Aggienaut professor to lead engineering center

One of UC Davis’ most renowned alumni, astronaut Steve Robinson, is hanging up his spacesuit and returning to campus this fall as a professor in the College of Engineering's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. 

The veteran of four space shuttle missions will lead a new research center for human-vehicle interaction. Robinson, who earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering from UC Davis, takes up his duties when fall quarter begins on Sept. 24. 

UC Davis has closely followed Robinson’s career, including his fourth and most recent space flight in 2010. And he’s returned the favor, visiting campus several times over his career, giving public lectures about his space adventures and reaching out to students. 

Read more about UC Davis’ Shuttle Aggienauts on the Egghead blog. 

Since he played the sousaphone in the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh, Robinson has maintained his interest in music. Here he’s seen in the viewing cupola of the International Space Station during the February 2010 mission, practicing on a guitar. NASA/photo