Steven A. Hawley

Steven Hawley
  • Professor Emeritus
  • Physics & Astronomy

Contact Info

Call Me:
785-864-3959
Malott Hall, room 2057
1251 Wescoe Hall Dr.
Lawrence, KS 66045

Biography —

2012: Adjunct Professor Aerospace Engineering, University of Kansas

2010: Director of Engineering Physics, University of Kansas

2008: Professor Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas

1978 - 2008: Astronaut and senior manager at NASA

Education —

PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz
BA in Physics, University of Kansas
BA in Astronomy, University of Kansas

Research —

My research interests are in two distinct disciplines. In astronomy and astrophysics I do spectrophotometry of gaseous nebulae and active or star-forming galaxies. I use emission line strengths to determine chemical abundances and other properties of astrophysical interest. I am also interested in issues associated with human spaceflight, the history of the space shuttle program and the development and operation of telescopes in space, including on the Moon.

Research interests:

  • Astronomy
  • Observational Astronomy
  • Nebular Astrophysics
  • Active Galaxies
  • Chemical Abundances and Enrichment Processes
  • Spaceflight
  • Mission Operations
  • Robotics

Selected Publications —

Bond, H. E., Ciardullo, R. Esplin, T. Hawley, S. A., Liebert, J. & Munari, U. (2016). The Nucleus of the Planetary Nebula EGB 6 as a Post-Mira Binary. Astrophysical Journal, 826(2), 139 - 152. link to pdf

Hawley, S. (2016). Hubble Space Telescope Solar Array Concerns and the Consequences for Servicing Mission 2. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 53(1), 15-24. DOI:10.2514/1.A33388 link to publication

Hawley, S. (2016). Foreward (D. Shayler). Hubble Space Telescope: From Concept to Success. DOI:10.1007/978-1-4939-2827-9

Hawley, S. (2016). Foreward. Enhancing Hubble's Vision: Servicing a National Treasure. DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-22644-6

Hawley, S. A. (2014). How Launching the Hubble Space Telescope Influenced Space Shuttle Mission Operations. AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. DOI://arc.alaa.org/doi/abs/10/2514/1.A32639

Hawley, S. A. (2012). The Engineering, Scientific and Cultural Legacy of the Space Shuttle. In Proceedings of the Conference: The Space Shuttle – An Engineering Milestone. Georgia Institute of Technology. link to publication

Hawley, S. A. (2012). Abundances in ‘Green Pea’ Star-forming Galaxies. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 124(911), 21 – 35.

Hawley, S. A., & Merriam, D. F. (2011). Kansas from Space: A Century of Viewing the Earth From Above. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, 114, 95.

Hawley, S. A. (2011). Spectrophotometry of Southern H II Regions and Strong Line Diagnostics. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 123(899), 44.

Hawley, S. A. (2010). Mission to Mars. In J. Levine & R. Schild (Eds.), The Human Mission to Mars: Colonizing the Red Planet (Vol. 47). Cambridge MA: Cosmology Science Publishers.

Hawley, S. A. (2010). Mission to Mars: Risks, Challenges, Sacrifices, and Privileges. One Astronaut’s Perspective. Journal of Cosmology, 12, 3517.

Hawley, S. A. (2003). Human Operations in Space During the Space Shuttle Era. In H. Mark (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (Vol. 1, pp. 788). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing.

Hawley, S. A. (1999). How We’ll Deliver Chandra to Orbit. Sky and Telescope, 98(2), 54.

Selected Presentations —

Hawley, S. . (04/23/2015). What Did it Take to Make Hubble Happen. 25th Anniversary of Hubble Launch Conference. Space Telescope Science Institute. Available Here

Awards & Honors —

Doctor of Science, Wheaton College NASA Distinguished Service Medals (2) 

Presidential Rank Awards (2)

NASA Exceptional Service Awards (3)

NASA Space Flight Medals (5)

NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal

NASA Special Achievement Award

NASA Superior Performance Award

Komarov Diploma

Kansan of the Year (2)

Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame

Kansas University CLAS Distinguished Alumni Award

Kansas University Distinguished Service Citation

U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

Memberships —

American Astronomical Society

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Association of Space Explorers

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

Coalition for Space Exploration

Sigma Pi Sigma

Phi Beta Kappa

Golden Key