2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

APPENDIX A
In Memoriam
Frank Caldeiro
Figure 70:
Frank Caldeiro
On October 3 rd , the WB-57 team lost a valuable team
member and friend, Fernando “Frank” Caldeiro. He
had battled brain cancer for two and a half years.
Prior to his career at NASA, Frank worked for
Rockwell International. From 1985 through 1988,
he served as a test director during the production
and flight test of the Rockwell/USAF B-1B Bomber.
In 1988, he transferred to Kennedy Space Center
to work for Rockwell International as a propulsion
specialist.
Frank was hired by NASA at Kennedy Space Center
in 1991 as a cryogenics and propulsion systems
expert for the safety and mission assurance office.
He participated in 52 space shuttle launches while at
KSC. He enjoyed living in Florida and met his wife,
Donna there.
Frank was selected as an Astronaut in 1996, NASA’s
16 th class of astronaut candidates, or “ascans”. His
class was dubbed “The Sardines” because at 44
members, they were the largest group of astronaut
candidates ever chosen by NASA.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 12, 1958,
Frank was the first person of Argentinean descent
to train for a spaceflight. He was proud of his
Argentinean and Spanish heritage, enjoying visits to
both of those countries to visit relatives and friends.
Frank started working with the WB-57 High Altitude
Research Program in the Aircraft Operations
Division in early 2006. He was a private pilot as well,
flying a Rutan Long Ez experimental aircraft out
of Ellington Field, so he loved the atmosphere of
work in Aircraft Operations. Along with his work
managing the integration of scientific instruments
onto the WB-57, he also had the opportunity to
fly as a test director with the C-9 Reduced Gravity
Program.
Frank is survived by his wife, Donna, and his two
daughters, Annie and Michelle. He will be dearly
missed by all who knew him.
115