William C. McCool
U.S. Navy Commander, NASA astronaut and the pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia which was destroyed during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere in 2003
(Redirected from William McCool)
William Cameron "Willie" McCool (September 23, 1961 – February 1, 2003) (Cmdr, USN) was an American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut.
William C. McCool | |
|---|---|
 William McCool in August 2001 | |
| Born | September 23, 1961 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 1, 2003 (aged 41) Over Texas, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | William Cameron McCool |
| Alma mater | USNA, B.S. 1983 UMCP, M.S. 1985 NPS, M.S. 1992 |
| Awards |  |
| Space career | |
| NASA Astronaut | |
Previous occupation | Naval aviator, test pilot |
| Rank |  Commander, USN |
Time in space | 15d 22h 20m |
| Selection | 1996 NASA Group 16 |
| Missions | STS-107 |
Mission insignia |  |
He was the pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107. He and the rest of the crew of STS-107 were killed when Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into the atmosphere.[1][2] He was the youngest male member of the crew. McCool was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
References change
- ↑ NASA. William C. McCool: NASA Astronaut: Biographical Data, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center website, May 2004. Retrieved August 15, 2010. Note: this text, the work of a U.S. Government agency, is a work in the public domain.
- ↑ Kershaw, Sarah. Space Shuttle Widow Is Ready to Move on From Rituals of Loss, New York Times, December 5, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
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