The man who flew the Space Shuttle more than anyone else

Space · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Jerry Ross reflects on a career that spanned the entire era of the space shuttle program. From its first flight to its final voyage, his perspective offers a rare look at the evolution of American space exploration.

Ross discusses his extensive experience aboard Atlantis, which flew 30 missions between its maiden voyage in October 1985 and its final flight on STS-132. Notably, Ross flew five of his seven shuttle missions specifically on Atlantis, a record for any astronaut.

Information regarding the craft's history is offered by the clip, notably its involvement during May 2009's STS-125 Hubble Space Telescope servicing task. It serves as a retrospective on the technical and human milestones of one of NASA's most storied vehicles.

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