{{Short description|American astronaut and engineer (born 1948)}} {{good article}} {{Infobox astronaut | name =Robert J. Cenker | image =Robert Cenker.jpg | type =[[Lockheed Martin Space Systems#RCA Astro Electronics|RCA Astro-Electronics]] [[Payload Specialist]] | status =Retired | birth_name =Robert Joseph Cenker | birth_date ={{birth date and age|1948|11|05}} | birth_place =[[Menallen Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania|Menallen Township, Pennsylvania]], U.S. | occupation =[[Engineer]] | alma_mater =[[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]], B.S. 1970, M.S. 1973<br>[[Rutgers University|Rutgers]], M.S. 1977 | selection = | time =6d 02h 03m | mission =[[STS-61-C]] | insignia =[[Image:STS-61-c-patch.png|40px]] | Date of ret =January 18, 1986 |}} '''Robert Joseph Cenker''' (born November 5, 1948) is an American [[Aerospace engineering|aerospace]] and [[electrical engineer]], aerospace systems consultant, and former astronaut. Cenker worked for 18 years at [[Lockheed Martin Space Systems#RCA Astro Electronics|RCA Astro-Electronics]], and its successor company [[Lockheed Martin Space Systems#GE Astro Space|GE Astro Space]], on a variety of [[spacecraft]] projects. He spent most of his career working on commercial communications satellites, including the Satcom, Spacenet and GStar programs.
In January 1986, Cenker was a crew member on the twenty-fourth mission of [[NASA|NASA's]] [[Space Shuttle program]], the seventh flight of [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']], designated as mission [[STS-61-C]]. Cenker served as a [[Payload Specialist]],{{efn|name=Category}} representing RCA Astro-Electronics. This mission was the final flight before the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Challenger disaster]], which caused the Space Shuttle program to be suspended until 1988, and impacted NASA's Payload Specialist program for even longer. As a result, Cenker's mission was called "The End of Innocence" for the Shuttle program. Following the completion of his Shuttle mission, Cenker returned to work in the commercial aerospace field. Since his flight, he has made numerous public appearances representing NASA and the Shuttle program, in the United States, as well as internationally. {{toclimit|limit=3}} <!-- This code controls max depth of TOC.-->
==Early life and education== Cenker was born on November 5, 1948, and raised in [[Menallen Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania|Menallen Township, Pennsylvania]].{{R|Zajac}}{{R|Facts}}{{R|JSC}} He started his education at St. Fidelis College Seminary in [[Herman, Pennsylvania]], leaving in 1962.{{R|Fidelis}} In 1970 Cenker enrolled at [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State University]]{{R|Pennlive}} where he earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[aerospace engineering]]. He continued his studies at Penn State and earned a [[Master of Science]] degree in 1973, also in aerospace engineering.{{R|Kennedy}}{{R|JSC}} Cenker earned a second Master of Science degree in [[electrical engineering]] from [[Rutgers University]] in 1977.{{R|Kennedy}}
==Pre-spaceflight career== Cenker worked for 18 years at [[Lockheed Martin Space Systems#RCA Astro Electronics|RCA Astro-Electronics]] and its successor company [[Lockheed Martin Space Systems#GE Astro Space|GE Astro Space]]. Cenker worked on [[Hardware architecture|hardware design]] and [[systems design]] concerning [[satellite]] [[Spacecraft attitude control|attitude control]]. He also worked on [[Orbit|in-orbit]] operations, as well as spacecraft [[ATLO|assembly, test, and pre-launch operations]]. He spent two years on the [[United States Navy|Navy]] [[Satellite navigation|navigation satellite]] program, but spent most of his career working on commercial [[communications satellite]]s.{{R|JSC}}
