387 APPENDIX About the Authors This book was written by flight directors working on the International Space Station (ISS) Program. Collectively, the authors have nearly 45,000 hours sitting in the flight director chair in Mission Control while working numerous Space Shuttle assembly missions, visiting vehicle dockings and undockings, software upgrades, and both Russian and American spacewalks. In keeping with the tradition of the first flight directors at NASA, each has a unique call sign that he or she uses for the team name during these activities. Specific details of each author are as follows: Lead Author/Executive Editor: Robert C. Dempsey, “Galileo Flight,” a former astronomer, has worked on the ISS Program since 1997. He served as a flight controller (Command and Data Handling and in Communications and Tracking) for 7 years before being selected as a flight director in 2005. Dr. Dempsey holds BS degrees in astronomy and physics from the University of Michigan (1984), as well as an MS and a PhD in physics from the University of Toledo (1986 and 1991, respectively). Contributing Authors: Dina E. Contella, “Steel Flight,” has worked on the ISS Program since 1995, serving as a Space Shuttle and ISS flight controller (Extravehicular Activity) and astronaut instructor prior to being selected as a flight director in 2009. Ms. Contella holds a BS in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University (1992). David H. Korth, “Odyssey Flight,” has worked on the ISS Program since 1990. He served as a flight controller (Planning) for 14 years before being selected as a flight director in 2007. Mr. Korth holds a BS in aerospace engineering from the Texas A&M University (1990) and is currently working on an MS in statistics from the University of Houston – Clear Lake (2017). Michael L. Lammers, “Saturn Flight,” has been involved in ISS operations since 1996. He worked as a crew trainer before becoming a flight controller (Motion Control) in 2001. After managing the Communications and Tracking group, he was selected as a flight director in 2008. Mr. Lammers holds a BS in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University (1996) and an MS from the University of Houston (2004).