Thomas D. Jones

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Thomas D. Jones Veteran NASA AstronautSelected by NASA in 1990, Dr. Jones is a veteran of four space flights and has logged 53 days (1,272 hours) in space, including three separate space walks totaling over 19 hours. His missions were: STS-59 Endeavor (1994), STS-68 Endeavor (1994), STS-80 Columbia (1996), and STS-98 Atlantis (2001).

Thomas D. Jones received a Bachelor of Science degree in Basic Sciences from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, in 1977. He then went on to earn a Doctorate in Planetary Science from the University of Arizona, in Tucson, in 1988.

As a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Dr. Jones served on active duty as an Air Force Officer for six years, accumulating over 2,000 hours of jet experience flying the B-52D Stratofortress at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. As a pilot and aircraft commander, he led a B-52 combat crew of six. His astronaut duties included orbital science operations, serving as payload commander, deployment and retrieval of science satellites, and assisting with delivery and installation of the US. Destiny lab to the International Space Station.

Dr. Jones' awards include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Exceptional Public Service award, Phi Beta Kappa, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and Distinguished Eagle Scout. In 2018, Tom was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

As an author, speaker, and consultant, he focuses on the direction of human space exploration, uses of asteroid resources, and planetary defense. He appears often on TV and radio with expert commentary on science and space flight. His website is www.AstronautTomJones.com.

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