NASA - Eclipse 99

Ronald A. Parise (Ph.D.) is a two-time shuttle astronaut, who flew aboard the only NASA missions to be completely dedicated to astronomy. Born on May 24, 1951, he grew up in Warren, Ohio. Attending Youngstown State University (Ohio), he received his bachelor of science degree in physics, with minors in mathematics, astronomy, and geology.

Then, at the University of Florida, he earned a master of science degree and a doctor of philosophy degree in astronomy. Dr. Parise went to work at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) in Silver Springs, Maryland, shortly after receiving his Ph.D. He became manager of the Advanced Astronomy Programs and was involved in flight software development, electronic system design, and mission-planning activities for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT). As part of the crew assigned to Space Shuttle mission STS-61E, Dr. Parise was announced as a payload specialist in June 1984. However, due to the Challenger accident in 1986, his first mission would not fly until six years later. STS-35, which launched on December 2, 1990, carried into orbit the Astro-1 Spacelab, including four telescopes: the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT), the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment (WUPPE), the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT), and the Broad Band X-Ray Telescope (BBXRT). The orbiting platform allowed for round-the-clock observations of the celestial sphere in ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy.

The crew also conducted the Space Classroom Program, Assignment: The Stars, to spark student interest in science, math, and technology. Dr. Parise flew again on STS-67, which also saw the re-flight of the Astro payload. Logically dubbed Astro-2, the 68th shuttle mission continued the research started on STS-35. The experiments selected targets from a list of over 600 and observed objects ranging from some inside the solar system to individual stars, nebulae, supernova remnants, galaxies and active extragalactic objects. Astro-2 had almost twice the duration of its predecessor and a launch at a different time of year, which allowed the telescopes to view different portions of the sky. Both missions carried the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX), which allowed communication between HAM radio hobbyists on the ground and the astronauts. Dr. Parise was one of the astronauts who operated SAREX (he became an amateur radio operator at age 11; his callsign is: WA4SIR).

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	Ronald A. Parise Shuttle Payload Specialist
	Ronald A. Parise (Ph.D.) is a two-time shuttle astronaut, who flew aboard the only NASA missions to be completely dedicated to astronomy. Born on May 24, 1951, he grew up in Warren, Ohio. Attending Youngstown State University (Ohio), he received his bachelor of science degree in physics, with minors in mathematics, astronomy, and geology. Then, at the University of Florida, he earned a master of science degree and a doctor of philosophy degree in astronomy. Dr. Parise went to work at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) in Silver Springs, Maryland, shortly after receiving his Ph.D. He became manager of the Advanced Astronomy Programs and was involved in flight software development, electronic system design, and mission-planning activities for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT). As part of the crew assigned to Space Shuttle mission STS-61E, Dr. Parise was announced as a payload specialist in June 1984. However, due to the Challenger accident in 1986, his first mission would not fly until six years later. STS-35, which launched on December 2, 1990, carried into orbit the Astro-1 Spacelab, including four telescopes: the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT), the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment (WUPPE), the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT), and the Broad Band X-Ray Telescope (BBXRT). The orbiting platform allowed for round-the-clock observations of the celestial sphere in ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy. The crew also conducted the Space Classroom Program, Assignment: The Stars, to spark student interest in science, math, and technology. Dr. Parise flew again on STS-67, which also saw the re-flight of the Astro payload. Logically dubbed Astro-2, the 68th shuttle mission continued the research started on STS-35. The experiments selected targets from a list of over 600 and observed objects ranging from some inside the solar system to individual stars, nebulae, supernova remnants, galaxies and active extragalactic objects. Astro-2 had almost twice the duration of its predecessor and a launch at a different time of year, which allowed the telescopes to view different portions of the sky. Both missions carried the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX), which allowed communication between HAM radio hobbyists on the ground and the astronauts. Dr. Parise was one of the astronauts who operated SAREX (he became an amateur radio operator at age 11; his callsign is: WA4SIR). Back to top	Shuttle Payload Specialist Ron Parise Ron Parise Video