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Tom Stafford: The Astronaut Who Flew Six Space Missions

Roger Turner

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Published in We Have Capture: Tom Stafford And The Space Race

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Tom Stafford was an American astronaut who flew six space missions, including the Apollo 10 mission, which was the first to orbit the Moon. He was also the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which was forced to abort its landing on the Moon due to a technical problem.

Stafford was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma, on September 17, 1930. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1952 and joined the Navy. He became a test pilot and flew a number of different aircraft.

We Have Capture: Tom Stafford and the Space Race

by Thomas P. Stafford

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In 1962, Stafford was selected to be an astronaut by NASA. He flew his first space mission, Gemini 6A, in 1965. This was the first spacewalk conducted by an American astronaut.

In 1969, Stafford flew on the Apollo 10 mission. This was the first mission to orbit the Moon. Stafford and his crewmates, John Young and Gene Cernan, spent two days in lunar orbit, mapping the surface of the Moon and testing the lunar module.

In 1971, Stafford commanded the Apollo 13 mission. This mission was intended to be the third lunar landing, but it was aborted due to a technical problem. The crew of Apollo 13 spent four days in space before returning to Earth safely.

Stafford retired from NASA in 1975. He went on to work as a consultant and businessman. He died in Cocoa Beach, Florida, on November 11, 2018.

Stafford's Legacy

Tom Stafford was one of the most experienced astronauts in the history of the United States space program. He flew six space missions, including the first mission to orbit the Moon and the first mission to land on the Moon. He was also the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which was forced to abort its landing on the Moon due to a technical problem.

Stafford's legacy is one of courage, determination, and innovation. He was a pioneer in the field of space exploration and helped to pave the way for future generations of astronauts.