Terry J. Hart, former NASA astronaut, U.S. Air Force pilot, and industry leader in aerospace systems engineering, serves as the founding director of Lehigh University's Master's in Aerospace Engineering program. His distinguished career spans the frontiers of flight—from piloting supersonic jets and deploying satellites in space to designing advanced communications systems and inspiring the next generation of aerospace innovators.
From the cockpit to the cosmos
Before joining the Lehigh faculty, Terry Hart built a legacy few can match in aviation and astronautics. A 1968 graduate of Lehigh University (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering), Hart went on to earn his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University. His early career as a U.S. Air Force pilot included flying high-performance fighter aircraft and serving as a flight instructor—experiences that shaped his lifelong commitment to precision, performance, and safety in aerospace design.
In 1978, Hart was selected by NASA as part of Astronaut Group 8, a pioneering cohort of scientist-astronauts who helped usher in the Space Shuttle era. He flew aboard Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-41C) in 1984, where he operated the shuttle’s Remote Manipulator System (Canadarm) to deploy and repair satellites in orbit—an operation that showcased the potential of human-robotic collaboration in space systems engineering.
Advancing aerospace and communications systems
After his NASA mission, Hart transitioned to leadership roles in industry, contributing to advanced communications and satellite systems at the renowned Bell Laboratories. His work in systems engineering and telecommunications helped shape modern aerospace applications that bridge space, defense, and commercial sectors.
Returning to Lehigh with a vision for the future
Now back at his alma mater, Hart leads Lehigh's Master's in Aerospace Engineering program, bringing the same rigor, curiosity, and mission-focused mindset that defined his NASA and Air Force service. Under his direction, the program blends hands-on aerospace design, aerodynamics, propulsion, space systems, and controls to prepare graduate students for dynamic careers across the aerospace, defense, and space exploration industries.
Hart's courses and mentorship emphasize systems thinking, team collaboration, and innovation under constraints—the same principles that guided his work in orbit. Students in Lehigh's aerospace program benefit from his firsthand insights into spacecraft operations, mission planning, and real-world aerospace project management.
@ihartaerospace: An astronaut's mission into social media
Through his social media initiative @ihartaerospace, Terry Hart reaches beyond the classroom to engage directly with aspiring engineers, pilots, and space enthusiasts around the world. Using digital platforms to share personal stories, historical insights, and engineering challenges from his NASA and Air Force experiences, Hart aims to ignite curiosity and passion for space exploration and aeronautical innovation. His outreach reflects Lehigh's broader mission to connect engineering education with the public imagination—showing that the future of aerospace depends not only on technology, but on the inspiration to pursue it.
Inspiring the next generation of aerospace leaders
At Lehigh, Hart is more than an instructor—he is a living bridge between aerospace heritage and its future. His presence gives students direct access to a professional who has not only studied aerospace systems but lived them—from the flight deck of a space shuttle to the design labs of cutting-edge technology companies.
Hart continues to advocate for sustainable aerospace innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and educational pathways that empower students to lead in aviation, astronautics, and space exploration. His leadership ensures that Lehigh’s Master's in Aerospace and Space Systems Engineering remains at the forefront of preparing engineers who will design the next generation of flight and space systems.
