S66-15994 (1966) --- Portrait of astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, wearing his spacesuit. Photo credit: NASA

S72-35016 (1971) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford

Retired astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford testifies during a hearing before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology regarding access to and sustainability of the International Space Station, Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Retired astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford testifies during a hearing before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology regarding access to and sustainability of the International Space Station, Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

S65-14550 (26 Feb. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, the pilot of the Gemini-Titan 3 backup crew, is shown during suiting operations at Pad 16 at Cape Kennedy, Florida.

S66-32149 (3 June 1966) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (foreground), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan, pilot, walk up the ramp at Pad 19 during the Gemini-9A prelaunch countdown. Photo credit: NASA

S69-34385 (13 May 1969) --- These three astronauts are the prime crew of the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission. Left to right, are Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander. In the background is the Apollo 10 space vehicle on Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

S75-25823 (February 1975) --- Cosmonaut Aleksei A. Leonov (left) and astronaut Thomas P. Stafford display the Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) commemorative plaque. The two commanders, of their respective crews, are in the Apollo Command Module (CM) trainer at Building 35 at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC). Two plaques divided into four quarters each will be flown on the ASTP mission. The American ASTP Apollo crew will carry the four United States quarter pieces aboard Apollo; and the Soviet ASTP Soyuz 19 crew will carry the four USSR quarter sections aboard Soyuz. The eight quarter pieces will be joined together to form two complete commemorative plaques after the two spacecraft rendezvous and dock in Earth orbit. One complete plaque then will be returned to Earth by the astronauts; and the other complete plaque will be brought back by the cosmonauts. The plaque is written in both English and Russian. The Apollo crew will consist of astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, commander; Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, docking module pilot; Vance D. Brand, command module pilot. The Soyuz 19 crew will consist of cosmonauts Aleksei A. Leonov, command pilot; and Valeri N. Kubasov, flight engineer.

S65-43954 (23 Aug. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, climbs out of a boilerplate model of a Gemini spacecraft during water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico. A NASA swimmer in the water nearby assists in the exercise.

S65-51958 (23 Aug. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, sails over Galveston Bay during parasail training. His water survival gear hangs below him. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

General Thomas Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot, right, shakes hands with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at an event where General Stafford was awarded the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

S65-61806 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, is seen through spacecraft window as he awaits the remaining minutes of the Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown. A two-day mission in space was scheduled for astronauts Stafford and Walter M. Schirra Jr. (out of frame), command pilot. NASA successfully launched Gemini-6 from Pad 19 at 8:37 a.m. (EST) on Dec. 15, 1965. An attempt will be made to rendezvous Gemini-6 with Gemini-7. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Retired astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford testifies during a hearing before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology regarding access to and sustainability of the International Space Station, Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

AST-05-275 (17-19 July 1975) --- Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet ASTP crew, displays a drawing of astronaut Thomas P. Stafford during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit. He is in the Soyuz Orbital Module. This picture was taken by an American ASTP crewman with a 35mm camera.

S66-33728 (10 May 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, command pilot of the Gemini-9 spaceflight, checks the 16mm Mauer camera which will be used in space. The camera will record and document the exterior of the spacecraft and the Agena target vehicle in the docked configuration during the Gemini-9/Agena rendezvous and docking mission. Photo credit: NASA

S69-34330 (13 May 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo 9 commander, is suited up at the Kennedy Space Center for a Countdown Demonstration Test during preparations for the scheduled Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission. The other two crewmembers are astronauts John W. Young, command module pilot; and Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., left, speaks with reitred astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford prior to the start of a hearing before the House Subcommitte on Space and Aeronautics regarding Safety of Human Spaceflight on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Reitred astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford testifies during a hearing before the House Subcommitte on Space and Aeronautics regarding Safety of Human Spaceflight on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Reitred astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford testifies during a hearing before the House Subcommitte on Space and Aeronautics regarding Safety of Human Spaceflight on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Apollo 10 astronaut General Thomas Stafford talks about his mission during “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future," a live television program on Friday, July 19, 2019 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. NASA and the world are recognizing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, in which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot is seen in the audience at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award is seen as General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot accepts the award at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Apollo 10 astronaut General Thomas Stafford talks about his mission during “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future," a live television program on Friday, July 19, 2019 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. NASA and the world are recognizing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, in which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks to former astronaut Al Worden in the audience at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin congratulates General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General William Shelton awards General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Retired astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford, right, and Cristina Chaplain, director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, U.S. Government Accountability Office listen during a hearing before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology regarding access to and sustainability of the International Space Station, Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

SA-210 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) awaits the launch scheduled on July 15, 1975 on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, the ASTP mission with astronauts Thomas Stafford, Vance Brand, and Donald "Deke" Slayton. The Saturn IB, developed under the direction of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), launched five manned Earth-orbital missions between 1968 and 1975: Apollo 7, Skylab 2, Skylab 3, Skylab 4, and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project .

Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin introduces General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The audience stands and applauds for General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot after he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Apollo 10 astronaut General Thomas Stafford talks about his mission during “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future," a live television program on Friday, July 19, 2019 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. NASA and the world are recognizing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, in which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin introduces General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General William Shelton awards General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin introduces General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

General Thomas Patten Stafford, former NASA astronaut, Air Force officer and test pilot speaks at an event where he received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Space Symposium, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Broadmoor Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Former and current NASA Administrators were in attendance. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

JSC2016e026853 (06/13/2016) --- Official portrait of Expedition 50 ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet in a spacesuit (EMU) suit. PHOTOGRAPHER: BILL STAFFORD

S66-23592 (8 Feb. 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, command pilot of the Gemini-9 prime crew, undergoes familiarization training with the Gemini-9 spacecraft at the McDonnell plant in St. Louis. Photo credit: NASA

NASA Public Affairs Officer for Heliophysics Karen Fox interviews Apollo 10 astronaut General Thomas Stafford during “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future," a live television program on Friday, July 19, 2019 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. NASA and the world are recognizing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, in which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Public Affairs Officer for Heliophysics Karen Fox interviews Apollo 10 astronaut General Thomas Stafford during “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future," a live television program on Friday, July 19, 2019 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. NASA and the world are recognizing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, in which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Public Affairs Officer for Heliophysics Karen Fox interviews Apollo 10 astronaut General Thomas Stafford during “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future," a live television program on Friday, July 19, 2019 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. NASA and the world are recognizing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, in which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Public Affairs Officer for Heliophysics Karen Fox interviews Apollo 10 astronaut General Thomas Stafford during “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future," a live television program on Friday, July 19, 2019 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. NASA and the world are recognizing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, in which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Public Affairs Officer for Heliophysics Karen Fox interviews Apollo 10 astronaut General Thomas Stafford during “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future," a live television program on Friday, July 19, 2019 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. NASA and the world are recognizing the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, in which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

S66-32044 (17 May 1966) --- Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan (left), pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, command pilot, discuss the postponed Gemini-9 mission just after egressing their spacecraft in the white room atop Pad 19. The Agena Target Vehicle failed to achieve orbit, causing a termination of the mission. The spaceflight (to be called Gemini-9A) has been rescheduled for May 31. A Gemini Augmented Target Docking Adapter will be used as the rendezvous and docking vehicle for the Gemini-9 spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA

S65-59977 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (foreground), Gemini-6 prime crew pilot; and Alan B. Shepard Jr., chief, Astronaut Office, Manned Spacecraft Center, look over a Gemini mission chart in the suiting trailer at Launch Complex 16 during the Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-43971 (23 Aug. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, is pictured onboard the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever in the Gulf of Mexico during water egress training. Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. (out of frame), prime crew command pilot, also took part in the training.

S65-59961 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, is pictured in the Gemini-6 spacecraft in the White Room atop Pad 19 prior to the closing of the hatches during the Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown. In the background (partially out of view) is astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-51948 (23 Aug. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, stands ready to take part in parasail training in Galveston Bay, Texas. Wearing spacesuit, helmet and carrying water survival gear, he will be lifted into the air by a deployed parachute and guided over the Bay where he will drop into the water to test airdrop and water survival techniques. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S66-34060 (3 June 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-9A prime crew command pilot, adjusts a sleeve of his spacesuit during suiting up procedures at Launch Complex 16, Kennedy Space Center. The Gemini-9A liftoff was at 8:39 a.m. (EST), June 3, 1966. Photo credit: NASA

