Ugandan directs US space station
Jul 13, 2005
A Ugandan scientist has been chosen to control the International Space Station.
By Kalungi Kabuye
A Ugandan scientist has been chosen to control the International Space Station.
Kwatsi Alibaruho (above) will take over the Flight Control Team for the station when Space Shuttle Discovery, which was due to blast off from Cape Canaveral at 9:00pm last night, leaves it.
Alibaruho is the first ever black Flight Director in the history of America’s National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), and he was only appointed on yesterday.
“Today is the big day, I’ll be directing the Flight Control Team for the Space Station as soon as Discovery undocks from the Space Station,†he said in a message to relatives.
Discovery is the first space shuttle to travel into space after the Columbia broke up after re-entry in 2003, killing all seven astronauts on board. NASA has since made improvements to make the shuttle safer.
Discovery has a crew of seven, headed by Commander Eileen Collins, and will have a 12-day mission, delivering spare parts and other equipment to the International Space Station.
Kwatsi is the son of Drs. George and Gloria Alibaruho, originally from Kyamuhunga, Bushenyi. He was born in Illinois while his parents were completing their PhDs.
Kwatsi went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he got a Bachelor of Science degree in avionics. He is said to have excelled in maths, science and writing.
He joined NASA’s Cooperative Education Program, where he was offered a permanent position as a Flight Controller. After about 10 years, he was made a Flight Director.
A Ugandan scientist has been chosen to control the International Space Station.
Kwatsi Alibaruho (above) will take over the Flight Control Team for the station when Space Shuttle Discovery, which was due to blast off from Cape Canaveral at 9:00pm last night, leaves it.
Alibaruho is the first ever black Flight Director in the history of America’s National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), and he was only appointed on yesterday.
“Today is the big day, I’ll be directing the Flight Control Team for the Space Station as soon as Discovery undocks from the Space Station,†he said in a message to relatives.
Discovery is the first space shuttle to travel into space after the Columbia broke up after re-entry in 2003, killing all seven astronauts on board. NASA has since made improvements to make the shuttle safer.
Discovery has a crew of seven, headed by Commander Eileen Collins, and will have a 12-day mission, delivering spare parts and other equipment to the International Space Station.
Kwatsi is the son of Drs. George and Gloria Alibaruho, originally from Kyamuhunga, Bushenyi. He was born in Illinois while his parents were completing their PhDs.
Kwatsi went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he got a Bachelor of Science degree in avionics. He is said to have excelled in maths, science and writing.
He joined NASA’s Cooperative Education Program, where he was offered a permanent position as a Flight Controller. After about 10 years, he was made a Flight Director.