Thomas P. Stafford

Thomas P. Stafford was a NASA astronaut and test pilot. He flew on the Gemini 6 mission and was the first American to dock with a target vehicle in orbit. Stafford was also a test pilot for the US Air Force and worked on the development of the X-15 rocket-powered aircraft. He was a pioneer in the field of astronautics and played a key role in the development of the Gemini spacecraft. Stafford was born on September 17, 1930, in Weatherford, Texas, and passed away on July 16, 2017. He was a decorated war veteran and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in World War II.