Cenker's positions included integration and test manager for the [[Satcom (satellite)|Satcom D and E]] spacecraft, where he was responsible for all launch site activities. He also served as [[Satellite bus|spacecraft bus]] manager on the [[Spacenet]]/GStar programs. He was responsible for ensuring the spacecraft could interface with multiple rockets, including the [[Delta (rocket family)|Delta]], [[Space Shuttle]], and [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane]] [[launch vehicle]]s.{{R|JSC}}
==Spaceflight experience== {{further|STS-61-C}} [[File:STS-61-C crew.jpg|thumbnail|left|[[STS-61-C]] crew]]
As an incentive for a spacecraft owner to contract with NASA to use a Shuttle launch instead of an unmanned, commercial launch system, [[NASA]] permitted contracting companies to apply for a payload specialist seat on the same mission. When RCA contracted with NASA to launch Satcom Ku-1, [[Lockheed Martin Space Systems#RCA Astro Electronics|RCA Astro-Electronics']] manager of systems engineering for the Satcom-K program<ref name="OMI-Pt1"/> Bob Cenker, and his co-worker [[STS-61-C#Backup crew|Gerard Magilton]], were selected to train as [[payload specialist]]s so that one of the pair could accompany Satcom Ku-1 into space.{{R|61C}}{{R|GM}}{{R|BTR}} Cenker and Magilton trained with career astronauts as well as other payload and mission specialists, including those scheduled for the next scheduled flight, that of the ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' mission, [[STS-51-L]].{{R|GM}}{{R|TIS}}
This flight of ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' was originally scheduled to occur in August 1985, but the timeline slipped. In July 1985 the payload was finalized to include the RCA satellite, and Cenker was assigned to the mission, now designated as [[STS-61-C]]. Magilton was assigned as the back-up.{{R|OMI-Pt1}}
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Prior to its successful launch, ''Columbia'' had several aborted launch attempts, including one on January 6 which was "one of the most hazardous in the Shuttle’s operational history"<ref name="OMI-Pt2"/> to that point. As documented in Crewmember Bill Nelson's book "Mission: An American Congressman's Voyage to Space", and as reported in Spaceflight Insider, "The launch attempt on Jan. 6, 1986 was halted at T-31 seconds. The weather was perfect for the scheduled launch at dawn, but a failure of a liquid oxygen drain valve prevented it to close properly. The valve was then closed manually, but not quickly enough to prevent a low temperature in one fuel line." However, Nelson says that what really happened was that "the valve did not close because it was not commanded to close",{{R|Jacques}} and that it was later determined that the [[Rogers Commission Report|Rogers Commission]], investigating the series of mistakes that forced this second scrub, recognized that the problems were personnel-related, caused by fatigue from overwork: One potentially catastrophic human error occurred 4 minutes 55 seconds before the scheduled launch of mission 61-C on January 6, 1986. According to a [[Lockheed Martin|Lockheed]] Space Operations Company incident report, 18,000 pounds of [[liquid oxygen]] were inadvertently drained from the [[Space Shuttle external tank|Shuttle external fuel tank]] due to operator error. Fortunately, the liquid oxygen flow dropped the main engine inlet temperature below the acceptable limit causing a launch hold, but only 31 seconds before lift-off. As the report states, "Had the mission not been scrubbed, the ability of the orbiter to reach a defined orbit may have been significantly impacted.{{R|Jacques}}
