RIP THOMAS P. STAFFORD

 

Apollo 10 and Apollo Soyuz Test Project commander Thomas Stafford shuffled off this mortal coil today. He was 93.

And while he may not have walked on the moon, America certainly couldn’t have won the space race without him, as he guided Apollo 10’s Lunar Module to within 60 nautical miles of the moon’s surface as part of a critical dress rehearsal. 

He then formally ended the space race by shaking hands with Alexi Leonov in low earth orbit as the two rival nations docked and worked together in space for the first time. The two would end up as best friends.

If you want to learn more, the Thomas P. Stafford Space Museum in Oklahoma is quite excellent.

Ad Astra, Thom. You are now reunited with Gene and John in your greatest voyage yet.