Kathryn Patricia Hire
Kathryn Patricia Hire, known as Kay Hire, is an American engineer, retired Navy Reserve captain, and former NASA astronaut. She flew two shuttle missions, one focused on neuroscience research and one on International assembly.
- Born
- August 26, 1959
- Died
- N/A
- Birthplace
- Mobile, Alabama,United States
Flights
2
Spacewalks
0
EVA time
N/A
In space
29 days, 15 hours, 59 minutes
Bio
Hire graduated from the United States Naval Academy and worked as a naval officer and engineer before astronaut selection. Her NASA career included technical work before flight assignment.
Her first spaceflight was STS-90, the Neurolab Spacelab mission in 1998. She returned to space on STS-130 in 2010, an Endeavour mission that delivered the Tranquility node and the Cupola to the ISS.
The contrast between her missions shows the late shuttle program's range: dedicated laboratory science on one flight and major station assembly on another. Her Navy Reserve career continued alongside NASA service.