06/02/2026
HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY TO MARK "ROMAN" POLANSKY, THREE SHUTTLE MISSIONS
Happy birthday to a former Space Shuttle commander, Mark Lewis "Roman" Polansky, the big “7-0” years old today. Born in Paterson, New Jersey on June. 2, 1956, growing up in Edison. Polansky received the nickname "Roman" as a joke, because he shares a last name with film director Roman Polanski.
He is a retired NASA astronaut pilot and commander: STS-98, pilot, Atlantis in December 2001 delivering the U.S.laboratory module Destiny to the International Space Station; STS-116, pilot, Endeavour in July 2009, an ISS construction mission; and STS-127, commander, another ISS construction mission. He has spent 42 days in space.
Selected as an astronaut in 1996, Polansky retired from the Astronaut Corps in June 30, 2012. "Mark is a remarkably talented individual," said Peggy Whitson, Chief of the Astronaut Office. "His skills as an aviator coupled with his engineering expertise were a valuable contribution to our team. We wish him well in his future endeavors."
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/polansky_mark.pdf
Polansky's father, Irving, was Jewish. His mother, Edith, is originally from Hawaii and is of Korean descent. Polansky was raised as a Jew, and honored his father's heritage by taking a teddy bear from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum along for the ride on STS-116.
Polansky graduated from John P. Stevens High School, Edison, New Jersey in 1974, and received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and a master of science degree in aeronautics and astronautics, from Purdue University, both in 1978. He earned his pilot wings in January 1980 at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. From 1980 to 1983, he was assigned to Langley AFB, Virginia, where he flew the F-15 aircraft.
In his hometown of Edison, NJ, a park is named for him on Grove Ave., across the street from his alma mater of J. P. Stevens High School. Recently in June 2006 the township officials unveiled a sign for Mark Polansky Park while his friends and family were there with him for this presentation. He frequently returns to Edison for programs at the local library for the kids.
