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 Yuri
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postcard (inscribed)
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SIGNED PHOTOS |
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SIGNED COVERS |
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SPACE RELICS |
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BURAN PROGRAM |
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behind the russian
shuttle program.
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SPACE CANDIDATES |
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the russian unflown
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CATALOGUE |
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AUTOPENS |
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Thomas Stafford
 
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Thomas Stafford |
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Born on: |
17 Sep 1930 |
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Join NASA in: |
17 Sep 1962 |
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Current status: |
Retired 1 Nov 1975 |
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Spaceflight |
Position |
Date |
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Gemini 6A |
Pilot |
15.12. - 16.12.1965 |
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Gemini 9A |
Cmdr |
03.06. - 06.06.1966 |
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Apollo 10 |
Cmdr |
18.05. - 26.05.1969 |
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ASTP |
Cmdr |
15.07. - 24.07.1975 |
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Spaceflight experience: |
General Stafford was selected among the second group of
astronauts in September 1962 by the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) to participate in Projects
Gemini and Apollo. In December 1965, he piloted Gemini VI
the first rendezvous in space, and helped develop
techniques to prove the basic theory and practicality of
space rendezvous. In June 1966 he commanded Gemini IX and
performed a demonstration of an early rendezvous that
would be used in Apollo, the first optical rendezvous, and
a lunar orbit abort rendezvous. From August 1966 to
October 1968 he headed the mission planning analysis and
software development responsibilities for the astronaut
group for Project Apollo.
General Stafford was the lead member of the group, which
helped formulate the sequence of missions leading to the
first lunar landing mission. He demonstrated and
implemented the theory of a pilot manually flying the
Saturn booster into orbit and the translunar injection
maneuver.
General Stafford was commander of Apollo 10 in May 1969,
first flight of the lunar module to the moon, performed
the first rendezvous around the Moon, and performed the
entire lunar landing mission except the actual landing.
He also made reconnaissance and tracking on future Apollo
landing sites. General Stafford was cited in the Guiness
Book of World Records for highest speed ever attained by
man, that occurred during Apollo 10 reentry when the
spacecraft attained 24,791 statute miles per hour.
He was assigned as head of the astronaut group in June
1969, responsible for the selection of flight crews for
projects Apollo and Skylab. He reviewed and monitored
flight crew training status reports, and was responsible
for coordination, scheduling, and control of all
activities involving NASA astronauts.
In June 1971, General Stafford was assigned as Deputy
Director of Flight Crew Operations at the NASA Manned
Space flight Center. He was responsible for assisting the
director in planning and implementation of programs for
the astronaut group, the Aircraft Operations, Flight Crew
Integration, Flight Crew Procedures, and Crew Simulation
and Training Divisions.
He logged his fourth space flight as Apollo commander of
the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission, July 15-24,
1975, a joint space flight culminating in the historic
first meeting in space between American Astronauts and
Soviet Cosmonauts.
General Stafford was the first member of his Naval Academy
Class of 1952 to pin on the first, second and third stars
of a General Officer. He has flown six rendezvous in space;
logged 507 hours and 43 minutes in space flight and wore
the Air Force command Pilot Astronaut Wings. He has flown
over 127 different types of aircraft and helicopters and
four different types of spacecraft.
General Stafford assumed command of the Air Force Flight
Test Center November 4, 1975. He was promoted to the grade
of Major General August 9, 1975, with date of rank of June
1, 1973.
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