Former NASA Astronaut Steven Nagel Dies at 67

Space ^ | Aug 22, 2014 | Robert Z. Pearlman

[Ray76]

NASA astronaut Steven Nagel, who flew four space shuttle missions, died Thursday (Aug. 21). He was 67.

Nagel joined the astronaut corps in 1978 with NASA's first group of trainees selected for the space shuttle program.

[Ray76]

Bio from Johnson Space Center: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nagel.html

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Squawk 8888]

Space ping.

[MichaelCorleone]

Not very old by today’s standards.

Rest in Peace.

[MichaelCorleone]

Not very old by today’s standards.

Rest in Peace.

[Ray76]

Another article listed the cause of death as cancer.

[Christie at the beach]

My condolences to his family.

May he rest in peace.

[Veggie Todd]

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

Well ok, Colonel Nagel, you can forget the first part.

[Secret Agent Man]

wonder if his cancer was the result of his time in space. astronauts do have a greater chance of cancer the more they are in space.

[AmericanInTokyo]

[fella]

How many space shuttle vets are living?

[tcrlaf]

“Another article listed the cause of death as cancer”

Seems to be a thing among high-time pilots, at least in recent years. Skin Cancer rates, for instance, run 2-3 times higher among high-time pilots than the Gen Pop. Likely the higher exposure to UV’s and higher radiation levels at altitude.

I’ve known several Ex-Mil/Ex-commercial pilots that have died in their late 50’s-mid 60’s of cancers.

ALPA has been trying to get some studies done on it for the last few years:
http://safetyforum.alpa.org/Portals/31/Images/Thurs8-6-09/8-6-09_Grippo.pdf

[BBB333]

My neighbor was up on the Challenger as a science specialist.

I think there are a lot of ‘em.