A Trip to Space

Frank Culbertson Has Lived in the Beyond

By Bailee Miller, Staff Writer

Frank Culbertson did it all as an American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aerospace engineer and NASA astronaut. This hall of famer also served as the commander of the International Space Station and was the only U.S. citizen not on Earth on Sept. 11, 2001.

Raised in Holly Hill, South Carolina, Culbertson yearned to be a pilot from a oyng age, an interest that was sparked by his naval pilot father and the astronauts he read about.

In high school, he was a member of the football team and participated in the band. He also was a member of the rowing and wrestling teams at the United States Naval Academy.

Then came the endeavor of becoming a pilot.

“It’s a huge impact as you lift up…about 1,000 m.p.h.,” said Culbertson. “It’s like the sun coming up again; you’re shaking, rattling and rolling.”

It took Culbertson four attempts before being accepted into the National Test Pilot School, which he often speaks about to encourage resiliency in students. He also applied to NASA twice and was finally selected in 1984, going on his first mission in 1990.

Culbertson eventually became manager of the Shuttle-Mir program, being responsible for the integration of communication and learning a lot from his Russian counterparts regarding their way of design and living.

“I enjoy sleeping in space,” said Culbertson. “Living on the station is like living on a ship.”

During his time in space, Culbertson experimented on cancer cells, growwing four different types in bio-reactors. One of his pastimes while in space was using a hand-held radio to communicate with schools across the globe. He also celebrated holidays, played basketball and the trumpet, exercised and engaged in photography.

“When you’ve been in space for a few days, you really don’t feel the same at all when you come home,” said Culbertson.

Culbertson expressed that space affords you the luxury of seeing what’s happening on Earth, both good and bad.