Meet the crew of the shuttle Discovery

By Tariq Malik

updated 6:33 p.m. ET March 10, 2009

A pair of teachers, a rookie space pilot and Japan's first endurance spaceflier form only part of the tight-knit astronaut crew on the space shuttle Discovery.

Commanding Discovery's spaceflight is veteran NASA astronaut Lee Archambault, who will lead a crew of seven on a two-week trek to install new solar arrays at the international space station.

"They've all proven themselves to have been outstanding astronauts," Archambault said of his crew in a recent interview. "I'm anxious to see how they perform in orbit."

Here's a brief look at Discovery's seven-man crew:

Commander's seat

Justin Dernier / EPA Mission Commander Lee Archambault is making his second spaceflight aboard Discovery, but his first as commander.

Archambault, 48, is making his second spaceflight aboard Discovery, though the mission is his first stint as commander. He served as pilot of the shuttle Atlantis during its STS-117 flight in 2007, which also delivered a pair of U.S. solar arrays, and now sees himself as a conductor of sorts to orchestrate his Discovery crewmates into a well-oiled spaceflying machine.

"As far as my responsibility goes, my first responsibility is overall safety for the crew and two, mission success," Archambault has said. A colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Archambault flew combat missions in the Gulf War and served as a test pilot before being selected to join NASA's astronaut corps in 1998. 

He grew up in Bellwood, Ill., near Chicago, which also happened to be the hometown of Gemini and Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan - the last man to walk on the moon. Archambault fondly remembers attending a parade in Cernan's honor as a 6-year-old, but his goal to become an astronaut crystallized later in life while in the military.

Archambault has a master's degree in aeronautical engineering. He and wife Kelly have two daughters, ages 11 and 17, and a 15-year-old son.

Born spaceflyer

Getty Images Pilot Tony Antonelli is a commander in the U.S. Navy who joined NASA's spaceflying ranks in 2000.

Shuttle pilot Dominic Anthony "Tony" Antonelli is making his first trip into orbit aboard Discovery after years of dreaming about reaching space.

"I've wanted to do this for as long as I can remember wanting to do anything," said Antonelli, 41.

Antonelli is a commander in the U.S. Navy and test pilot with some 273 aircraft carrier landings under his belt. He joined NASA's spaceflying ranks in 2000 and holds a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics.

During Discovery's flight, Antonelli will double up as the lead shuttle robotic arm operator. An avid snowboarder and NASCAR fan, he'll be toting a green flag for the Andretti Green Racing IndyCar team in his space luggage and hopes to serve as an official starter in an IndyCar race after his flight.

Antonelli grew up in Fayetteville, N.C., and is married to wife Janeen with two sons, ages 4 and 7.

Teaching space

Getty Images Mission specialist Joseph Acaba is one of two educator astronauts to fly with this mission. He will perform two of the four planned spacewalks.

Joseph Acaba, a geologist and math teacher, is making his first spaceflight as one of the two educator astronauts to launch spaceward aboard Discovery. He'll serve as Mission Specialist 1 during Discovery's flight and perform two of the four planned spacewalks.

"I'm looking forward to the whole experience," Acaba, 41, said in a recent interview. "To be put on top of a rocket ship and blast off, I don't know if anyone at this point can tell you what they think it will be like."

Acaba grew up in Anaheim, Calif., and served as a hydrogeologist in Los Angeles before joining the Peace Corps to spend two years promoting environmental education in the Dominican Republic. He also coordinated a mangrove revegetation project in Florida, has served as a reservist in the U.S. Marine Corps, and taught math and science to middle and high school students in Florida before joining NASA in 2004.

An avid science-fiction fan, Acaba confesses that his childhood reading passion had a big impact on shaping his path toward space.

"It impacted me a lot, and it really opened my imagination to all those things that were possible," Acaba said. "I think we're living in what was science fiction not too long ago."

Spacewalking chief

Getty Images Mission specialist Steve Swanson will serve as the shuttle's flight engineer. He will perform three of the four planned spacewalks.

Leading the four spacewalks planned for Discovery's 14-day mission is Steve Swanson, a veteran astronaut who last flew to space alongside his commander Archambault on 2007's STS-117 mission. Once again, he's helping to deliver new station solar arrays.

"I don't think it's ever going to be old hat," Swanson said. "Just because you've done it once doesn't mean you're an expert at it."

The 48-year-old Swanson will perform three of the Discovery crew's four planned spacewalks and serve as the shuttle's flight engineer and Mission Specialist 2. He's hoping that despite the spaceflight's busy schedule, he'll get some time to switch off Discovery's cabin lights and gaze out at the Earth and deep space.

Swanson has had a lifelong penchant for exploration. He grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colo., and has a doctorate in computer science.

"Growing up, I loved to explore and go for hikes, not even follow a trail," he said in a NASA interview. "Just off and go, finally get to the top of a mountain somewhere."

Swanson joined NASA as a flight simulation engineer in 1987 and was selected to be an astronaut in 1998. He and wife Mary have two sons, ages 13 and 23, and a 19-year-old daughter.

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