November 27

Jim Wetherbee (b. 1952) is an American astronaut and naval aviator who flew on six Space Shuttle missions during his NASA career. He holds the record for commanding five shuttle flights, including the first Shuttle-Mir docking mission. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, he completed over 1,650 hours in orbit. Wetherbee contributed to microgravity research, satellite deployment, and international space cooperation. After retiring from NASA in 2003, he took on leadership roles in aerospace companies and academia, advocating for space exploration.