From Caltech
When the space shuttle Endeavour blasted off just before dawn, in what may be the program's final night lift off, there was special attention and enthusiasm in Pasadena for the launch and the prospective mission. That's because one of the six astronauts is a school alum -- the 11th to go from the Rose City into space as a NASA astronaut. Robert Behnken, an alum, 1997 Ph.D. and Air Force lieutenant colonel, is a mission specialist aboard the current shuttle flight, for which he is scheduled to conduct three space walks lasting around six hours each to help build out he orbiting space station. He's already traveled to space on a previous Endeavour mission, on which he ventured on three earlier space walks. Behnken, a mechanical engineer, has been business-like in discussing his flights, noting the space walks can be strenuous and require a lot of gym time to train for.
Astronaut alum hopes to add three more space walks to his tally
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