Donald H. Peterson

American astronaut (1933–2018)

Donald Herod Peterson (October 22, 1933 – May 27, 2018) was an American astronaut. He was born in Winona, Mississippi.

Donald H. Peterson
Born22 October 1933
Died27 May 2018
Occupation(s)NASA astronaut, United States Air Force officer
Space career
Retirement1984

Career change

Peterson was a United States Air Force officer and NASA astronaut. Peterson was selected for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program, but, when that was canceled, he became a NASA astronaut in September 1969.

He was a mission specialist on STS-6 on board Challenger. During the mission Peterson performed a spacewalk to test the new airlock and space suits. He logged 120 hours in space. Peterson retired from NASA in 1984.

Death change

Peterson died on May 27, 2018 at his home in El Lago, Texas of Alzheimer's disease and bone cancer at the age of 84.[1][2]

References change

  1. "Obituary: Astronaut Donald Peterson". Collect Space. May 28, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  2. "Donald Peterson Sr, Who Spacewalked the Challenger, Dies at 84". The Washington Post. May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.

Other websites change

  Media related to Donald H. Peterson at Wikimedia Commons