky

A former Air Force test pilot, Mark Polansky will lead the crew of STS-116 on the
20th shuttle mission to the space station.


Pilot William Oefelein

Oefelein, who has logged over 3,000 hours flying more than 50 aircraft, will make his first journey into space as the pilot for the STS-116 mission.

Mission Specialist Robert Curbeam

A veteran of two space shuttle flights, Curbeam conducted three spacewalks before being assigned as mission specialist for STS-116.

Mission Specialist Joan Higginbotham

To assist with the construction of the space station, Higginbotham's primary task on
STS-116 will be to operate the station's robotic arm.

Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick

A member of the 1998 astronaut class and former flight instructor, Patrick is assigned to
STS-116 as a mission specialist.


Mission Specialist Christer Fuglesang

On his first spaceflight, European Space Agency astronaut Fuglesang joins the crew of
STS-116 as a mission specialist.

Mission Specialist Sunita Williams

Williams will join Expedition 14 in progress and serve as a flight engineer after traveling to the station on space shuttle mission STS-116.