Editing Piers Sellers

{{Infobox astronaut
| name          =Piers Sellers
| othername     =Piers John Sellers
| image         =Piers sellers v1.jpg
| type          =[[NASA]] [[Astronaut]]
| status        =Retired
| nationality   =[[United Kingdom|British]]/[[United States|American]]
| birth_date    ={{Birth date and age|1955|4|11|df=y}}
| death_date    =
| birth_place   =[[Crowborough]], [[Sussex]], [[United Kingdom]]
| alma_mater    =[[University of Edinburgh]], B.Sc. 1976<br>[[University of Leeds|Leeds]], Ph.D. 1981
| death_place   =
| occupation    =[[Research scientist]]
| rank          =
| selection     =[[List of astronauts by selection#1996|1996 NASA Group]]
| time          =35d 9h 2m
| eva1          =6
| eva2          =41 hours, 10 minutes
| mission       =[[STS-112]], [[STS-121]], [[STS-132]]
| insignia      =[[File:Sts-112-patch.png|30px]] [[File:STS-121 patch.png|30px]] [[File:STS-132 patch.png|30px]]
|}}

'''Piers John Sellers''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (born 11 April 1955) is a [[British-American]] [[meteorologist]], and a [[NASA]] [[astronaut]].<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sellers.html |title=Piers J. Sellers Biography |date=June 2011 |publisher=NASA |accessdate=2012-11-15 }}</ref> He is a veteran of three [[space shuttle]] missions.
Sellers attended [[Cranbrook School, Kent|Cranbrook School]], Cranbrook, Kent, United Kingdom, until 1973, and achieved a bachelor's degree in [[ecological science]] from the [[University of Edinburgh]] in 1976. In 1981 he gained a doctorate in [[biometeorology]] from the [[University of Leeds]]. In 2011, Sellers retired from the NASA Astronaut Corps. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2012/081112-sellers|title=Astronaut revisits experience of space|publisher=University of Edinburgh  |date=20 November 2012|accessdate=15 December 2015}}</ref>

Before joining the [[astronaut corps]], Sellers worked at [[NASA Goddard Space Flight Center]] on research into how the Earth's [[biosphere]] and atmosphere interact.  This work involved climate system [[computer modeling]] and field work utilizing aircraft, satellites and ground support input.

==Personal life==
Sellers was born in [[Crowborough]], [[Sussex]]. His education started at Tyttenhanger Lodge Pre-preparatory School in [[Seaford, East Sussex]], and [[Cranbrook School Kent|Cranbrook School]], [[Kent]], from which he graduated in 1973 and where he was trained as a [[Air Cadet Organisation|Royal Air Force cadet]] to pilot [[Glider (aircraft)|gliders]] and [[powered aircraft]].<ref name="bio"/><ref name="goddard-1996">{{cite web |url=http://www.daac.ornl.gov/BOREAS/bhs/News/Piers_in_Space.html |title=Piers Sellers Picked for Astronaut Corps |date=June 1996 |author=Ernie J. Shannon |publisher=Goddard News |accessdate=2012-11-15 }}</ref><ref name="jsc-2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts121/interview_sellers_2006.html |title=2006 Preflight Interview: Piers Sellers |date=23 February 2006 |publisher=NASA |accessdate=2012-11-15 }}</ref> He earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[ecological science]] from the [[University of Edinburgh]] and a [[doctorate]] in [[biometeorology]] from the [[University of Leeds]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article681438.ece|title=Lifelong dream come true for British astronaut|author=Jacqui Goddard|date=2006-06-30|accessdate=2010-12-31|publisher=The Times}}</ref>

In January 2016 he revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 [[pancreatic cancer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/opinion/sunday/cancer-and-climate-change.html|title=Cancer and Climate Change|author=Piers J. Sellers|date=2015-01-16|accessdate=2015-01-17|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref>

==Career==
Sellers and his wife left the UK in 1982, moving to the [[United States]], where he began his NASA career as a research meteorologist at [[Goddard Space Flight Center]] in [[Greenbelt, Maryland]].<ref name="bio"/><ref name="goddard-1996" /> Sellers's work in the field of [[meteorology]] focused primarily on computer modeling of climate systems, but he maintained his aircraft pilot skills.<ref name="wcrp">{{cite web |url=http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/piers_sellers_en.html |title=NASA astronaut’s early career in WCRP |date=January 2007 |publisher=World Climate News |accessdate=2012-11-15 }}</ref> Sellers began applying annually to become an astronaut in 1984, but his lack of [[US citizenship]] was a problem: he became a [[Naturalized citizen of the United States|naturalized citizen]] in 1991.<ref name="People and space">{{cite web|url=http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/8046.aspx|title=People and space|date=|accessdate=2010-12-31|publisher=UK SPACE AGENCY}}</ref>

==NASA career==
[[File:Piers Sellers spacewalk.jpg|300px|thumb|Sellers performing a spacewalk during STS-121.]]
Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996, Piers reported to the NASA [[Johnson Space Center]] in August 1996.<ref name="bio"/> He completed two years of training and evaluation and was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Computer Support Branch, followed by service in the Astronaut Office Space Station Branch.<ref name="bio"/> During that time, Piers worked part-time in [[Moscow]] as a technical liaison on ISS computer software. Piers has logged over 559 hours in space, including almost 41 EVA hours in 6 spacewalks.<ref name="bio"/> He retired in 2011.

