David Cornell Leestma
David Cornell Leestma is a retired United States Navy captain, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, three-flight NASA astronaut, and former senior NASA exploration official. His shuttle missions covered early operations, classified Department of Defense work, and atmospheric science.
- Born
- May 6, 1949
- Died
- N/A
- Birthplace
- Muskegon, Michigan,United States
Flights
3
Spacewalks
1
EVA time
3 hours, 29 minutes
In space
22 days, 4 hours, 32 minutes
Bio
Leestma graduated from the United States Naval Academy and earned a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He served as a naval aviator and test pilot before NASA selected him in 1980.
On STS-41-G, Leestma performed an EVA with Kathryn Sullivan during the first American spacewalk involving a woman. He later flew STS-28, a classified DoD mission, and STS-45, the ATLAS-1 atmospheric science flight.
After flying, Leestma held major NASA leadership roles in flight crew operations, exploration, and human-spaceflight strategy. His record now connects his mission record to both EVA history and later agency leadership.