# Dale Gardner

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{{short description|American astronaut (1948–2014)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2026}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name                = Dale Gardner
|image               = Gardner-d.jpg
|birth_name          = Dale Allan Gardner
|birth_date          = {{birth date|1948|11|8}}
|birth_place         = [Fairmont, Minnesota](/source/Fairmont%2C_Minnesota), U.S.
|death_date          = {{death date and age|2014|2|19|1948|11|8}}
|death_place         = [Colorado Springs](/source/Colorado_Springs), [Colorado](/source/Colorado), U.S.
|education           = [University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign](/source/University_of_Illinois%2C_Urbana-Champaign) ([BS](/source/Bachelor_of_Science))
|awards              = [Defense Superior Service Medal](/source/Defense_Superior_Service_Medal) (3)<br>[NASA Space Flight Medal](/source/NASA_Space_Flight_Medal) (2)<br>[Distinguished Flying Cross](/source/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(U.S.))<br>[Meritorious Unit Commendation](/source/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation)<br>[Humanitarian Service Medal](/source/Humanitarian_Service_Medal)<br>[Sea Service Deployment Ribbon](/source/Sea_Service_Deployment_Ribbon)<br>[Master Space Badge](/source/Master_Space_Badge)<br>[Lloyd's Medal](/source/Lloyd's_Medal)
|type                = [NASA astronaut](/source/NASA_astronaut)
|rank                = [Captain](/source/Captain_(United_States_O-6)), [USN](/source/United_States_Navy)
|time                = 14d 0h 52m
|selection           = [NASA Group 8 (1978)](/source/NASA_Astronaut_Group_8)
|eva1                = 2
|eva2                = 12h 14m
|mission             = [STS-8](/source/STS-8)<br>[STS-51-A](/source/STS-51-A)
|insignia            = 45px 45px
|retirement          = October 1986
}}
'''Dale Allan Gardner''' (November 8, 1948 – February 19, 2014) was a [NASA](/source/NASA) [astronaut](/source/astronaut), and [naval flight officer](/source/naval_flight_officer) who flew two [Space Shuttle](/source/Space_Shuttle) missions during the mid 1980s.

== Personal information ==
Born on November 8, 1948, in [Fairmont, Minnesota](/source/Fairmont%2C_Minnesota), Gardner grew up in [Sherburn, Minnesota](/source/Sherburn%2C_Minnesota), and [Savanna, Illinois](/source/Savanna%2C_Illinois). An avid sports enthusiast, he enjoyed [snow skiing](/source/snow_skiing), [golfing](/source/golfing), [tennis](/source/tennis), [woodworking](/source/woodworking) and [photography](/source/photography). Gardner is survived by his daughter, Lisa Gardner, and his granddaughter, Isabella Hoefler.

== Education ==
Gardner graduated as [valedictorian](/source/valedictorian) of his class from Savanna Community High School, in [Savanna, Illinois](/source/Savanna%2C_Illinois), in 1966. He received a [Bachelor of Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) degree in [Engineering Physics](/source/Engineering_Physics) from the [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/source/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana-Champaign) in 1970.

== Military experience ==
Upon graduation from the [University of Illinois](/source/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana-Champaign) in 1970, Gardner entered into active duty with the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) and was assigned to the [Aviation Officer Candidate School](/source/Officer_Candidate_School_(U.S._Navy)) at [Pensacola, Florida](/source/Pensacola%2C_Florida). He was commissioned an [Ensign](/source/Ensign_(rank)) and was selected as the most promising naval officer from his class. In October 1970 he began Basic [Naval Flight Officer](/source/Naval_Flight_Officer) training with the [VT-10](/source/VT-10) squadron at Pensacola, graduating with the highest academic average ever achieved in the history of the squadron. He proceeded to the Naval Air Technical Training Center at [NAS Glynco](/source/NAS_Glynco), Georgia, for Advanced Naval Flight Officer training and was selected a Distinguished Naval Graduate and awarded his [Naval Flight Officer wings](/source/Naval_Flight_Officer_insignia) on May 5, 1971. At the [Naval Air Test Center](/source/Naval_Air_Test_Center) at [NAS Patuxent River](/source/NAS_Patuxent_River), [Maryland](/source/Maryland), from May 1971 to July 1973, he was assigned to the Weapons Systems Test Division and involved in initial [F-14 Tomcat](/source/F-14_Tomcat) developmental test and evaluation as Project Officer for Inertial Navigation and Avionics Systems. Gardner's next assignment was with the first operational F-14 squadron ([VF-1](/source/VF-1)) at [Naval Air Station Miramar](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Miramar), [California](/source/California), from where he flew in the Tomcat and participated in two [Western Pacific](/source/Western_Pacific_Ocean) and [Indian Ocean](/source/Indian_Ocean) cruises while deployed aboard the aircraft carrier [USS ''Enterprise''](/source/USS_Enterprise_(CVN-65)). From December 1976 until July 1978, he was assigned to Test and Evaluation Squadron 4 ([VX-4](/source/VX-4)) aboard [NAS Point Mugu](/source/NAS_Point_Mugu), California, involved in the operational test and evaluation of Navy fighter aircraft.