===Spaceflight experience===
'''[[STS-112]]''' {{OV|104}} (7–18 October 2002) was an [[International Space Station]] assembly mission during which the crew conducted joint operations with the [[Expedition 5|Expedition-5]] in delivering and installing the S-One Truss (the third piece of the station's 11-piece [[Integrated Truss Structure]]). To outfit and activate the new component, Sellers performed three [[spacewalk]]s and logged a total of 19 hours and 41 minutes of [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]]. The crew also transferred cargo between the two vehicles and used the shuttle's thruster jets during two maneuvers to raise the station's orbit. STS-112 was the first shuttle mission to use a camera on the External Tank, providing a live view of the launch to flight controllers and NASA TV viewers. The mission was accomplished in 170 orbits, traveling 4.5 million miles in 10 days, 19 hours, and 58 minutes.<ref name="bio"/>

'''[[STS-121]]''' {{OV|103}} (4–17 July 2006) was a return-to-flight test mission and assembly flight to the International Space Station. During the 13-day flight, the crew of ''Discovery'' tested new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of space shuttles, and produced never-before-seen, high-resolution images of the Shuttle during and after its July 4 launch. The crew also performed maintenance on the space station and delivered and transferred more than 28,000 pounds of supplies and equipment, and a new [[Expedition 13]] crew member to the station. Sellers and [[Mike Fossum]] performed three EVAs to test the 50-ft robotic arm boom extension as a work platform. They removed and replaced a cable that provides power, command and data and video connections to the station’s mobile transporter rail car. They also tested techniques for inspecting and repairing the reinforced carbon-carbon segments that protect the shuttle’s nose cone and leading edge of the wings. The STS-121 mission was accomplished in 306 hours, 37 minutes and 54 seconds.<ref name="bio"/>

He took a velvet patch of the [[University of Edinburgh]] [[Crest (heraldry)|crest]] into space on this flight, which was sewn to the graduating bonnet used during the University's [[graduation]] ceremonies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/biology/about/2.2510/notable-alumni/piers-sellers|title=Notable Alumni - Piers Sellers|publisher=University of Edinburgh|date=|accessdate=2010-12-31}}</ref>

[[File:Sts132 mission poster.jpg|thumb|300px|STS-132 Mission poster]]
'''[[STS-132]]''' {{OV|104}} (14–26 May 2010) was an [[International Space Station]] assembly mission.  The primary payload was the Russian [[Rassvet (ISS module)|''Rassvet'' Mini-Research Module]] along with an Integrated Cargo Carrier-Vertical Light Deployable (ICC-VLD).  This was the final scheduled mission of ''Atlantis''.  Sellers took a 4-inch long wood sample of Sir [[Isaac Newton]]'s [[apple tree]]&ndash; a piece from the original tree that supposedly inspired Newton's [[theory of gravity]]&ndash;along with a picture of Newton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/isaac-newton-apple-tree-space-100520.html|title=Astronauts Give Isaac Newton a Gravity-Free Tribute|publisher=SPACE.com|author=SPACE.com Staff|date=20 May 2010|accessdate=21 May 2010}}</ref>  The wood is part of the collection of the [[Royal Society]] archives in London, and was returned there following the flight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8671627.stm|title=Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree sample to go into space|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=11 May 2010|accessdate=12 May 2010}}</ref>

He also took an original watercolor portrait of [[Cranbrook School, Kent|Cranbrook School]] painted by [[Brenda Barratt]],<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11940501 |title='UK spaceman' Piers Sellers honoured |date=25 January 2010 |author=Jonathan Amos |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2012-11-15 }}</ref> and a [[University of Edinburgh]] flag, which he presented to the University when he and his fellow crew members visited to give a talk about [[STS-112]]. This flag can be seen in the display cabinets behind the Reception at [[Old College, University of Edinburgh|Old College]], [[Edinburgh]].

On the mission poster, which featured the crew playing baseball, Piers was photographed holding a [[cricket bat]], symbolizing his English heritage.

==Honours and awards==
*1994 NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Award
*1995 Arthur Fleming Award
*1996 Fellow of the [[American Geophysical Union]]
*1997 [[American Meteorological Society]] Houghton Award & Fellow of the American Meteorological Society
Sellers was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to science.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59647 |date=31 December 2010 |startpage=24 |supp=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12093630|title=New Year Honours: Astronaut Piers Sellers becomes OBE|date=2010-12-31|accessdate=2010-12-31|publisher=BBC|author=Jonathan Amos and Paul Rincon}}</ref>

==References==
{{Include-NASA}}
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Royal Air Force|Spaceflight}}

*[http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/an-astronaut-finds-himself-in-greenland?mbid=social_twitter An Astronaut Finds Himself in Greenland]
*[http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sellers.html NASA biography]
*[http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-112/crew/intsellers.html STS-112 Pre-flight interview: Piers Sellers] &mdash; 2002
*[http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts121/interview_sellers_2006.html STS-121 Preflight Interview: Piers Sellers] &mdash; 2006, discusses the [[STS-121|Return to Flight]] programme
*[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/sellers_piers.htm Spacefacts Biography of Piers Sellers], 17 July 2006
*[http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/piers_sellers_en.html NASA astronaut’s early career in WCRP] &mdash; Interview published 2007, detailing Sellers' career in meteorology and climate research
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbB1p9wm0XA Piers Sellers on NASA's satellite observations (2015)]
*{{C-SPAN|Piers Sellers}}

{{Cranbrook}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 16}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sellers, Piers}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American astronauts]]
[[Category:British astronauts]]
[[Category:English meteorologists]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds]]
[[Category:People from Crowborough]]
[[Category:English emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at Cranbrook School, Kent]]
[[Category:Fellows of the American Geophysical Union]]