A Rutgers Alumnus in Space
Mario Runco, Mission Specialist
A Rutgers Alumnus in Space
Mario Runco, Mission Specialist
Mario Runco earned a Master of Science degree in Meteorology from Rutgers University in 1976. While at Rutgers, he played on the Rutgers intercollegiate ice hockey team. After completing his degree at Rutgers, Mario served as a New Jersey State Trooper before entering the Navy. In 1987, Mario was selected by NASA to begin training as a mission specialist for the Space Shuttle. To date, Mario has flown on three Shuttle missions (STS-44, STS-54, STS-77), spending over 551 hours in space. While in space, Mario was responsible for conducting a number of satellite, technology, and life science experiments, including a spacewalk (formally known as an EVA or extravehicular activity). During his missions Mario captured some of the best photographs of the Earth from space, something that was aided by his background in Earth sciences and his interest in photography. Luckily for Rutgers, Mario carried a Rutgers University pennant with him during one of his missions in space. After returning to Earth, Mario donated this pennant to the university. It is now on display in the hallway of The Mabel Smith Douglas Library on the Douglas campus of Rutgers, New Brunswick. This display can be viewe online in the Pennant Showcase. The various activities that Mario participated in before, during, and after each spaceflight are typical for most astronauts. Some of these activities are documented in photographs below. |
| PRE-FLIGHT | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| LAUNCH | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| IN-FLIGHT | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| LANDING | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
| POST-FLIGHT | |||
 |
 |
|
Photographs used in the A Rutgers Alumnus in Space website should be credited to NASA.
For additional information about Mario Runco, goto his NASA Biographical Page.
For more information about NASA Human Exploration in Space, goto http://spaceflight.nasa.gov Please read our Disclaimer before using any of these photographs. |
  |
|
Grant
F. Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (CRSSA) |
|
Site last updated 8 September 2003 |