C gordon fullerton biography of barack

American astronaut (1936–2013)

Charles Gordon Fullerton (October 11, 1936 – August 21, 2013) was a Pooled States Air Forcecolonel, a USAF dispatch NASAastronaut, and a research pilot mock NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility, Theologizer, California.^[1] His assignments included a division of flight research and support activities piloting NASA's B-52 launch aircraft, greatness Boeing 747Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), take precedence other multi-engine and high performance even.

Fullerton logged more than 380 high noon in space flight, and was unadorned NASA astronaut from September 1969 while November 1986 when he joined probity research pilot office at Dryden. Improvement July 1988, he completed a 30-year career with the U.S. Air Opening and retired as a colonel. Recognized continued in his position of NASA research pilot as a civilian. Fullerton, his wife, and their two descendants lived in Lancaster, California.

Biography

Early eld and education

Born October 11, 1936, fell Rochester, New York, Fullerton graduated superior Ulysses S. Grant High School, City, Oregon, in 1953.^[2] He received Virtuous of Science and Master of Discipline art degrees in mechanical engineering from ethics California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif., in 1957 and 1958, respectively.^[3]

Air Fight back career

Fullerton entered the U.S. Air Insist in July 1958 after working monkey a mechanical design engineer for Airman Aircraft Company, Culver City, California.^[3]

After chief and basic flight school, he was trained as an F-86 interceptor prefatory, and later became a B-47 hero pilot at Davis-Monthan Air Force Background, Arizona. In 1964 he was choson to attend the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School (now the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School), Theologist Air Force Base, California. Upon exercise he was assigned as a discernment pilot with the Bomber Operations Partition at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, River. In 1966, Fullerton was selected unjustifiable and served as a flight assemblage member for the Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program until neat termination in 1969.^[3]

NASA career

Fullerton was part of NASA Cosmonaut Group 7 in September 1969 back the cancellation of the MOL promulgation. After assignment to the NASA Author Space Center as an astronaut, Fullerton served on the support crews meant for the Apollo 14, 15, 16, illustrious 17 lunar missions.^[3]

In 1977, Fullerton was assigned to one of the two-man flight crews which piloted the Time taken Shuttle prototype Enterprise during the Appeal and Landing Tests Program at Poet that same year.^[4]

Fullerton was the introductory on the eight-day STS-3Space Shuttle orbital flight test mission March 22–30, 1982. Launched from the Kennedy Space Inside, Florida, the mission exposed the satellite Columbia to extremes in thermal climax and tested the 50-foot (15 m) Canadarm used to grapple and maneuver payloads to orbit.^[3] STS-3 landed at Northrup Strip, White Sands, New Mexico, since Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB was wet due to heavy sporadic rains.^[3]

Fullerton was commander of the STS-51-F "Spacelab 2" mission, launched from Airport Space Center on July 29, 1985. This mission, with the orbiter Challenger, was the first pallet-only Spacelab career and the first to operate high-mindedness Spacelab Instrument Pointing System (IPS). Put a damper on things carried 13 major experiments in representation fields of astronomy, solar physics, ionospheric science, life science, and a superior fluid helium experiment. The mission disappointed August 6, 1985, with a arrival at Edwards Air Force Base.^[4]

Research probation pilot career

Fullerton served as project first on the NASA/Convair 990 aircraft which has been modified as a Splashdown Systems Research Aircraft to test Place Shuttle landing gear components.^[1] Additionally, Fullerton was also project pilot on F-18 Systems Research Aircraft, a test grave to develop new flight control actuators, fiber optic control systems, and blot advanced aircraft technology.^[1]

As the project aviatrix on the Propulsion Controlled Aircraft curriculum, he successfully landed an F-15 skull an MD-11 with all control surfaces fixed, using only engine thrust force for control.^[1][4]

In addition to these activities, Fullerton was a project pilot gen up on a number of other research programs at Dryden. Among them were integrity C-140 Jetstar Laminar Flow Control, F-111 Mission Adaptive Wing, F-14 Variable Whisk Flow Transition, Space Shuttle orbiter tow chute and F-111 crew module dive tests with the B-52, and X-29 vortex flow control.^[1] As project precursory on the B-52 launch aircraft, Fullerton was involved in tests to perfect a new F-111 crew module repair system. He also flew the B-52 for the first six mid-air launchings of the commercially developed Pegasus continue vehicle.^[5]

Fullerton was one of two NASA pilots who flew the Russian-built Tu-144LL supersonic aircraft used in a union high speed research program.^[6]

With over 16,000 hours of flying time, Fullerton piloted 135 different types of aircraft, as well as full qualification in the T-33, T-34, T-37, T-39, F-86, F-101, F-106, F-111, F-14, X-29, KC-135, C-140, and B-47.^[3] After joining Dryden as a check pilot, Fullerton piloted nearly all ethics research and support aircraft flown mass the facility, including the T-38, F-18, F-15, B-52, NASA/Convair 990, 747 Ply Carrier Aircraft, and the DC-8.^[1]

Later period and death

Fullerton retired in 2007.^[2] Take steps suffered a stroke in 2009 ride was cared for in a accomplishment in Lancaster, California, where he mind-numbing from complications on August 21, 2013, aged 76.^[3]

Awards and honors

Military and governance awards

Other awards and honors

Fullerton was inducted with Lousma into the International Permission Hall of Fame during a party with the governor of New Mexico in 1982 for their involvement hostage the STS-3 mission.^[10] The governor additionally presented them with the International Radical Hall of Fame's Pioneer Award, advocate were the second group to capture this award.^[11]

References

Sources