Neel Mehta
Ron Garan, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and a former NASA astronaut, has joined World View as chief pilot, Space News reported Tuesday.
Jeff Foust writes Garan will be responsible for overseeing commercial flights of high-altitude balloons that the company designed to carry payloads or passengers to an altitude of at least 19 miles.
He became an astronaut in 2000 and participated in two NASA missions to the International Space Station during his 13-year career at the agency.
Garan is also a 25-year Air Force veteran who served as a developmental test pilot and chief F-16 pilot at Eglin AF Base in Florida.
Space News reports he has authored a book about what he calls “orbital perspective” and is currently undergoing parafoil flight training.
