Culbertson, Frank Lee, Jr (1949– )

US astronaut. His space shuttle missions include the Discovery mission in September 1993, which he commanded, to deploy the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite. He was also programme manager of the series of shuttle dockings with the Russian space station Mir 1995–2000. In 2001 he became commander of the third resident crew of the International Space Station (ISS). He spent one year as the deputy programme manager of the ISS programme before leaving NASA. Culbertson logged 146 days in space. He was selected as an astronaut in 1984.