Early Life and Education

Donald McMonagle is a retired American astronaut who was born on May 14, 1952, in Flint, Michigan. He attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Sciences in 1973. McMonagle went on to complete a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1974.

Astronaut Career

McMonagle joined NASA in 1987 and was selected as an astronaut candidate. He flew on four Space Shuttle missions, including STS-39, STS-54, STS-66, and STS-80. Throughout his career, McMonagle logged over 605 hours in space and orbited the Earth 362 times.

STS-39

On April 28, 1991, McMonagle served as the pilot on STS-39, a classified Department of Defense mission that lasted for nine days.

STS-54

McMonagle commanded STS-54, which launched on January 13, 1993. The mission deployed a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) and conducted various scientific experiments.

STS-66

As the commander of STS-66, McMonagle led a mission dedicated to studying Earth's atmosphere and its interactions with the sun. The mission launched on November 3, 1994.

STS-80

McMonagle's final spaceflight was as commander of STS-80, which launched on November 19, 1996. The mission was dedicated to studying space science and conducting various experiments.

Post-NASA Career

After retiring from NASA in 1998, McMonagle held various leadership positions in the aerospace industry. He served as Vice President of Space Exploration Systems at Boeing and later worked for ATK Launch Systems (now Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems) as Vice President of Business Development.

Net Worth

As of 2024, Donald McMonagle's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. His successful career as an astronaut and executive in the aerospace industry has contributed to his financial success.

Personal Life

Outside of his professional career, McMonagle enjoys spending time with his family and participating in outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing.

Overall, Donald McMonagle has had a distinguished career as an astronaut and aerospace executive. His contributions to space exploration have been significant, and he continues to inspire others with his achievements.