There was another near-catastrophic launch abort three days later. Referring to the January 9 abort, pilot Charlie Bolden later stated that it "...would have been catastrophic, because the engine would have exploded had we launched.{{R|OMI-Pt2}} In all, it took a record eight attempts to get ''Columbia'' off the ground.{{R|Jacques}} ''Columbia'' finally launched and achieved orbit on January 12, 1986, with a full crew of seven. Along with Cenker, the crew included [[Robert L. Gibson|Robert L. "Hoot" Gibson]], future NASA Administrator [[Charles F. Bolden]], [[George D. Nelson]], [[Steven A. Hawley]], [[Franklin R. Chang-Diaz]], and [[US Representative]] [[Bill Nelson (politician)|Bill Nelson]].{{R|Kit}}{{R|Impossible}}{{R|Impossible2}} Cenker and his crewmates traveled over 2.5 million miles in 98 [[Geocentric orbit|orbits]] aboard Columbia and logged over 146 hours in [[Outer space|space]].{{R|KSC}}[[File:STS-61-C SATCOM Ku-1 deployment.jpg|thumbnail|left|RCA SATCOM Ku-1 deployment]] During the six-day mission, January 12–18, Cenker performed a variety of physiological tests, operated a primary experiment – an infrared imaging camera – and assisted with the deployment of [[SES Americom|RCA Americom's]] Satcom Ku-1 satellite, the primary mission objective.{{R|Kit}}{{R|KSC}}{{R|KU-1}} Satcom Ku-1 was deployed nearly 10 hours into the mission, and Satcom later reached its designated [[geostationary|geostationary orbital position]] at 85 degrees West longitude where it remained operational until April 1997, the last major commercial satellite deployed by the Space Shuttle program. In a 2014 video of the "Tell Me a Story" series titled "Close My Eyes & Drift Away", posted to the [[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]] [[YouTube]] channel, Cenker tells a humorous story regarding a [[Weightlessness|zero-g]] sleeping problem he faced on his mission.{{R|Story}}
The next Shuttle launch, ten days after the return of ''Columbia'', resulted in the destruction of the ''Challenger'' with the loss of all aboard, including Cenker's counterpart from [[Hughes Aircraft Company|Hughes Aircraft]], civilian crew member and Payload Specialist [[Greg Jarvis]].{{R|51L}} Accordingly, commander Gibson later called the STS-61-C mission "The End of Innocence" for the Shuttle program.{{R|OMI-Pt1}}{{R|OMI-Pt2}}
Following the Challenger disaster, the Shuttle fleet was grounded until 1988.{{R|STS-26}} Even after Shuttle missions resumed, civilian payload specialists like Cenker were excluded until the payload specialist program was reinstated on December 2, 1990, when [[Samuel T. Durrance]], an [[Applied Physics Laboratory]] [[Astrophysics|astrophysicist]] and [[Ronald A. Parise]], a [[Computer Sciences Corporation]] astronomer, flew aboard [[STS-35]].{{R|Delay}} By that time, RCA had been purchased by [[General Electric]], and RCA Astro-Electronics became part of GE. Following two additional ownership transitions, the facility was closed in 1998. As a result, Cenker was the only RCA Astro-Electronics employee, and only employee in the history of the facility under all of its subsequent names, to ever fly in space.{{R|AstroRecords}}
NASA's Payload Specialist program has been criticized for giving limited Shuttle flight positions to civilian aerospace engineers such as Cenker and Greg Jarvis (killed aboard ''Challenger''), politicians such as Bill Nelson, and other civilians such as [[Teacher in Space Project|Teacher in Space]] [[Christa McAuliffe]] (also killed aboard ''Challenger''). Even the flight of former [[Mercury Seven|Mercury astronaut]] and US Senator [[John Glenn]] was questioned.{{R|Glenn}} The concern was that these people had replaced career astronauts in very limited flight opportunities, and some may have flown without fully understanding the level of danger involved in a Shuttle mission.