Andrew Feustel

In 2009, a member of the Queen’s community enjoyed the unforgettable privilege of looking back on earth from space. Andrew Feustel, a 1995 doctoral graduate in geological sciences and geological engineering, rode the space shuttle Atlantis into space on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. After spending more than 20 hours space walking, Dr. Feustel described the experience as “dream-like,” one that filled him with “a profound sense of awe.”

American by birth, Feustel came to Queen’s to research micro-seismic monitoring in mines. After graduation, he worked for Exxon Mobil Exploration before joining NASA in 2000.

In 2011, Dr. Feustel returned to space for 14 days on the shuttle Endeavour, a mission that included a week aboard the International Space Station.

All astronauts are permitted to carry small, personal mementos on their journeys beyond earth. In Atlantis, Dr. Feustel took a tricolour banner, specially designed by Queen’s Senior Graphic Designer Larry Harris, for a trip to space.

On Nov. 16, 2016, Andrew Feustel returned to Queen’s to accept an honorary doctorate of science at fall convocation.

From March 24 to October 4, 2018, Feustel returned to space and served six months of that trip  as Commander of the International Space Station.