Matthew R. Abbott

Matthew R. Abbott (1980) began his career at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) as a cooperative education student while studying Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University. Upon graduation in 1985, he joined NASA as a Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO) and subsequently supported 8 Space Shuttle missions during the orbit phase, 11 Space Shuttle landings, and 27 Space Shuttle launches from the Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas.

     From 1997-2001, he served the Canadian Space Agency in Montreal as the Mobile Servicing System Space Operations Lead Engineer in support of the Canadian-provided International Space Station (ISS) robotic elements. Selected by NASA as a Flight Director in October 2000, Matt returned to Houston in January 2001 and was certified for ISS operations the following November. He served as the deputy lead Flight Director for ISS Expeditions 5 and 8, and as lead Flight Director for ISS Expedition 9. In October 2004 he traveled to Astana, Kazakhstan, to support the Expedition 9 crew's landing. In March 2005, Matt visited his alma maters, Mill Middle School and South High School, as part of NASA's Teaching From Space program.

     A month later, he traveled to Russia to assist in the launch of the Soyuz rocket carrying the Expedition 11 crew to the ISS. Matt is currently training as a Space Shuttle Flight Director while simultaneously supporting ongoing ISS mission operations and participating in early development and integration of the new Crew Launch Vehicle as part of the space exploration initiative.

     Throughout his distinguished career in aerospace and spaceflight operations, Matt has been honored with many special awards including NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal, which he received in 2005. Matt resides in Houston, TX.