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Richard H. Truly

Fighter pilot and aeronautical engineer Richard Truly became a NASA astronaut candidate in August 1969, flying Approach and Landing Tests of the Space Shuttle orbiter and two spaceflights (STS-2 and STS-8). He went on to serve as the Agency’s eighth Administrator from 1989–1992.

Quick Facts

Before becoming a NASA Astronaut in 1969, Truly was chosen as an astronaut for the U.S. Air Force’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory program in 1965.

Before becoming a NASA Astronaut in 1969, Truly was chosen as an astronaut for the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory program in 1965.

Truly received the prestigious Collier Trophy in 1988 for his role in returning NASA to crewed missions after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Truly received the prestigious Collier Trophy in 1988 for his role in returning NASA to crewed missions after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Richard Truly was the first former astronaut to become a NASA Administrator.

Richard Truly was the first former astronaut to become a NASA Administrator.

Portrait of Richard H. Truly — Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly, served as NASA Administrator from May 14, 1989 to March 31, 1992.
NASA

Astronaut Richard H. Truly, kneels in front of the Enterprise Shuttle Orbiter at the Rockwell International Space Division's Orbiter assembly facility at Palmdale, California on the day of the rollout of the Shuttle Orbiter 101 "Enterprise" spacecraft. — Astronaut Richard H. Truly, pilot of the second crew for the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests (ALT), was photographed at the Rockwell International Space Division’s Orbiter assembly facility at Palmdale, California on the day of the rollout of the Shuttle Orbiter 101 “Enterprise” spacecraft. The DC-9 size airplane-like Orbiter 101 is in the background.
NASA

Commandeer Richard Truly stands with the rest of the STS-8 crewmates — S83-38389 (6 Aug. 1983) — The STS-8 crew members pause for a crew photo at Pad 39A after a question and answer session with the press. They were about to participate in the STS-8 countdown demonstration test. From left to right are astronauts Dale A. Gardner, Guion S. Bluford, Dr. William E. Thornton, all mission specialists; Daniel C. Brandenstein, pilot; and Richard H. Truly, commander. The Challenger is in the background at complex 39.
NASA

Biography

Richard Truly

Former Astronaut and NASA Administrator

A Naval Aviator and test pilot, Richard Truly was chosen as NASA astronaut in 1969. He flew Approach and Landing Test flights for the Shuttle, was the pilot for STS-2, and commanded the STS-8 Shuttle mission.

Read His Biography

Portrait of astronaut Richard H. Truly taken in 1976. He holds a model of a space shuttle orbiter and is wearing a blue flight suit.

Astronaut Richard H. Truly in 1976

NASA

Read Richard Truly’s oral history transcript

June 16, 2003

All Shuttle Missions

STS-2

Second test flight of the Space Shuttle to demonstrate safe re-launch and safe return of the orbiter and crew.

All Shuttle Missions

STS-8

STS-8 carried Guion Bluford who became the first African-American to fly in space. INSAT-1B, a multipurpose satellite for India which was attached to the Payload Assist Module-D (PAM-D) motor, was…

Featured Story

40 Years Ago: Columbia Returns to Space on the STS-2 Mission

Following a launch scrub a week earlier, space shuttle Columbia took to the skies on Nov. 12, 1981, for its…

More on Richard Truly

NASA Names the First Four Shuttle Crews

On March 16, 1978, NASA formally announced the crews for the first four space shuttle missions.

STS-8: The First Shuttle Night Launch and Landing

On August 30, Challenger and her crew thundered into the night sky at KSC, only the second night launch in the American human space flight program.

Portrait of Richard H. Truly

Oral History

Read the transcript from Richard Truly's 2003 interview for the NASA Oral History Project.

Former Astronaut Richard H. Truly

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