NASA Astronaut Randolph J. Bresnik

Randolph “Komrade” Bresnik was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2004 and most recently served as the commander of the International Space Station for Expedition 53 and flight engineer for Expedition 52. Since August 2018, he has been serving as the Assistant-to-the-Chief of the Astronaut Office for Exploration.

Quick Facts

Bresnik was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in May 1989. During his military career, he became an F/A-18 Test Pilot and was eventually deployed to Kuwait to fly combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In September 2014, Bresnik, his three crew members and two habitat technicians tested technologies and training techniques for use aboard the International Space Station and future deep space exploration missions during NASA’s Extreme Environment Mission Operation (NEEMO 19).

From 2012 through 2015, Bresnik served as the Lead Astronaut for NASA’s partnership with the SpaceX Company in the design and development of their crewed Dragon Capsule as well as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in the Mission Control Center.

(29 July 2009) Astronaut Randolph J. (Randy) Bresnik, mission specialist. (Credit: NASA)

(21 Nov. 2009) — Astronaut Randy Bresnik (near the Columbus laboratory), STS-129 mission specialist, participates in the mission’s second session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. During the six-hour, eight-minute spacewalk, Bresnik and astronaut Mike Foreman (out of frame), mission specialist, installed a Grappling Adaptor to On-Orbit Railing Assembly, or GATOR, on the Columbus laboratory. GATOR contains a ship-tracking antenna system and a HAM radio antenna. They relocated a floating potential measurement unit that gauges electric charges that build up on the station, deployed a Payload Attach System on the space-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss segment and installed a wireless video system that allows spacewalkers to transmit video to the station and relay it to Earth.

NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik poses for a portrait infront of the Crew Access Arm of the mobile launcher, Tuesday, June 25, 2019 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

(28 October 2017) Expedition 53 Flight Engineer (FE) Joseph Acaba and Commander Randy Bresnik with United States Marine Corps (USMC) shirts on and USMC flag behind them. (Credit: NASA)

(24 November 2009) One of the last occasions for these twelve internationally-represented astronauts and cosmonauts to spend time together in space was topped off with a series of group portraits aboard the International Space Station. The group includes the seven STS-129 Atlantis astronauts Charles O. Hobaugh, commander; Barry E. Wilmore, pilot; and Nicole Stott, Mike Foreman, Leland Melvin, Robert L. Satcher Jr. and Randy Bresnik, all mission specialists, plus the five ISS crew members, Jeffrey Williams, the European Space Agency’s Frank De Winne, the Canadian Space agency’s Robert Thirsk and Russia’s Federal Space Agency cosmonauts Roman Romanenko and Maxim Suraev. The dozen are wrapping up almost a full week sharing duties, tasks and chores aimed toward complete development of the orbital outpost.

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Biography

Randolph Bresnik

Learn more about astronaut Randolph Bresnik, including his flight experience, hobbies, education, background and more.

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November 2009) Astronaut Randy Bresnik, STS-129 mission specialist, participates in the mission's third and final session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. During the five-hour, 42-minute spacewalk

(23 November 2009) Astronaut Randy Bresnik, STS-129 mission specialist, participates in the mission’s third and final session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. During the five-hour, 42-minute spacewalk, Bresnik and astronaut Robert L. Satcher Jr. (out of frame), mission specialist, removed a pair of micrometeoroid and orbital debris shields from the Quest airlock and strapped them to the External Stowage Platform #2, then moved an articulating foot restraint to the airlock, and released a bolt on a starboard truss ammonia tank assembly (ATA) in preparation for an STS-131 spacewalk that will replace the ATA.