{{efn|name=Category|There was another Space Shuttle astronaut category sometimes confused with that of Payload Specialist: While Payload Specialists were non-NASA personnel selected for a single specific mission, [[Mission Specialist]]s were selected as astronauts first, and then subsequently assigned to flights as mission needs dictated.}}{{efn|A 1986 post-''Challenger'' article in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reviewed the issue, reporting that as far back as 1982, NASA was concerned with finding reasonable justifications for flying civilians on the Shuttle as was directed by the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administration. The Post article says that "A review of records and interviews with past and present NASA and government officials shows the civilian program's controversial background, with different groups pushing for different approaches." The article continues: "Author [[Tom Wolfe]], who chronicled the early days of the space program in ''[[The Right Stuff (book)|The Right Stuff]],'' wrote after the ''Challenger'' explosion that support for the citizen program, and therefore McAuliffe's place aboard the shuttle, was part of an insiders' battle. NASA civilians, pitting themselves against the professional astronauts, used the program for the 'dismantling of Astropower,' which Wolfe described as 'the political grip the original breed of [[Fighter pilot|fighter-pilot]] [[Test pilot|test-pilot]] astronauts had on NASA.' "{{R|Pincus}}}}
==Post-spaceflight==
Following the completion of his Shuttle mission, Cenker returned to work in the civilian aerospace field. Cenker's last two years with RCA Astro-Electronics and its successor GE Astro Space were spent as Manager of Payload Accommodations on an [[Terra (satellite)|EOS spacecraft]] program. After leaving GE, Cenker served as a consultant for various aerospace companies regarding micro-gravity research, and [[spacecraft design]], assembly and flight operations. Cenker supported [[systems engineering]] and [[systems architecture]] studies for various spacecraft projects, including [[Small satellite|smallsats]], military [[communications satellites]], and large, assembled-in-orbit platforms. His contributions included launch vehicle evaluation and systems engineering support for [[Motorola]] on [[Iridium]], and launch readiness for the [[Globalstar]] constellation. Other efforts include systems engineering and operations support for [[Intelsat]] on Intelsat K and Intelsat VIII, for [[AT&T]] on [[Telstar]] 401 and 402, for [[Fairchild Aircraft|Fairchild-Matra]] on SPAS III, for [[Martin Marietta]] on [[Astra 1B]], [[Yuri (satellite)|BS-3N]], [[STS-51#Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS)|ACTS]], and for the [[Lockheed Martin]] Series 7000 communications satellites.{{R|JSC}}
In 2017, Cenker's STS-61C crewmate former [[US Senator]] [[Bill Nelson]] spoke at a session of the [[US House of Representatives]]. In an address, titled "Mission to Mars and Space Shuttle Flight 30th Anniversary", he read into the [[Congressional Record]] the details of the mission of STS-61C, as well as the names and function of each crew member including Cenker.{{R|Congressional}}{{rp|page S45}}
In June 2017, Cenker traveled to [[Scotland]] where he and astronaut [[Doug Wheelock]] gave a series of talks to children in [[Fife]] schools as part of the [[Careers Scotland Space School|Scottish Space School]].{{R|Scotsman}}
Cenker continues to make periodic public appearances representing NASA and the astronaut program,{{R|VfS}}{{R|Patch}}{{R|WClub}}{{R|PressRelease}} including at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] Visitor Complex in March 2017{{R|Kennedy}}, January 2023,{{R|DisneyNewsdesk}} and April 2024.{{R|Kennedy2}}
===Apollo 11 commemoration activities=== Leading up to the 50th anniversary of the [[Apollo 11]] mission, Cenker participated in several public events with other former NASA astronauts.
