ASTRONAUT
William Oefelein
1965 - Today

William Oefelein
William Anthony "Bill" Oefelein (; born March 29, 1965) is an American freelance adventure writer and photographer and former NASA astronaut who, on his only spaceflight, piloted the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission. Oefelein gained media attention on February 5, 2007, when fellow astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested in Florida and charged with attempting to kidnap his girlfriend, U.S. Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman. Nowak later pleaded guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor battery. Oefelein admitted to a two-year affair with Nowak, and he and Nowak became the first astronauts ever dismissed from NASA. Following the dismissals, NASA created its first astronaut Code of Conduct. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in 22 different languages on Wikipedia. William Oefelein is the 488th most popular astronaut (up from 510th in 2024), the 16,445th most popular biography from United States (up from 16,507th in 2019) and the 265th most popular American Astronaut.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of William Oefelein by language
Among ASTRONAUTS
Among astronauts, William Oefelein ranks 488 out of 556. Before him are Francisco Rubio, Richard M. Linnehan, Terry Hart, Gregory H. Johnson, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Richard A. Searfoss. After him are Aleksandr Samokutyayev, Hazza Al Mansouri, Victor J. Glover, Roger K. Crouch, Tang Hongbo, and Kenneth Ham.
Most Popular Astronauts in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsFrancisco Rubio
1975 - Present
HPI: 44.59
Rank: 482
Richard M. Linnehan
1957 - Present
HPI: 44.54
Rank: 483
Terry Hart
1946 - Present
HPI: 44.49
Rank: 484
Gregory H. Johnson
1962 - Present
HPI: 44.49
Rank: 485
Sergey Ryzhikov
1974 - Present
HPI: 44.44
Rank: 486
Richard A. Searfoss
1956 - 2018
HPI: 44.35
Rank: 487
William Oefelein
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.20
Rank: 488
Aleksandr Samokutyayev
1970 - Present
HPI: 44.18
Rank: 489
Hazza Al Mansouri
1983 - Present
HPI: 44.00
Rank: 490
Victor J. Glover
1976 - Present
HPI: 43.99
Rank: 491
Roger K. Crouch
1940 - Present
HPI: 43.86
Rank: 492
Tang Hongbo
1975 - Present
HPI: 43.81
Rank: 493
Kenneth Ham
1964 - Present
HPI: 43.77
Rank: 494
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1965, William Oefelein ranks 982. Before him are Brian Baker, Steffen Bogs, Erick Lonnis, Jacqueline Kim, Michelle Johnson, and Tomas Sivertsson. After him are Scott Adsit, Nílson, Thomas Schroll, Nina Gavrylyuk, Andreas Keller, and Eric Da Re.
Others Born in 1965
Go to all RankingsBrian Baker
MUSICIAN
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.30
Rank: 976
Steffen Bogs
ATHLETE
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.29
Rank: 977
Erick Lonnis
SOCCER PLAYER
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.29
Rank: 978
Jacqueline Kim
ACTOR
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.28
Rank: 979
Michelle Johnson
ACTOR
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.28
Rank: 980
Tomas Sivertsson
HANDBALL PLAYER
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.21
Rank: 981
William Oefelein
ASTRONAUT
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.20
Rank: 982
Scott Adsit
ACTOR
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.20
Rank: 983
Nílson
SOCCER PLAYER
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.20
Rank: 984
Thomas Schroll
ATHLETE
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.19
Rank: 985
Nina Gavrylyuk
SKIER
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.15
Rank: 986
Andreas Keller
ATHLETE
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.14
Rank: 987
Eric Da Re
ACTOR
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.08
Rank: 988
Among ASTRONAUTS In United States
Among astronauts born in United States, William Oefelein ranks 265. Before him are David Leestma (1949), Michael J. Bloomfield (1959), Francisco Rubio (1975), Richard M. Linnehan (1957), Terry Hart (1946), and Richard A. Searfoss (1956). After him are Victor J. Glover (1976), Roger K. Crouch (1940), Kenneth Ham (1964), Michael T. Good (1962), Gregory J. Harbaugh (1956), and Garrett Reisman (1968).
David Leestma
1949 - Present
HPI: 44.71
Rank: 259
Michael J. Bloomfield
1959 - Present
HPI: 44.60
Rank: 260
Francisco Rubio
1975 - Present
HPI: 44.59
Rank: 261
Richard M. Linnehan
1957 - Present
HPI: 44.54
Rank: 262
Terry Hart
1946 - Present
HPI: 44.49
Rank: 263
Richard A. Searfoss
1956 - 2018
HPI: 44.35
Rank: 264
William Oefelein
1965 - Present
HPI: 44.20
Rank: 265
Victor J. Glover
1976 - Present
HPI: 43.99
Rank: 266
Roger K. Crouch
1940 - Present
HPI: 43.86
Rank: 267
Kenneth Ham
1964 - Present
HPI: 43.77
Rank: 268
Michael T. Good
1962 - Present
HPI: 43.66
Rank: 269
Gregory J. Harbaugh
1956 - Present
HPI: 43.61
Rank: 270
Garrett Reisman
1968 - Present
HPI: 43.58
Rank: 271





























