Mario Runco Jr.
United States of America
STS-44 Atlantis (24 November 1991)
STS-54 Endeavour (13-19 January 1993)
STS-77 Endeavour (19-29 May 1996)
Served on the crew of STS-44, that successfully deployed a defense support program (DSP) satellite.
In addition, the crew conducted two military man-in-space earth observation experiments, three radiation-monitoring experiments and numerous life sciences experiments in support of long duration space flights.
Served as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-54.
The six-day mission featured the deployment of a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-F) and carried the Diffuse X-Ray Spectrometer (DXS) in the payload bay.
This astronomical instrument designed to expand the knowledge of stellar evolution scanned the local vicinity of our Milky Way galaxy and recorded the low-energy X-Ray emanations believed to originate from the plasma remnants of an ancient supernova.
In what was called the "Physics of Toys", which has since become popular children's education video, the crew also demonstrated how everyday toys behave in space to an interactive audience of elementary school students across The United States.
Served as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-77, which carried a number of technology development experiments as well as a suite of a microgravity science experiments.
The technology development experiments included two deployable satellites both of which he deployed.
For the deployment of the Spartan/Inflatable Antenna Experiment, Mario was The Remote Manipulator System (Robotic Arm) operator.
The other deployable was a small Satellite Test Unit (STU), Which used residual atmospheric drag and the Earth's magnetic field for attitude control and stabilization.
He also filmed some additional Physics of Toys scenes for a sequel to the original educational video and subsequently made several appearances on the children's television show Sesame Street.