During an interview to discuss his scheduled appearance at The [[New Jersey]] Governor's School of Engineering & Technology at [[Rutgers University]] in July 2019, Cenker talked about his education at Rutgers, his work at RCA, his shuttle mission, his connection to the Challenger crew, his thoughts on the importance of the Apollo 11 mission, and of space travel in general.{{R|Medina}} He concluded: {{Blockquote|text=I want students interested in a space career to find something that they love to study, and there may come a time when NASA needs that expertise. I love engineering and even if I didn’t make it into space, I would still be doing what I loved. You can’t push yourself to study something you don’t love and do it as well as someone who does. What I want students to ask themselves is “how can I do what I love and how can that benefit spaceflight?”{{R|Medina}}}}
The [[Cradle of Aviation]] in [[Garden City, New York]] invited Cenker to participate in its "Moon Fest" planned for July 20, 2019, exactly fifty years after the Apollo 11 landing. It was announced that Cenker would join two fellow shuttle astronauts from New York, [[William Shepherd|Bill Shepherd]] and [[Charles Camarda|Charlie Camarda]], at the celebration.{{R|Cradle}}
==Personal life and beliefs== Bob Cenker is married to Barbara Ann Cenker; they have two sons and a daughter.{{R|JSC}}
In a July 2019 interview discussing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, Cenker commented that he believes that humans have an innate desire to explore, saying "It’s not learned... It’s in your genes". Discussing his religious beliefs, Cenker said "I'm a good, practicing Catholic. One of the guys I flew with was an agnostic. I think going into space reinforces what you believe when you went... [The agnostic astronaut] couldn’t grasp how one being could create all this. I came back thinking ‘God, you have to be there’".{{R|Zajac}}
==Professional societies== * Associate [[Fellow]] in the [[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]] (AIAA){{R|JSC}} * Life Member of the [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]] Alumni Association{{R|JSC}} * Life Member of the [[Association of Space Explorers]]{{R|JSC}} * Registered [[Regulation and licensure in engineering|Professional Engineer]] in the state of [[New Jersey]]{{R|JSC}} * Senior Member of the [[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]] (IEEE){{R|JSC}} * [[Sigma Gamma Tau]]{{R|JSC}} * [[Tau Beta Pi]]{{R|JSC}}
==See also== * [[1986 in spaceflight]] * [[List of human spaceflights]] * [[List of Space Shuttle missions]] * [[List of Space Shuttle crews]] * [[Payload specialist#List of all payload specialists|List of Shuttle payload specialists]]
==Photo gallery== {{Gallery |title= | width=160 | height=170 <!-- ? --> |align=center |File:STS-61C gag crew photo.jpg|Gag crew photo |File:STS-61-c-patch.png |[[STS-61-C]] insignia }}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name = Facts>{{cite web|last1=Snyder|first1=Susan|title=Astronaut Facts|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/education/astronaut-facts-20170616.html|website=Philly.com|date=20 June 2017 |publisher=The Inquirer|access-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006165719/http://www.philly.com/philly/education/astronaut-facts-20170616.html|archive-date=6 October 2017}}</ref>
<ref name=JSC>{{cite web|title=Biographical Data: Robert J. Ceneker|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cenker.pdf | publisher=NASA|access-date=January 10, 2021 | date=May 1999}}</ref>
<ref name = Fidelis>{{cite book|title=Saint Fidelis Alumni Directory, 4th ed|date=April 1980|publisher=Saint Fidelis|pages=49}}</ref>
<ref name = Pennlive>{{cite web|last1=Shelly|first1=Nora|title=Meet 22 astronauts with Pennsylvania roots|url=http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/06/new_astronaut_class_includes_3.html|website=Pennlive.com|date=13 June 2017 |publisher=PENNSYLVANIA REAL-TIME NEWS|access-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200414173538/https://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/06/new_astronaut_class_includes_3.html|archive-date=14 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=Kennedy>{{cite web|title=Meet Astronaut Bob Cenker|url=https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events/events-calendar/2017/march/meet-astronaut-bob-cenker|website=Kennedyspacecenter.com|publisher=NASA|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731004724/https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events/events-calendar/2017/march/meet-astronaut-bob-cenker|archive-date=31 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name=61C>{{cite web|title=Mission Archives: STS-61-C|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802022610/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-61C.html|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-61C.html|website=NASA.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref>
