Carlos Noriega

Astronaut

Birthday October 8, 1959

Birth Sign Libra

Birthplace Lima, Peru

Age 65 years old

#134,721 Most Popular

Numerology: 6

About

After winning an Air Medal, a Navy Achievement Medal, and several other honors for his service as a United States Marine Corps aviator, this Peruvian-born pilot joined NASA's Astronaut Corps and participated in a 1997 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis and a 2000 mission aboard the Endeavour.

Before Fame

After earning a computer science degree from the University of Southern California, he received two master's degrees (in computer science and space systems operations) from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Trivia

During his time in the United States Marine Corps, he received the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Family Life

He lived in Lima, Peru until the age of five, at which point he relocated to Santa Clara, California with his parents, Nora and Rodolfo Noriega. With his wife, Wendy Thatcher Noriega, he raised five children.

Associated With

Though he was slated to participate in NASA's STS-121 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, he became ill shortly before takeoff and was forced to forfeit his spot to fellow astronaut Piers Sellers.