Daniel Burbank

Daniel Burbank is a retired NASA astronaut and Coast Guard Captain recognised for his extensive spaceflight experience and contributions to the International Space Station. After being selected by NASA as an astronaut in April 1996, Daniel Burbank reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996, completing two years of intensive training and evaluation. He quickly integrated into the Astronaut Office, contributing to technical issues for the Operations Planning Branch and the International Space Station (ISS) Branch. His expertise was further utilized as a CAPCOM for both Space Shuttle and ISS missions, and he played a key role as a member of the Space Shuttle Cockpit Avionics Upgrade design team.

He further honed his technical acumen by earning a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1990. As a Mission Specialist, he embarked on his first spaceflight aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-106 in 2000, followed by STS-115 in 2006, during which he performed a critical seven-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) for ISS assembly. Burbank continued his impactful journey into space in 2011, launching aboard Soyuz TMA-22. During this mission, he served as a Flight Engineer for Expedition 29 before assuming command of Expedition 30 on the International Space Station.

He officially retired from NASA in June 2018. Returning to his roots in academia, Burbank rejoined the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2022, where he currently serves as a Professor of Practice in Mechanical Engineering, continuing to inspire and educate the next generation of leaders and engineers.