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DAVID A. WOLF (BSEE, M.D.)
NASA ASTRONAUT
PERSONAL DATA: Born August 23, 1956, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He enjoys sport aerobatic flying, scuba diving, handball, running, and water skiing. His parents, Dr. and Mrs. Harry Wolf, reside in Indianapolis.
EDUCATION: Graduated from North Central High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1974; received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1978, and a doctorate of medicine from Indiana University in 1982. He completed his medical internship (1983) at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, and USAF flight surgeon primary training at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
ORGANIZATIONS: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; the Aerospace Medical Association; the Experimental Aircraft Association; the International Aerobatic Club; and the Air National Guard.
SPECIAL HONORS: Recipient of the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal (1990); NASA Inventor of the Year, 1992. Dr. Wolf graduated "with distinction" from the honors curriculum in electrical engineering at Purdue University and received an Academic Achievement Award upon graduation from medical school. He received the Carl R. Ruddell scholarship award for research in medical ultrasonic signal and image processing. He is a member of Eta Kappa Knu and Phi Eta Sigma honorary societies. Dr. Wolf has received 13 U.S. Patents and over 20 Space Act Awards primarily for 3-dimensional tissue engineering technologies, earning the Texas State Bar Patent of the Year in 1994. He has published over 40 technical papers.
EXPERIENCE: As a research scientist at the Indianapolis Center for Advanced Research from 1980 to 1983, he developed digital signal and image processing techniques for enhanced medical ultrasonics. This technology applied pulse compression technology producing "state of the art" high-resolution medical ultrasonic images. He developed novel doppler signal demodulation techniques extending the range velocity product limitations of conventional pulsed doppler systems. He is a USAF senior flight surgeon in the Air National Guard (1982 to present). He has logged over 2000 hours of flight time including air combat training as a weapons systems officer (F4 Phantom jet), T-38 Talon, and flies competition sport aerobatics (Christen Eagle).
NASA EXPERIENCE: Currently, Dr. Wolf serves as Chief of the Astronaut Office Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Branch. His team is responsible for the development, test, and operational support of spacewalks for Space Station assembly, maintenance, and emergency repair. Dr. Wolf has logged 158 days in space over three separate missions, including a long duration stay on the Russian MIR space station. He has conducted 4 spacewalks utilizing both the American and Russian spacesuits.
In 1983, Dr. Wolf joined the Medical Sciences Division, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. He was responsible for development of the American Flight Echocardiograph for investigating cardiovascular physiology in microgravity. Upon completion he was assigned as chief engineer for design of the Space Station medical facility. In 1986 he was assigned to direct development of the Space Bioreactor and associated tissue engineering and cancer research applications. This utilized controlled gravitational conditions for in-vitro growth of human tissue, resulted in development of the state of the art NASA rotating tissue culture systems for use on Earth and in Space. He has particular expertise in the design of real time computer process control systems, communications, bioprocessing, physiology, fluid dynamics, and aerospace medicine. Dr. Wolf is an active public speaker.
Selected as a NASA astronaut in January 1990, Dr. Wolf became qualified for space flight in July 1991. His technical assignments have included Orbiter vehicle processing and test at Kennedy Space Center (1991-1992) and spacecraft communications (CAPCOM) (1994-1995). He is qualified for Extravehicular Activity (Spacewalk), Robotic Manipulator System (Robot Arm), and Rendezvous. He was CAPCOM for the first and third Shuttle-Mir rendezvous.
Dr. Wolf trained at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, in preparation for his long-duration stay aboard Mir. The space mission and training were conducted completely in the Russian language. Dr. Wolf was a mission specialist on STS-58, was Board Engineer 2 for 119 days aboard the Russian Space Station Mir, and more recently was a mission specialist on STS-112 assembly flight 9A to the International Space Station. Dr. Wolf has logged 143 days in space, and 28 hours and 41 minutes of EVA (including a 9-hour EVA in a Russian Orlan spacesuit).
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-58 Columbia (Oct 16-Nov 1, 1993) was a dedicated Spacelab life sciences research mission. The crew conducted neurovestibular, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and musculoskeletal research utilizing microgravity to reveal fundamental human physiology otherwise masked by earth gravity. Mission duration was 14 days, 12 minutes, and 32 seconds.
On September 25, 1997, Dr. Wolf launched aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, as part of the STS-86 crew, to the Russian Space Station, MIR. He performed on-board engineer and scientific research duties as a long duration crewmember. His return to Earth was aboard Shuttle Endeavour (STS-89) on January 31, 1998. Mission duration was 128 days.
STS-112 Atlantis (October 7-18, 2002) was an International Space Station assembly mission during which the crew delivered and installed the S-1 Truss (first starboard truss) on the International Space Station (ISS). Wolf’s primary duties were as lead spacewalker (EV1) and as rendezvous navigation specialist. He performed three spacewalks to complete installation and activation of the S1 truss. Mission duration was 10 days, 19 hours, and 58 minutes.
MARCH 2004
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