Alumnus Makes History on Space Shuttle

Endeavour Makes History with First Bow Tie in Space

The space shuttle Endeavour (Mission STS-123) continues to make history this week. Following its unusual early-morning liftoff last Tuesday, March 11 and continuing with groundbreaking construction efforts at the International Space Station, Ohio State alumnus Dr. Richard Linnehan, NASA's first veterinarian, is making history in a special way for The Ohio State University: he has a bowtie owned by university President E. Gordon Gee.

The bowtie – a trademark of President Gee - was presented to College of Veterinary Medicine third-year student Page Gordon by the president at a special event last fall. "The Art and Science of Dogs" featured several faculty veterinarians, Veterinary Teaching Hospital clients and their owners, in a joint program with the William Wegman exhibit at the Wexner Center prior to a home football game.

President Gee offered the tie in lieu of volunteering to go himself. With former astronaut Senator John Glenn in the audience, Gee assured the audience that he was not interested in space travel, and the tie would have to do!

After the Endeavour's return, Dr. Linnehan will present the tie to Dr. Gee in a special commemorative frame. (The date of the presentation has not been chosen.)

Additional mission details The crew is delivering the Japanese Kibo Logistics Module and the Canadian Dextre robotics system to the International Space Station. The first veterinarian to serve as a NASA astronaut, Dr. Linnehan is a veteran of three previous space flights, including the fourth Hubble Servicing Mission.

Dr. Linnehan is the mission's lead spacewalker, and will be conducting the first three spacewalks:

• Thursday, March 13, 2008:
  • Linnehan and Garret Reisman prepared the ELM-PS for its removal from the shuttle's payload bay. Later, the Japanese facility was installed on top of the Harmony module.
• Saturday March 15, 2008:
  • Linnehan and Captain Mike Forman will assemble Dextre by removing covers and installing arm components on its main body.
• Monday March 17, 2008:
  • Linnehan and Major Robert L. Behnken will complete Dextre assembly by installing a tool platform and tool holster assembly.

Dr. Linnehan received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1985 and was selected by NASA in 1992. Prior to this mission, he had since logged over 43 days in space as a Mission Specialist. More information about this mission is available at www.nasa.gov More information about the College of Veterinary Medicine is available at www.vet.osu.edu or by calling Dr. Michelle Harcha at (W) 614-292-9296 or (cell) 614-432-3323 harcha.2@osu.edu.