vailsymposium

Lieutenant General (Retired) Susan J. Helms was the first U.S. military woman in space and the first woman to live aboard the International Space Station. She holds the world record for longest spacewalk (EVA – Extra Vehicular Activity) at 8-hours and 56 minutes during ISS Expedition 2 with Jim Voss. She was a Mission Specialist on STS-54, STS-64, STS-78, STS-101, STS-102 (up), STS-105 (down), Flight Engineer on ISS Expedition 2. She logged 211 days (5,064 hours) in space. She was a Distinguished Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School (Flight Test Engineer Program) and winner of the RL Jones Award for Top Test Engineer. She is a military veteran and retired at the rank of Lieutenant General. She also holds the distinction of being a graduate of USAF Academy, ’80, the first class with female cadets.