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Douglas H. Wheelock

Douglas H. Wheelock
Wheelock Douglas.jpg
Born (1960-05-05) May 5, 1960 (age 56)
Binghamton, New York, U.S.
Nationality American
Call-sign KF5BOC
NASA Astronaut
Status Active
Other occupation
Test pilot
Rank Colonel, U.S. Army
Time in space
178d 09h 34m
Selection 1998 NASA Group
Total EVAs
6
Total EVA time
43h 30 m
Missions STS-120, Soyuz TMA-19 (Expedition 24/25)
Mission insignia
Sts-120-patch.svg Soyuz-TMA-19-Mission-Patch.png ISS Expedition 24 Patch.png ISS Expedition 25 Patch.png

Douglas Harry "Wheels" Wheelock (born May 5, 1960) is an American engineer and astronaut. He has flown in space twice, logging 178 days on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and Russian Soyuz. On July 12, 2011, Wheelock announced that he would be returning to active duty with the United States Army in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Douglas Wheelock was born in Binghamton, New York to Olin and Margaret Wheelock. In a pre-flight interview, Wheelock stated that he was inspired to become an astronaut at an early age. He also stated that a major turning point in his life was the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. In 1978 Wheelock graduated from Windsor Central High School in Windsor, New York before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. He earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in 1992.

Wheelock spent four years as a cadet at West Point, graduating in the class of 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science and Engineering. After graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army's Infantry Branch and entered flight school the next year. In September 1984, then Lieutenant Wheelock graduated at the top of his flight class and was designated an Army Aviator. He subsequently served in the Pacific as a combat aviation Section Leader, Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, and Commander of an Air Cavalry Troop in the 9th Cavalry. He was later assigned to the Aviation Directorate of Combat Developments as an Advanced Weapons Research and Development Engineer.


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