Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford

Thomas P. Stafford served as pilot of Gemini VI on December 15-16, 1965, during the first rendezvous in space; commanded Gemini IX on June 3-6, 1966, during the first space walk around the world, a different rendezvous, and the closest touchdown of the Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo programs; commanded Apollo X on May 18-26, 1969, during the first flight of a lunar module to the moon, the first rendezvous around the moon, the selection of the first lunar landing site, and an Earth re-entry that set the all-time world speed record of 24,791 m.p.h.; and commanded Apollo Soyuz on July 15-24, 1975, during the first international rendezvous with Soviet cosmonauts.

Weatherford, Oklahoma · United States