John M. Grunsfeld Status: Retired 10/10/1958 – Nationality: American Type: Government First Flight: 3/2/1995 Last Flight: 5/11/2009 John Mace Grunsfeld is an American physicist and a former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of five Space Shuttle flights and has served as NASA Chief Scientist. His academic background includes research in high energy astrophysics, cosmic ray physics and the emerging field of exoplanet studies with specific interest in future astronomical instrumentation. After retiring from NASA in 2009, he served as the Deputy Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. In January 2012, he returned to NASA and served as associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD). Grunsfeld announced his retirement from NASA in April 2016. Launches Space Shuttle Endeavour / OV-105 | STS-67 Space Shuttle Atlantis / OV-104 | STS-81 Space Shuttle Discovery / OV-103 | STS-103 Space Shuttle Columbia / OV-102 | STS-109 Space Shuttle Atlantis / OV-104 | STS-125 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Type: Government Abbreviation: NASA Administration: Administrator: Jim Bridenstine Founded: 1958 Launchers: Space Shuttle | SLS Spacecraft: Orion Country: USA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.