Oklahoman Rose to New Heights
By DR STEWART
Thomas P. Stafford, born in Weatherford in 1930, was selected as one of nine “second-generation” astronauts.
He achieved the highest rank — lieutenant general in the U.S. Air Force — of any astronaut, wrote textbooks and made lasting contributions to the science of high-performance flight.
Stafford graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952. After receiving his pilot wings at Connally Air Force Base, Texas, in 1953, he completed advanced interceptor training and was assigned to the 496th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Hahn Air Base, Germany.
According to NASA’s Web site, Stafford was an instructor in flight test training and wrote basic textbooks and directed the writing of flight test manuals for use by the staff and students.
In 1969, World Book Science Writer William Furlong wrote: “(Stafford) was not just a test pilot. He taught test pilots, including James McDivitt and Frank Borman, commanders of the Apollo 9 and 8 missions. He didn’t just study flight-test manuals, he wrote them. It isn’t that he performed superbly in the cockpit; he performed superbly in any role given to him.”
In 1962, Stafford applied for admission to the manned space program as well as the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University. On Sept. 17, his 32nd birthday, he was accepted by both.
Stafford piloted Gemini VI, the first rendezvous in space, in December 1965.
He commanded Gemini IX, during which he and his crew performed an early rendezvous that would be used in the Apollo missions to the moon, in June 1966. The crew also performed the first optical rendezvous and a lunar orbit abort rendezvous.
In May 1969, Stafford was commander of Apollo 10, the first flight of the lunar module to the moon. Apollo 10′s crew performed the first rendezvous around the moon and carried out the entire lunar mission except the actual landing.
Stafford logged his fourth and last space mission as Apollo commander of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission in July 1975. The mission was a joint space flight that culminated in the historic first meeting in space between American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts.
After the Apollo-Soyuz mission, Stafford was promoted to major general. He retired from NASA to assume command of the Air Force Flight Test Center in November 1975.
In an interview with United Press International in January 1976, Stafford described himself as “more nuts and bolts” and “program- oriented.”
“As far as a huge, moving experience, (space flight) is a big kick, sure, but I’m not overly awed by it,” Stafford said. “I never let it go to my head. When I finished a flight, I looked ahead to what’s next.
“I came into the space agency 13 years ago with two bars and left with two stars. So, from captain to major general in 13 years is not bad.”
Stafford, 77, co-founded the consulting firm of Stafford, Burke and Hecker Inc. in Alexandria, Va. He sits on the board of directors of six corporations listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He has served as an adviser to NASA and the Air Force Systems Command.
D.R. Stewart 581-8451
don.stewart@tulsaworld.com
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