John M. Grunsfeld is a scientist and former astronaut with extensive experience as a leader in human space exploration, space science missions, and national space policy. He has served as a NASA astronaut, the Associate Administrator for Science, and Chief Scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. As Associate Administrator his responsibilities included a $7B/year portfolio of Earth Science, Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Heliophysics, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the NOAA weather satellite program. Previously he served as the Deputy Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, managing the science program for the Hubble Space Telescope and the forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope. Grunsfeld’s scientific research is in planetary science and the search for life beyond Earth. He has deep knowledge in Earth and Climate science and strategies to fight climate change. Grunsfeld is also an avid explorer, enjoying mountaineering, bicycling, sailing, and flying small aircraft.
Grunsfeld joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in 1992. He is veteran of five space shuttle flights, (STS-67, STS-81, STS-103, STS-109, and STS-125) of which three flights were to the Hubble Space Telescope. He performed eight spacewalks to service and upgrade the Hubble observatory. He has logged more than 58 days in space on his shuttle missions, including 58 hours and 30 minutes of spacewalk time. In 2004-2005, he served as the commander and science officer on the backup crew for Expedition 13 to the International Space Station.
In 2015 Grunsfeld was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and is a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society. He has received numerous awards including the National Space Trophy, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Leadership Medal, and the AIAA Education Award.
Dr. Grunsfeld graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in physics. He earned a master’s degree and, in 1988, a doctorate in physics from the University of Chicago. From Chicago, he joined the faculty of the California Institute of Technology as a Senior Research Fellow in Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy. After his astronaut career he was appointed a Professor of Physics at the Johns Hopkins University in 2010.
His experience and skill in leading NASA science, developing plans and architectures for future programs, systems engineering skills, as a STEM education pathfinder, extensive experience in human spaceflight, and international affairs, make him unique in the world (and off) as a national leader and strategist.
Grunsfeld grew up in the Chicago area, and now lives in Colorado. He is most well known as the Hubble Repairman and for calling in to the NPR radio show “Car-Talk” from space.