== NASA experience ==
Gardner was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, reporting to the [Johnson Space Center](/source/Johnson_Space_Center) in July 1978. In August 1979 he completed a one-year training and evaluation period, making him eligible for assignment as a Mission Specialist Astronaut. He subsequently served as the Astronaut Project Manager for the flight software in the Space Shuttle onboard computers leading up to the [first flight](/source/STS-1) in April 1981. He then served as a Support Crew Astronaut for the fourth flight ([STS-4](/source/STS-4)). He flew as a mission specialist on [STS-8](/source/STS-8) (August 30 to September 5, 1983) and [STS-51-A](/source/STS-51-A) (November 8–16, 1984). Gardner logged a total of 337 hours in space and 225 orbits of the [Earth](/source/Earth) on these two flights.
thumb|View of Dale Gardner, completely untethered from the shuttle, retrieves an errant Westar 6 satellite during STS-51-A

He logged more than 2,300 hours flying time in over 20 different types of aircraft and spacecraft. Prior to the [''Challenger'' accident](/source/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster), Gardner was chosen to be a member of the first Shuttle [mission](/source/STS-62-A) to launch from [Vandenberg Air Force Base](/source/Vandenberg_Air_Force_Base), [California](/source/California). That flight and the Vandenberg launch capability itself were canceled after the accident.

In October 1986, following 8½ years with NASA, Gardner returned to his [Navy](/source/U.S._Navy) duties and was assigned to the [U.S. Space Command](/source/U.S._Space_Command), [Colorado Springs, Colorado](/source/Colorado_Springs%2C_Colorado). He served over two years as the Deputy Chief, Space Control Operations Division in [Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station](/source/Cheyenne_Mountain_Air_Force_Station) and, after promotion to the rank of [captain](/source/Captain_(naval)) in June 1989, became the Command's Deputy Director for Space Control at [Peterson Air Force Base](/source/Peterson_Air_Force_Base). His space control responsibilities included the surveillance and tracking of all man-made objects in Earth orbit and the protection of U.S. and allied space systems. Gardner retired from the U.S. Navy in October 1990 and accepted a position with [TRW Inc.](/source/TRW_Inc.) in Colorado Springs, being placed as a program manager in the Colorado Springs Engineering Operations of TRW's Space and Defense Sector. In that capacity, he was involved in the development of both civilian and military space and defense high technology programs. After TRW, he became the manager of [Northrop Grumman](/source/Northrop_Grumman)'s operations in Colorado Springs.<ref name="obit">{{cite web|title=Dale Allan Gardner Obituary|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazette/obituary.aspx?n=dale-allan-gardner&pid=169798413&fhid=6109|publisher=The Gazette|access-date=February 22, 2014|date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> Gardner became the Associate Director for Renewable Fuels Science and Technology at the [National Renewable Energy Laboratory](/source/National_Renewable_Energy_Laboratory) in 2003, and retired in January 2013.

=== Space flight experience ===
[STS-8](/source/STS-8) launched from the [Kennedy Space Center](/source/Kennedy_Space_Center), [Florida](/source/Florida) on August 30, 1983. The crew aboard [Space Shuttle ''Challenger''](/source/Space_Shuttle_Challenger) included [Richard Truly](/source/Richard_Truly) (Spacecraft Commander), [Daniel Brandenstein](/source/Daniel_Brandenstein) (Pilot), and fellow Mission Specialists [Guion Bluford](/source/Guion_Bluford) and [William Thornton](/source/William_E._Thornton). This was the third flight of the Orbiter ''Challenger'' and the first night launch and landing mission of the Shuttle program. During the flight, the crew of STS-8 deployed the Indian National Satellite ([INSAT-1B](/source/INSAT-1B)), operated and tested the Canadian-built [Remote Manipulator System](/source/Canadarm) (RMS) robot arm, and performed numerous earth resources and space science experiments. STS-8 completed 98 Earth orbits in 145 hours before landing at [Edwards Air Force Base](/source/Edwards_Air_Force_Base), California on September 5, 1983.