<ref name=GM>{{cite web|title=Training Photo: S85-44834 (20 Nov. 1985)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802023337/https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-51l/html/s85-44834.html|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = dead|url=https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-51l/html/s85-44834.html|website=Spaceflight.nasa.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref>
<ref name=BTR>{{cite book|last1=Hitt|first1=David|last2=Smith|first2=Heather R.|title=Bold They Rise: The Space Shuttle Early Years, 1972–1986|date=June 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LZ0oAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA271|publisher=Univ of Nebraska Press|access-date=28 February 2017|page=271|isbn=9780803255487|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802022948/https://books.google.com/books?id=LZ0oAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA271|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=TIS>{{cite book|last1=Burgess|first1=Colin|title=Teacher In Space|date=January 2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vteUlpMu7IwC&pg=PA52|publisher=Univ of Nebraska Press|access-date=28 February 2017|page=52|isbn=0803261829|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802023135/https://books.google.com/books?id=vteUlpMu7IwC&pg=PA52|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=Jacques>{{cite web|last1=Van Oene|first1=Jacques|title=Our SpaceFlight Heritage: STS-61C – Delays before disaster|url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-history/spaceflight-heritage-sts-61c/|website=Spaceflightinsider.com|publisher=Spaceflight Insider|access-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006170520/http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-history/spaceflight-heritage-sts-61c/|archive-date=6 October 2017}}</ref>
<ref name=Kit>{{cite web|title=STS-61C Press Kit: DECEMBER 1985 |url=https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/shuttle_pk/pk/Flight_024_STS-61C_Press_Kit.pdf|website=jsc.nasa.gov |publisher=NASA|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803163550/https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/shuttle_pk/pk/Flight_024_STS-61C_Press_Kit.pdf|archive-date = 3 August 2017|url-status = usurped}}</ref>
<ref name = Impossible>{{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Ben|title=The Real Mission Impossible: 30 Years Since Mission 61C (Part 1)|url=http://www.americaspace.com/2016/01/09/the-real-mission-impossible-30-years-since-mission-61c-part-1/|website=Americaspace.com|date=9 January 2016 |publisher=AmericaSpace|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803173059/http://www.americaspace.com/2016/01/09/the-real-mission-impossible-30-years-since-mission-61c-part-1/|archive-date = 3 August 2017|url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name =Impossible2>{{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Ben|title=The Real Mission Impossible: 30 Years Since Mission 61C (Part 2)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803181643/http://www.americaspace.com/2016/01/10/the-real-mission-impossible-30-years-since-mission-61c-part-2/|archive-date = 3 August 2017|url-status = live |url=http://www.americaspace.com/2016/01/10/the-real-mission-impossible-30-years-since-mission-61c-part-2/|website=Americaspace.com|date=10 January 2016 |access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>
<ref name=KSC>{{cite web|title=61-C (24)|url=https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/61-c/mission-61-c.html|website=Science.ksc.nasa.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=20 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803172154/https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/61-c/mission-61-c.html|archive-date = 3 August 2017|url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name= KU-1>{{cite web|title=SATCOM KU-1|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1986-003B|website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov|access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref>
<ref name = Story>{{cite web|title=Tell Me a Story: Close My Eyes & Drift Away|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY_Zg3R67WU|website=Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex| date=30 June 2014 |publisher=NASA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802024028/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY_Zg3R67WU|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=51L>{{cite web|title=NASA – STS-51L Mission Profile|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-51L.html|website=NASA.gov|date=19 January 2016 |publisher=NASA|access-date=20 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803172745/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-51L.html|archive-date = 3 August 2017|url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=OMI-Pt1>{{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Ben|title=Mission 61C: The Original 'Mission Impossible' (Part 1)|url=http://www.americaspace.com/2014/01/11/mission-61c-the-original-mission-impossible-part-1/|website=Americaspace.com|date=11 January 2014 |access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802021205/http://www.americaspace.com/2014/01/11/mission-61c-the-original-mission-impossible-part-1/|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=OMI-Pt2>{{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Ben|title=Mission 61C: The Original 'Mission Impossible' (Part 2)|url=http://www.americaspace.com/2014/01/12/mission-61c-the-original-mission-impossible-part-2/|website=Americaspace.com|date=12 January 2014 |access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802021450/http://www.americaspace.com/2014/01/12/mission-61c-the-original-mission-impossible-part-2/|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=STS-26>{{cite web|title=Mission Archives: STS-26|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-26.html|website=NASA.