Astronaut and Oklahoman Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford passed away at age 93
The Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford announced its namesake, Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford, passed away on Monday in Indian Harbor, Florida. The Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford, Oklahoma, announced that its namesake, Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford, passed away at age 93. Stafford was born in 1930 and attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the "New Nine" for NASA in the 1960s. He was selected to be one of 24 people to venture into deep space to explore another celestial body. Stafford later became NASA's Chief of the Astronaut Office and served as Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations at the Johnson Space Center. He co-commanded the final Apollo mission in 1975 to help resolve the Cold War. Stafford is survived by his wife, Linda, and two sons.
Published : a month ago by Alexandra Sharfman, https://www.facebook.com/NewsChannel8Tulsa/ in Science
The Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford announced its namesake, Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford, passed away on Monday in Indian Harbor, Florida.
He was 93 years old.
Stafford was born in Weatherford on Sept. 17, 1930.
He attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in the top 1% of his class.
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The museum said in the announcement that Stafford dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, and wanted to work with the most cutting-edge aircraft, so he transferred to the Air Force and earned his silver wings.
In the 1960s, Stafford was selected to be a part of the "New Nine" for NASA, which helped spearhead the race to the moon.
Stafford flew in four historic space missions and is only one of 24 people to venture into deep space to explore another celestial body, according to the Stafford Air & Space Museum.
He went on to become NASA's Chief of the Astronaut Office and later served as Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations at the Johnson Space Center.
In 1975, Stafford co-commanded the final Apollo mission named, Apollo-Soyuz, which joined the U.S. crew with the Soviet crew in orbit to help diffuse the tension of the Cold War.
After that mission, the museum said Stafford resigned from NASA and went back to the Air Force where he earned his second and third stars.
Stafford is survived by his wife, Linda, and their two sons.
He also has two daughters from a previous marriage.
The museum said services will be held in Weatherford.
Topics: Space