Spring Break
Drexel alumnus leads mission to space
Zohaib Ahmad
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: News
Christopher Ferguson, a Drexel alumnus, will lead a team of astronauts on a launch scheduled for Nov. 14 at 7:55 p.m.
A veteran space flier, Ferguson will be leading his seven-person team as mission commander for the first time for the space shuttle Endeavour, which will be going to the International Space Station.
While at the space station, the crew will install a system that recycles urine into drinking water.
"I would challenge you to find any other system on the Earth that recycles urine into drinkable water," Ferguson said.
Ferguson and the crew also plan to prepare the space station to house six people for long-duration missions.
Once there, the shuttle and space crews will collaborate on the successful delivery of key life support and habitability systems.
A resident of Philadelphia, Ferguson graduated from Drexel University in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and went on to earn a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from Naval Postgraduate School in 1991.
Ferguson worked with the navy until June 1998, when he was recruited by NASA. He then spent two years in training at Johnson Space Center in Houston, after which he served in the operations branch of the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems handling technical duties.
"[Ferguson and the launch] will publicize Drexel as a premier scientific university," David Shields, a freshman majoring in Materials Science and Engineering, said.
To date, three Drexel alumni have been involved with space travel, according to a Drexel news release.
"It's cool that Drexel gives you the education that you need to succeed in such a demanding field," Josh Marantz, a freshman in the College of Engineering, said.
"On behalf of everyone at Drexel and your many friends in Philadelphia, I want to wish you and the crew of the Endeavour a successful mission," Papadakis said in the news release.
A veteran space flier, Ferguson will be leading his seven-person team as mission commander for the first time for the space shuttle Endeavour, which will be going to the International Space Station.
While at the space station, the crew will install a system that recycles urine into drinking water.
"I would challenge you to find any other system on the Earth that recycles urine into drinkable water," Ferguson said.
Ferguson and the crew also plan to prepare the space station to house six people for long-duration missions.
Once there, the shuttle and space crews will collaborate on the successful delivery of key life support and habitability systems.
A resident of Philadelphia, Ferguson graduated from Drexel University in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and went on to earn a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from Naval Postgraduate School in 1991.
Ferguson worked with the navy until June 1998, when he was recruited by NASA. He then spent two years in training at Johnson Space Center in Houston, after which he served in the operations branch of the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems handling technical duties.
"[Ferguson and the launch] will publicize Drexel as a premier scientific university," David Shields, a freshman majoring in Materials Science and Engineering, said.
To date, three Drexel alumni have been involved with space travel, according to a Drexel news release.
"It's cool that Drexel gives you the education that you need to succeed in such a demanding field," Josh Marantz, a freshman in the College of Engineering, said.
"On behalf of everyone at Drexel and your many friends in Philadelphia, I want to wish you and the crew of the Endeavour a successful mission," Papadakis said in the news release.
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