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803165004/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-26.html|archive-date = 3 August 2017|url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name = Delay>{{cite web|title=STS-35 (38)|url=https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-35/mission-sts-35.html|website=Science.ksc.nasa.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=20 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803165512/https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-35/mission-sts-35.html|archive-date = 3 August 2017|url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name = AstroRecords>{{cite web|last1=Michelson|first1=Daniel|last2=Cleary|first2=Kenneth|title=RCA Astro-Electronics Division records|url=http://dla.library.upenn.edu/cocoon/dla/pacscl/ead.pdf?sort=date_added_sort%20desc&fq=top_repository_facet%3A%22Hagley%20Museum%20and%20Library%22&id=PACSCL_HML_246470&| website=dla.library.upenn.edu|publisher=Univ of Penn|access-date=16 February 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217011633/http://dla.library.upenn.edu/cocoon/dla/pacscl/ead.pdf?sort=date_added_sort%20desc&fq=top_repository_facet%3A%22Hagley%20Museum%20and%20Library%22&id=PACSCL_HML_246470&|archive-date=17 February 2018|page=4 (Biography/History)|date=7 April 2017|quote=After GE acquired RCA in 1986, it combined AED with the Spacecraft Operations of its Space Systems Division to form the GE Astro Space Division. The entire division was sold to Martin Marietta in 1993, which in turn merged with Lockheed to form Lockheed Martin in 1995. Soon after the merger, Lockheed Martin announced that they would be closing the former AED facility. In 1998, forty years after its establishment, the RCA Space Center shut down for good.|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=Glenn>{{cite web|last1=Oberg|first1=James|authorlink = James Oberg| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802023618/http://www.jamesoberg.com/glenn.html| archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live|title=NASA hypes "Glenn Mission" Science|url=http://www.jamesoberg.com/glenn.html|website=www.jamesoberg.com|access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref>
<ref name = Pincus>{{cite news|last1=Pincus|first1=Walter|authorlink1=Walter Pincus|title=NASA's Push to Put Citizen in Space Overtook Fully 'Operational' Shuttle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802023815/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/03/05/nasas-push-to-put-citizen-in-space-overtook-fully-operational-shuttle/29fe2714-39b7-40dd-b15e-073441de636e/|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/03/05/nasas-push-to-put-citizen-in-space-overtook-fully-operational-shuttle/29fe2714-39b7-40dd-b15e-073441de636e/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref>
<ref name = Congressional>{{cite web|title=US Congressional Record: 1/12/2016|url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Congressional_Record_-_2016-01-12.pdf|via=Wikimedia|publisher=US Congress|access-date=3 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803164631/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Congressional_Record_-_2016-01-12.pdf|archive-date = 3 August 2017|url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=VfS>{{cite book|last1=Lennox|first1=Joe|title=Vision for Space|date=August 2004|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQWyIbPShdUC&pg=PA241|publisher=iUniverse|access-date=28 February 2017|page=241|isbn=9780595321131|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802021915/https://books.google.com/books?id=jQWyIbPShdUC&pg=PA241|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name=Patch>{{cite web|last1=Gillett|first1=Rachel|title=East Windsor Retired Astronaut Visits Peddie School|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802022120/https://patch.com/new-jersey/eastwindsor/east-windsor-retired-astronaut-visits-peddie-school|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live|url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/eastwindsor/east-windsor-retired-astronaut-visits-peddie-school|website=Patch.com|date=19 October 2012 |access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref>
