Thomas P. Stafford

ABOUT THOMAS P. STAFFORD

Gemini and Apollo astronaut who conducted many of the first space flights. He served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1969 until 1971.

He was an accomplished Navy pilot before being selected for NASA's second group of astronauts.

He flew on the first American-Russian space mission in 1975. Throughout his career, he flew more than 120 types of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

He was married twice and had four children.

He was slated to fly with Alan Shepard on the first manned Gemini mission but became ill.