Anthony “Tony” Antonelli

NASA Astronaut, US Navy (ret.) / Karman Space & Defense


Astronaut Tony Antonelli (Captain, US Navy, Ret.) is a retired Astronaut, Naval Aviator and Test Pilot. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1989 and a Master of Science in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2002.

Mr. Antonelli served as a fleet Naval Aviator and Landing Signal Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz with the Blue Diamonds, Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-146, flying F/A-18C Hornets in support of Operation Southern Watch. He has accumulated over 4,700 flight hours in over 40 different kinds of aircraft and has completed 273 carrier arrested landings.  He is a Distinguished Graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School (Navy Exchange Pilot).

Mr. Antonelli joined NASA in 2000 as a pilot astronaut candidate.  A veteran of two space flights, Antonelli logged 24 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes and 35 seconds in space.  Antonelli served in various technical assignments in support of the Astronaut Office; including leadership roles for the Space Launch System, Commercial Crew, Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM), and Space Shuttle Propulsion.

On March 15, 2009, Antonelli launched on STS-119 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery as the pilot.  The crew delivered and assembled the sixth Starboard Integrated Truss Segment (S6) and the fourth set of solar arrays and batteries for the International Space Station.

On May 14, 2010, Antonelli launched on STS-132 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis as the pilot.  The mission delivered an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian built Mini Research Module (MRM-1) to the Station.

Antonelli retired from NASA in July 2015 and worked for six years at Lockheed Martin in various Executive roles including; Chief Technologist for Civil Space, Director of Advanced Programs for Commercial/Civil Space and Artemis II Mission Director for the Orion Program Office.