NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur Retires

Megan McArthur, a veteran NASA astronaut, has retired after a career spanning over two decades, logging 213 days in space and conducting numerous scientific experiments.
McArthur was a key figure in several notable missions, including Expedition 65/66, where she served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station, and STS-125, where she supported the Hubble Space Telescope’s servicing mission.
As a leader within NASA, McArthur held various roles, including deputy division chief of the Astronaut Office, assistant director of flight operations for the International Space Station Program, and chief science officer at Space Center Houston.
Megan McArthur is married to former NASA astronaut Robert Behnken and has been actively promoting public engagement with space exploration themes since 2022, aiming to increase understanding of its benefits to humanity.
Throughout her career, McArthur has contributed significantly to advancing human space exploration, including supporting the Artemis program’s goal of sending American astronauts to Mars and conducting research on kidney stones and osteoporosis in space.

Astronaut working on the International Space Station

NASA astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Megan McArthur removes Kidney Cells-02 hardware inside the Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory and swaps media inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox. The human research study seeks to improve treatments for kidney stones and osteoporosis

NASA astronaut Megan McArthur has retired, concluding a career spanning more than two decades. A veteran of two spaceflights, McArthur logged 213 days in space, including being the first woman to pilot a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the last person to “touch” the Hubble Space Telescope with the space shuttle’s robotic arm.

McArthur launched as pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission in April 2021, marking her second spaceflight and her first long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station. During the 200-day mission, she served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 65/66, conducting a wide array of scientific experiments in human health, materials sciences, and robotics to advance exploration of the Moon under Artemis and prepare to send American astronauts to Mars.

Her first spaceflight was STS-125 in 2009, aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, the fifth and final servicing mission to Hubble. As a mission specialist, she was responsible for capturing the telescope with the robotic arm, as well as supporting five spacewalks to update and repair Hubble after its first 19 years in space. She also played a key role in supporting shuttle operations during launch, rendezvous with the telescope, and landing.

“Megan’s thoughtful leadership, operational excellence, and deep commitment to science and exploration have made a lasting impact,” said Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Her contributions have helped shape the future of human space exploration, and we are incredibly grateful for her service.”

In addition to her flight experience, McArthur has served in various technical and leadership roles within NASA. In 2019, she became the deputy division chief of the Astronaut Office, supporting astronaut training, development, and ongoing spaceflight operations. She also served as the assistant director of flight operations for the International Space Station Program starting in 2017.

Since 2022, McArthur has served as the chief science officer at Space Center Houston, NASA Johnson’s official visitor center. Continuing in this role, she actively promotes public engagement with space exploration themes, aiming to increase understanding of the benefits to humanity and enhance science literacy.

“Megan brought a unique combination of technical skill and compassion to everything she did,” said Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson. “Whether in space or on the ground, she embodied the best of what it means to be an astronaut and a teammate. Her contributions will be felt by the next generation of explorers she helped train.”

McArthur was born in Honolulu and raised as a “Navy kid” in many different locations worldwide. She earned a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a doctorate in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. Before being selected as an astronaut in 2000, she conducted oceanographic research focusing on underwater acoustics, which involved shipboard work and extensive scuba diving.

McArthur is married to former NASA astronaut Robert Behnken, who also flew aboard the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft during the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission in 2020.

“It was an incredible privilege to serve as a NASA astronaut, working with scientists from around the world on cutting-edge research that continues to have a lasting impact here on Earth and prepares humanity for future exploration at the Moon and Mars,” said McArthur. “From NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to the International Space Station, our research lab in low Earth orbit, humanity has developed incredible tools that help us answer important scientific questions, solve complex engineering challenges, and gain a deeper understanding of our place in the universe. Seeing our beautiful planet from space makes it so clear how fragile and precious our home is, and how vital it is that we protect it. I am grateful I had the opportunity to contribute to this work, and I’m excited to watch our brilliant engineers and scientists at NASA conquer new challenges and pursue further scientific discoveries for the benefit of all.”

To learn more about NASA’s astronauts and their contributions to space exploration, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts

-end-

Shaneequa Vereen
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
shaneequa.y.vereen@nasa.gov

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Q. What is Megan McArthur’s background?

A. Megan McArthur was born in Honolulu and raised as a “Navy kid” in many different locations worldwide, earning a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a doctorate in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.

Q. How long did Megan McArthur spend in space?

A. Megan McArthur logged 213 days in space, including being the first woman to pilot a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the last person to “touch” the Hubble Space Telescope with the space shuttle’s robotic arm.

Q. What was Megan McArthur’s role on the International Space Station?

A. During her 200-day mission, she served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 65/66, conducting a wide array of scientific experiments in human health, materials sciences, and robotics to advance exploration of the Moon under Artemis and prepare to send American astronauts to Mars.

Q. What was Megan McArthur’s first spaceflight?

A. Her first spaceflight was STS-125 in 2009, aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, the fifth and final servicing mission to Hubble.

Q. Who is Megan McArthur married to?

A. Megan McArthur is married to former NASA astronaut Robert Behnken, who also flew aboard the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft during the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission in 2020.

Q. What was Megan McArthur’s role at Space Center Houston?

A. Since 2022, McArthur has served as the chief science officer at Space Center Houston, NASA Johnson’s official visitor center, actively promoting public engagement with space exploration themes and aiming to increase understanding of the benefits to humanity and enhance science literacy.

Q. What was Megan McArthur responsible for during her time on the Hubble Space Telescope?

A. As a mission specialist, she was responsible for capturing the telescope with the robotic arm, as well as supporting five spacewalks to update and repair Hubble after its first 19 years in space.

Q. How did Megan McArthur contribute to NASA’s research?

A. She conducted oceanographic research focusing on underwater acoustics, which involved shipboard work and extensive scuba diving, before being selected as an astronaut in 2000.

Q. What is Megan McArthur’s view on the importance of protecting Earth?

A. “Seeing our beautiful planet from space makes it so clear how fragile and precious our home is, and how vital it is that we protect it,” she said.

Q. Who praised Megan McArthur’s leadership and contributions to NASA?

A. Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, described her as having “thoughtful leadership, operational excellence, and deep commitment to science and exploration” that have made a lasting impact on the agency.