Michael Barratt (astronaut)

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Michael R. Barratt (born April 16, 1959) is an American physician and NASA astronaut. With a background in aerospace medicine, Barratt was selected as a member of NASA's 19th astronaut class in 2000 and has participated in multiple spaceflight missions, including long-duration stays on the International Space Station (ISS).

Early Life and Education

Michael Richard Barratt was born in Vancouver, Washington, and grew up with a keen interest in space and aviation. He pursued his education with a focus on medicine, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Washington in 1981. He continued his studies at Northwestern University, where he received a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1985. Barratt's interest in aerospace medicine led him to the Wright State University, where he completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in aerospace medicine.

Career

Aerospace Medicine

Before joining NASA, Barratt worked in various capacities related to aerospace medicine. He served as the project physician for the International Space Station Medical Project, contributing significantly to the health and safety protocols for long-duration space missions. His work encompassed both the clinical aspects of astronaut health and the development of medical standards and procedures for spaceflight.

NASA Career

Barratt's career at NASA began when he was selected as an astronaut candidate in July 2000. After completing two years of training and evaluation, he became eligible for flight assignment as a mission specialist. His expertise in medicine and space health was instrumental in his assignments, particularly for long-duration missions.

Spaceflights

Barratt's first spaceflight was on STS-119, launched in March 2009, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. This mission was primarily aimed at delivering the final set of solar arrays to the ISS, enhancing the station's power capacity. During this mission, Barratt served as a flight engineer and remained on the ISS for a long-duration stay, returning to Earth on STS-128 in September 2009.

His second spaceflight was on Soyuz TMA-14M, launched in September 2011. Once again, Barratt served as a flight engineer for Expedition 19/20, contributing to various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS.

Contributions and Legacy

Barratt is known for his contributions to the field of aerospace medicine, particularly in the development of medical protocols for long-duration space missions. His work has helped shape the health standards and safety measures for astronauts living and working in space. Additionally, his participation in spaceflights has contributed to the ongoing research and maintenance of the ISS, furthering human understanding of living in space.

Personal Life

Michael Barratt is married and has five children. He is an avid pilot and enjoys flying in his spare time.

See Also

• List of International Space Station expeditions
• Space medicine
• Human spaceflight