<ref name=WClub>{{cite web|title=Astronaut Visits Flemington Woman's Club|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802022315/http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2009/04/astronaut_visits_flemington_wo.html|archive-date = 2 August 2017 |url-status = live|url=http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2009/04/astronaut_visits_flemington_wo.html|website=NJ.com|date=4 April 2009 |access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref>
<ref name=PressRelease>{{cite web|title=Press Release: RETIRED NASA ASTRONAUT TO SPEAK ON OCC CAMPUS|url=http://www.ocean.edu/news/documents/NASA_Speaker_2009_August_14.doc|publisher=Ocean County College|access-date=17 February 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528002514/http://www.ocean.edu/news/documents/NASA_Speaker_2009_August_14.doc|archive-date=28 May 2010}}</ref>
<ref name = Scotsman>{{cite web|title=A STARS and stripes flag found in attic at Glamis Castle is to go into space.|url=http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/us-flag-found-at-glamis-castle-to-go-into-space-1-4473376|website=Scotsman.com|access-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006174413/http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/us-flag-found-at-glamis-castle-to-go-into-space-1-4473376|archive-date=6 October 2017}}</ref>
<ref name = Medina>{{cite web |last1=Medina |first1=Cynthia |title=Astronaut Shares his Journey into Space, Ahead of Apollo 11 50th Anniversary |url-status=live|url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/astronaut-shares-his-journey-into-space-ahead-of-apollo-11-50th-anniversary |website=Newswise.com |publisher=Newswise |access-date=12 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712014320/https://www.newswise.com/articles/astronaut-shares-his-journey-into-space-ahead-of-apollo-11-50th-anniversary |archive-date=12 July 2019 |date=11 July 2019}}</ref>
<ref name=Cradle>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Anthony |title=A Moon Landing To Remember |url=https://longislandweekly.com/a-moon-landing-to-remember/ |website=Longislandweekly.com |publisher=Long Island Weekly |access-date=19 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719035622/https://longislandweekly.com/a-moon-landing-to-remember/ |archive-date=19 July 2019 |date=17 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=Zajac>{{cite web |last1=Zajac |first1=Frances Borsodi |title=Menallen Township native who flew into space reflects on 50th anniversary of Apollo landing |url=https://www.heraldstandard.com/new_today/menallen-township-native-who-flew-into-space-reflects-on-th/article_43c1e7f2-a323-11e9-bc7a-af6c2325a3bf.html |website=Heraldstandard.com |publisher=Herald-Standard |access-date=19 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719041931/https://www.heraldstandard.com/new_today/menallen-township-native-who-flew-into-space-reflects-on-th/article_43c1e7f2-a323-11e9-bc7a-af6c2325a3bf.html |archive-date=19 July 2019 |date=18 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=DisneyNewsdesk>{{cite web |title=Events Happening for the New Year at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: January Astronaut Encounters |url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2023/01/05/events-happening-for-the-new-year-at-the-kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex/ |website=laughingplace.com |publisher=Laughing Place Disney Newsdesk |access-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230107191424/https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2023/01/05/events-happening-for-the-new-year-at-the-kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex/ |archive-date=7 January 2023 |date=5 January 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Kennedy2">{{cite web |title=Meet Astronaut Bob Cenker |url=https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events/events-calendar/2024/april/meet-astronaut-bob-cenker |website=kennedyspacecenter.com |publisher=NASA |access-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240118193929/https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events/events-calendar/2024/april/meet-astronaut-bob-cenker |archive-date=18 January 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170803163550/https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/shuttle_pk/pk/Flight_024_STS-61C_Press_Kit.pdf STS-61C Press Kit] * [https://archive.today/20200414173311/https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/61-c/mission-61-c.html NASA: 61-C Mission Page] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYw_nIqrur4&t=9s Space Shuttle Flight 24 (STS-61C) Post Flight Presentation on YouTube]
{{Inspace}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cenker, Robert J.}} [[Category:1948 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Aerospace engineers]] [[Category:People from Uniontown, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Penn State College of Engineering alumni]] [[Category:Rutgers University alumni]] [[Category:NASA sponsored astronauts]] [[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]] [[Category:RCA people]] [[Category:General Electric employees]] [[Category:Lockheed Martin people]] [[Category:Martin Marietta people]] [[Category:Engineers from New Jersey]] [[Category:Senior members of the IEEE]] [[Category:Engineers from Pennsylvania]]