thumb|Gardner holds up a "For Sale" sign after Palapa B-2 and WESTAR VI were recovered
[STS-51-A](/source/STS-51-A), the fourteenth flight of the Shuttle program, launched on November 8, 1984 (his birthday). The crew aboard [Space Shuttle ''Discovery''](/source/Space_Shuttle_Discovery) included [Frederick Hauck](/source/Frederick_Hauck) (Spacecraft Commander), [David Walker](/source/David_M._Walker_(astronaut)) (Pilot), and fellow Mission Specialists [Joseph Allen](/source/Joseph_P._Allen) and [Anna Fisher](/source/Anna_Lee_Fisher). This was the second flight of ''Discovery''. During this mission the crew deployed two satellites, Canada's [Anik D-2](/source/Anik_(satellite)) (TELESAT-H) and the Hughes' LEASAT-1 ([Syncom](/source/Syncom) IV-1), now in service with the U.S. Navy. In an unprecedented salvage effort, they rendezvoused with and returned from space two satellites previously launched into improper orbits, the Indonesian [Palapa B-2](/source/Palapa_B-2) and the Western Union [Westar VI](/source/Westar) communication satellites. Gardner and Allen used the [Manned Maneuvering Unit](/source/Manned_Maneuvering_Unit) (MMU) backpack to travel through space, completely untethered from the shuttle, for a total of 12 hours flight time. It was the first and only untethered spacewalk for returning malfunctioning satellites from orbit. The feat is exceptional: the MMU has been retired, modern astronauts rely on tethered spacewalks, and safer robotic solutions are already being developed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Growcoot |first=Matt |title=Terrifying Footage Shows Untethered Astronaut Capturing a Satellite |work=[PetaPixel](/source/PetaPixel) |date=March 21, 2025 |url=https://petapixel.com/2025/03/21/terrifying-footage-shows-untethered-astronaut-dale-gardner-capturing-a-satellite/ }}</ref>

== Organizations ==
Gardner was a Member of [Phi Eta Sigma](/source/Phi_Eta_Sigma), [Sigma Tau](/source/Sigma_Tau), and [Tau Beta Pi](/source/Tau_Beta_Pi), and a fellow of the [American Astronautical Society](/source/American_Astronautical_Society).

== Special honors ==
Gardner was awarded the [Defense Superior Service Medal](/source/Defense_Superior_Service_Medal) (1984, 1989, 1990); the [Distinguished Flying Cross](/source/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(U.S.)) (1989); the [Meritorious Unit Commendation](/source/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation) (1976);  the [Humanitarian Service Medal](/source/Humanitarian_Service_Medal) (1979) and the [Sea Service Deployment Ribbon](/source/Sea_Service_Deployment_Ribbon) (1984). His other honors included the [NASA Space Flight Medal](/source/NASA_Space_Flight_Medal) (1983 and 1984); the [Master Space Badge](/source/Master_Space_Badge) (1989); and the [Lloyd's of London](/source/Lloyd's_of_London) Meritorious Service Medal (1984).

A bridge connecting [Savanna, Illinois](/source/Savanna%2C_Illinois) & [Sabula, Iowa](/source/Sabula%2C_Iowa) over the [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River) was built through interstate collaboration in dedication to Dale Gardner and US [Veteran](/source/Veteran)s in November 2017 as the [Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge](/source/Dale_Gardner_Veterans_Memorial_Bridge).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.saukvalley.com/2017/11/14/new-savanna-bridge-will-open-friday/a7w0mg7/ |title=New Savanna bridge will open Friday {{!}} SaukValley.com |website=www.saukvalley.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116084723/http://www.saukvalley.com/2017/11/14/new-savanna-bridge-will-open-friday/a7w0mg7/ |archive-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref> This new $80.6 million bridge was constructed as a replacement to the 86 year old [Savanna-Sabula Bridge](/source/Savanna-Sabula_Bridge).

== Death ==
Gardner died on February 19, 2014, after suffering a [hemorrhagic](/source/subarachnoid_hemorrhage) [stroke](/source/stroke) at his home. He was 65.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-022114a-astronaut-dale-gardner-obituary.html|title=Dale Gardner, jetpack-flying astronaut who salvaged satellites, dies at 65 - collectSPACE|work=collectSPACE.com|access-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/us/dale-gardner-astronaut-who-helped-corral-wayward-satellites-dies-at-65.html|title = Dale Gardner, Astronaut Who Helped Corral Wayward Satellites, Dies at 65|newspaper = The New York Times|date = February 28, 2014|last1 = Yardley|first1 = William}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/gardner_dale.pdf |title=Biographical data: DALE A. GARDNER NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED) |publisher=NASA |date=February 2014|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
*[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/gardner_dale.htm Spacefacts biography of Dale Gardner]

{{NASA Astronaut Group 8}}
{{Portal bar|Biography}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Dale}}
Category:1948 births
Category:2014 deaths
Category:United States Navy astronauts
Category:People from Fairmont, Minnesota
Category:People from Savanna, Illinois
Category:Military personnel from Minnesota
Category:Grainger College of Engineering alumni
Category:United States Naval Test Pilot School alumni
Category:United States Navy officers
Category:United States Naval Flight Officers
Category:American test pilots
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
Category:People from Martin County, Minnesota
Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts
Category:Spacewalkers
Category:Military personnel from Illinois
Category:Military personnel from Clinton, Iowa

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dale Gardner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Gardner) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Gardner?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.