C. Gordon Fullerton

<p>Born in Rochester, New York, on November 6, 1936, C. Gordon Fullerton earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Entering the United States Air Force in 1958, he flew F-86 interceptors and B-47 bombers before graduating from the prestigious Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in 1965.</p><p>Selected as an astronaut for the Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program, Fullerton transitioned to NASA in 1969 upon the MOL program's cancellation. Serving on the astronaut support crews for Apollo 14, 15, 16, and 17, he played a critical role in lunar surface communications. In 1977, Fullerton and astronaut Fred Haise made history by piloting the prototype Space Shuttle <em>Enterprise</em> through free-flight glide tests launched from the back of a modified Boeing 747.</p><p>Fullerton made his orbital space debut in March 1982 as pilot of STS-3 aboard Space Shuttle <em>Columbia</em>, a successful eight-day orbital flight testing thermal endurance and robotic arm operations. In July 1985, he served as commander of STS-51-F aboard <em>Challenger</em>, skillfully handling an in-flight engine shutdown (Abort to Orbit) to successfully deploy the Spacelab 2 astronomical laboratory. Retiring from spaceflight, he served for twenty-two years as chief research pilot at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, flying over 16,000 hours in 135 aircraft types.</p>