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) inspects debris in the Columbia Debris Hangar. At right is the model of the left wing that has been used during recovery operations. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford (third from right, foreground), Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Columbia Debris Hangar, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) look at tiles recovered. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford (center), Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - As the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) tours the Orbiter Processing Facility, Richard O. Covey (second from left), former Space Shuttle commander, points to equipment. Covey is co-chair of the SCTG along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Others in the photo are William Wegner, James Adamson and Joe Engle. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) visits the Columbia Debris Hangar . Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey (third from right), former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford (fourth from right), Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Columbia Debris Hangar, Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (left) talks to members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) about reconstruction efforts. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey (second from right), former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Columbia Debris Hangar, Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach answers questions from the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG). Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey (fifth from left), former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Columbia Debris Hangar, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) inspect some of the debris. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford (fourth from left), Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

PHOTO DATE: 01-14-16 LOCATION: Bldg. 8, Room 183 - Photo Studio SUBJECT: Official portrait of ESA astronaut & Expedition 50/51 crew member Thomas Pesquet in blue flight suit. PHOTOGRAPHER: BILL STAFFORD

PHOTO DATE: 01-14-16 LOCATION: Bldg. 8, Room 183 - Photo Studio SUBJECT: Official portrait of ESA astronaut & Expedition 50/51 crew member Thomas Pesquet in blue flight suit. PHOTOGRAPHER: BILL STAFFORD

S69-32618 (April 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, prime crew commander of the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Orbiter Processing Facility, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) look at a Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels with a T-seal held by Tom Roberts, with United Space Alliance. From left are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, Dr. Kathryn Clark, James Adamson, Joe Engle, William Wegner and Dr. Amy Donahue. Chairing the task group are Covey and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) look over equipment in the Orbiter Processing Facility. At left (back to camera), Fernando Santos, with NASA, and Paul Ogletree (at monitor), with United Space Alliance, describe how flash thermography is used to inspect the structure of Reinforced Carbon Carbon panels and establish a baseline on panels before flight. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey (far right), former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Martin Wilson, with United Space Alliance, describes an orbiter’s Thermal Protection System for members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG). Handling some of the blanket insulation are Dr. Kathryn Clark and Joe Engle. Third from left is Richard Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, who is co-chair of the SCTG, along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA worker Joy Huff (right) shows a leading edge subsystems (LESS) with tile bonded to it to members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG). From left are Dr. Amy Donahue, David Lengyel, Dr. Kathryn Clark, Richard Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and William Wegner. Covey is co-chair of the SCTG along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Tile Shop, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) learn about PU-tiles, part of an orbiter’s Thermal Protection System. At left is Martin Wilson, with United Space Alliance. Others (left to right) around the table are James Adamson, Dr. Kathryn Clark, William Wegner, Richard Covey and Joe Engle. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, is co-chair of the SCTG, along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Orbiter Processing Facility, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) look at one of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels, being shown by Tom Roberts with United Space Alliance, from the orbiter Endeavour. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A suit technician helps ASTP astronaut Thomas Stafford don his pressure suit. After suitup, Stafford and crewmen Vance Brand and Donald Slayton walked to the transfer van for the trip to the launch pad.

S69-30252 (27 March 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, wearing a protective hat, participates in pad egress training at the Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B during preparations for the scheduled Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission. Stafford is the Apollo 10 commander.

Apollo astronauts from left, Walt Cunningham (Apollo 17), James Lovell (Apollo 8 Apollo 13), David Scott (Apollo 9 Apollo 15), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Charles Duke (Apollo 16), Thomas Stafford (Apollo 10) and Eugene Cernan (Apollo 17) are seen during the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and the walk on the moon press conference, Monday, July 20, 2009, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

Apollo astronauts from left, Walt Cunningham (Apollo 17), James Lovell (Apollo 8 Apollo 13), David Scott (Apollo 9 Apollo 15), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Charles Duke (Apollo 16), Thomas Stafford (Apollo 10) and Eugene Cernan (Apollo 17) are seen during the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and the walk on the moon press conference, Monday, July 20, 2009, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

Apollo astronauts from left, Walt Cunningham (Apollo 17), James Lovell (Apollo 8 Apollo 13), David Scott (Apollo 9 Apollo 15), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Charles Duke (Apollo 16), Thomas Stafford (Apollo 10) and Eugene Cernan (Apollo 17) are seen during the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and the walk on the moon press conference, Monday, July 20, 2009, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

S64-19432 (13 April 1964) --- Left to right are astronauts John W. Young, Virgil I. Grissom, Walter M. Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford. Gemini III crew assignments are as follows: Grissom, command pilot; Young, pilot, on the prime crew, with Schirra (command pilot) and Stafford (pilot) serving as alternates. EDITOR'S NOTE: For the Gemini-Titan VI mission, Grissom and Young served as backups for Schirra and Stafford.

Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) astronauts Donald K. Slayton, docking module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander are photographed during ASTP Russian language class.

S66-15621 (January 1966) --- Gemini-9 prime crew portrait with astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan, pilot. Photo credit: NASA

S66-34051 (3 June 1966) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan arrive in the White Room atop Pad 19 at the Kennedy Space Center in preparation for the launch of the Gemini-9 spaceflight. Photo credit: NASA

S66-34124 (6 June 1966) --- Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan and Thomas P. Stafford sit with their Gemini 9A spacecraft hatches open while awaiting the arrival of the recovery ship U.S.S. Wasp.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --Apollo 10 astronaut Thomas P. Stafford is assisted in being suited up prior to the Countdown Demonstration Test, a full dress rehearsal.

S66-32144 (2 June 1966) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (right) and Eugene A. Cernan look over pictures of the lunar surface taken by Surveyor I. Photo credit: NASA

S66-38082 (3 June 1966) --- Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, pilot of the Gemini-9A spaceflight, is photographed inside the spacecraft by the command pilot, astronaut Thomas P. Stafford during the flight. Photo credit: NASA

S65-66744 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Insertion of astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (foreground) and Thomas P. Stafford into Gemini-6 spacecraft prior to launch. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S69-32036 (26 April 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, commander of the Apollo 10 prime crew, is seen at a press conference held at the Manned Spacecraft Center on April 26, 1969.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Apollo 10 Flight Crew Training. From left re Lunar Module Pilot Eugene A. Cernan, Commander Thomas P. Stafford and Command Module Pilot John w. Young.

AST-03-191 (17-19 July 1975) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford and cosmonaut Aleksei A. Leonov are seen at the hatchway leading from the Apollo Docking Module (DM) to the Soyuz Orbital Module (OM) during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) docking mission in Earth orbit. Cosmonaut Leonov is in the OM and astronaut Stafford is in the DM. Leonov holds a camera. The Apollo crew consisted of astronauts Stafford, commander; Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, docking module pilot; Vance D. Brand, command module pilot. The Soyuz 19 crew consisted of cosmonauts Leonov, command pilot; and Valeri N. Kubasov, flight engineer.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, stands near space shuttle Atlantis inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

S66-33408 (10 May 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, command pilot of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Gemini-9 spaceflight, sits in Launch Complex 16 suiting trailer while suiting up for a Gemini-9/Agena simultaneous launch demonstration. This test is a coordinated countdown of the Atlas-Agena and the Gemini-Titan vehicles. A suit technician assists Stafford. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, looks over space shuttle Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

S69-34337 (6 May 1969) --- Apollo 10 astronauts John W. Young (left), command module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander, leave the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Manned Spacecraft Operations Building for Pad B, Launch Complex 39, where they participated in dry portion of Countdown Demonstration Test. Apollo 10, with astronauts Stafford, Young and Eugene A. Cernan aboard, is scheduled for launch on May 13, 1969. Cernan is the lunar module pilot.

S75-21892 (20 Feb. 1975) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left) and cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov participate in Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training in Building 35 at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Stafford and Leonov are the commanders of their respective prime crews. They are in the Soviet Soyuz Orbital Module mock-up. This picture was taken during a ?walk-through? of the second day?s activities in Earth orbit.

S65-19406 (6 April 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot; and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, have been named as the prime crew for the Gemini-Titan 6 spaceflight. Schirra and Stafford served as the GT-3 backup crew. Their selection for the GT-6 flight was announced at an MSC news conference on April 6, 1965.

S66-32677 (10 June 1966) --- The Gemini-9A prime crew, astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan (right), pilot, express their feelings about being home to their families, MSC officials, newsmen, and well-wishers gathered at Ellington Air Force Base to welcome the astronauts home. Astronaut Stafford and Cernan completed their three-day mission in space on June 6, 1966. At right is George M. Low, MSC Deputy Director. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, stands near space shuttle Atlantis inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, stands near the Astrovan and space shuttle Atlantis inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin