Dr. Smith, a seasoned NASA astronaut, flew four space missions, completed seven spacewalks, and played pivotal roles in servicing the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station.

Dr. Smith worked as a Payload Officer at NASA for three years before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1992. He flew as a mission specialist on STS-68 Endeavour, STS-82 Discovery, STS-103 Discovery, and STS-110 Atlantis, where he played key roles in servicing the Hubble Space Telescope and installing the S0 Truss on the International Space Station (ISS). By the end of his NASA career, his spacewalk time ranked second among Americans and third globally.

Throughout his NASA career, Dr. Smith held various positions, including Astronaut Office representative for shuttle safety and Deputy Chief Astronaut, overseeing the Astronaut Corps’ daily operations. He also served as the NASA ISS Program Liaison to the European Space Agency and Associate Director for the ISS Science Directorate at NASA Ames Research Center. His achievements have earned him numerous awards, including two NASA Distinguished Service Medals and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.