View source for Joe F. Edwards Jr.

{{short description|American astronaut, aviator and engineer (born 1958)}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Joe Edwards
|image         = Joe Edwards.jpg
|birth_name    = Joe Frank Edwards Jr.
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1958|2|3}}
|birth_place   = [[Richmond, Virginia]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|education     = [[United States Naval Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[University of Tennessee, Knoxville]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
|awards        = [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<br>[[Air Medal]]
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Commander (United States)|Commander]], [[United States Navy|USN]]
|time          = 8d 19h 48m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 15|NASA Group 15 (1994)]]
|mission       = [[STS-89]]
|insignia      = [[File:Sts-89-patch.svg|40px]]
|retirement    = April 30, 2000
}}
'''Joe Frank Edwards Jr.''' (born February 3, 1958), ([[Commander (United States)|Cmdr]], [[United States Navy|USN]], Ret.), is an American [[aerospace engineer]], former [[United States Navy|naval officer]], [[United States naval aviator|aviator]], [[test pilot]] and [[NASA]] [[astronaut]].

==Early life and education==

Edwards was born February 3, 1958, in [[Richmond, Virginia]], but considers both [[Lineville, Alabama]], and Roanoke [[Alabama]], to be his hometowns.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Brief Historical Sketch of Lineville, Alabama|first= Don C. |last=East |url=http://alabamaclaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/A-HISTORY-OF-LINEVILLE-ALABAMA.pdf|access-date=December 18, 2022}}</ref> He graduated from Lineville High School in 1976 and earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[Aerospace]] [[Engineering]] from the [[United States Naval Academy]] in 1980.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Joe Frank Edwards, Jr|url=https://www.usna.edu/Notables/astronauts/1980edwards.php|access-date=2020-08-03|website=www.usna.edu|language=en}}</ref> In 1994, he received a [[Master of Science]] degree in [[Aviation]] Systems from [[University of Tennessee]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]].<ref name="bionasa">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/edwards_joe.pdf |title=Biographical Data: Joe Frank Edwards, Jr. (Commander, USN, Ret.) NASA Astronaut (Former) |access-date=January 21, 2021|date=May 2002 | publisher=NASA}}</ref>

==Naval Aviator career==

Edwards was designated a [[Naval Aviator]] in February 1982. He was assigned to Fighter Squadron 143 ([[VFA-143|VF-143]]) in 1983, after completion of [[F-14 Tomcat]] training, and flew fighter escort and reconnaissance [[Aerial warfare|combat mission]]s over [[Lebanon]] in 1983.<ref name=":0" />

He graduated from the [[Navy Fighter Weapons School]] (TOPGUN) in 1984 and from [[U.S. Naval Test Pilot School]] in 1986. He subsequently worked as project flight test officer and pilot for [[F-14A]] (PLUS) and [[F-14D]] Full Scale Development. He flew the first Navy flight of the F-14D and a high [[angle of attack]]/departure from controlled flight test program for the F-14 airframe/F110 engine integration. He served as Operations and Maintenance Officer in Fighter Squadron 142 ([[VF-142]]) from 1989 to 1992. He worked as Operations Officer in the Operations Directorate of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], [[Washington, D.C.]] from 1992 to 1994.<ref name=":0" />

He has flown 4,000 hours in over 25 different [[aircraft]] and logged over 650 carrier-arrested landings.<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Damaged_F-14B_of_VF-142_on_USS_Eisenhower_(CVN-69)_in_November_1991.jpg|thumb|The [[F-14B]] which wounded Edwards managed to land on carrier after the radome separated mid-flight. With the radome missing, the radar antenna can be clearly seen.]]

On November 13, 1991, while serving as maintenance officer of VF-142, he was flying in the [[Persian Gulf]] at [[Mach number|Mach]] 0.9 at {{convert|29000|ft|m}} when the radome separated from his airplane, impacted, and destroyed his canopy. With a blinded eye, collapsed lung, broken arm and no communications or flight instruments, he recovered his "convertible" Tomcat with his [[Radar Intercept Officer]] [[Lieutenant Commander (United States)|LCDR]] Scott Grundmeier hunkered down in the rear cockpit and landed aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Dwight D. Eisenhower|CVN-69|6}}. He was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] for this superior display of airmanship under grave circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|title=How F-14 Tomcat pilot with missing radome made an emergency landing|date=June 12, 2018|url=https://fighterjetsworld.com/air/how-f-14-tomcat-pilot-with-missing-radome-made-an-emergency-landing/4466/|publisher=Fighter Jets World|access-date=December 18, 2022}}</ref>

==NASA career==

Selected as an astronaut by NASA in December 1994, Edwards reported to the [[Johnson Space Center]] in March 1995. He worked on technical issues for the [[Space Shuttle]] and [[International Space Station]] in the Safety Department of the Astronaut Office. He also served as Technical Assistant to the Director, Flight Crew Operations Directorate, NASA Director of Operations (DOR), Russia, and Astronaut [[CAPCOM]] representative in Mission Control for Shuttle ascent and entry.<ref name="bionasa"/>

Edwards flew on [[STS-89]] (January 22&ndash;31, 1998), the eighth Shuttle-[[Mir]] docking mission, during which the crew transferred more than {{convert|9000|lb|kg}} of scientific equipment, logistical hardware and water from {{OV|105}} to Mir. In the fifth and last exchange of a U.S. astronaut, STS-89 delivered [[Andy Thomas]] to Mir and returned with [[David Wolf (astronaut)|David Wolf]]. Mission duration was 8 days, 19 hours and 47 seconds, traveling 3.6 million miles (5.8 million km) in 138 orbits of the [[Earth]].<ref>{{cite web|title=STS-89 Endeavour|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-89.htm|publisher=Spacefacts.de|access-date=December 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-89/mission-sts-89.html|title=NASA STS-89 mission summary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062707/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-89/mission-sts-89.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

== Awards and memberships ==
Edwards is a member of the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]], [[Association of Naval Aviation]], and the [[U.S. Naval Institute]].

He has received the [[Defense Superior Service Medal]], [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]], [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]], [[Air Medal]], [[Navy Commendation Medal]], [[Navy Achievement Medal]], [[Daedalian Superior Airmanship Award]] 1992, Fighter [[Squadron (aviation)|Squadron]] 143 Fighter Pilot of the Year, 1984, 1985, Fighter Squadron 142 Fighter Pilot of the Year, 1990, 1991, 1992. [[Carrier Air Wing 7]] Pilot of the Year, 1985, 1990, 1991.<ref name=":0" />

==Personal life==

Edwards retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy on April 30, 2000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Astronaut Joe Edwards Retires From NASA|date=May 11, 2000|first=Doug |last=Peterson|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/1999_2001/j00-30.html|publisher=NASA|access-date=December 18, 2022}}</ref>

He is married to the former Janet Leigh Ragan of [[Leonardtown, Maryland]]. His parents, Joe Frank and Jane McMurray Edwards, are deceased and formerly resided in [[Roanoke, Alabama]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Joe F. Edwards, Jr.}}
*[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/edwards_joe.htm Space facts biography of Joe F. Edwards Jr.]

{{NASA Astronaut Group 15}}
{{US Navy navbox}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Joe Frank Jr.}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1998 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:United States Navy astronauts]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Richmond, Virginia]]
[[Category:People from Lineville, Alabama]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Naval Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:University of Tennessee alumni]]
[[Category:American aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Naval Aviators]]
[[Category:Aviators from Virginia]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Engineers from Virginia]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Mir crew members]]