Thomas P. Stafford

American astronaut (1930–2024)

Thomas Patten Stafford (September 17, 1930 – March 18, 2024) was an American former Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut.

Thomas P. Stafford
Thomas Stafford (1969)
Born
Thomas Patten Stafford

(1930-09-17)September 17, 1930
DiedMarch 18, 2024(2024-03-18) (aged 93)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThomas Patten Stafford
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy, B.S. 1952
Occupation(s)Test pilot, consultant
Awards Congressional Space Medal of Honor
Space career
NASA Astronaut
Rank Lieutenant General,
United States Air Force
Time in space
21d 03h 42m
Selection1962 NASA Group 2
MissionsGemini 6A, Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, Apollo–Soyuz Test Project
Mission insignia
RetirementNovember 1, 1979

Stafford was an officer in the United States Air Force. He flew F-86 Sabres before becoming a test pilot.

He was became an astronaut in 1962, and flew aboard Gemini 6A and Gemini 9A.

In 1969, Stafford was the Commander of Apollo 10, the second crewed mission to orbit the Moon. Apollo 10 was also the first to fly a Lunar Module in lunar orbit. It flew very close to the Moon, going down to an altitude of nine miles.

In 1975, Stafford was the commander of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project flight, the first joint U.S.-Soviet space mission.[1]

Stafford died from liver cancer at a care home in Satellite Beach, Florida on March 18, 2024, at the age of 93.[2][3]

References change

  1. "Lieutenant General Thomas P. Stafford". United States Air Force. February 1979. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  2. Pearlman, Robert (March 18, 2024). "Thomas Stafford, astronaut who led Apollo-Soyuz mission, dies at 93". collectSpace. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  3. Goldstein, Richard (March 18, 2024). "Thomas Stafford, 93, Commander of First U.S.-Soviet Space Mission, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2024.