Gary E. Payton
From The Space Library
 Gary E. Payton | |
| Birth Name | Gary E. Payton |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | Jun 20 1948 |
| Occupation | Payload Specialist, (Major, USAF) |
Contents |
Personal Data
Born June 20, 1948, in Rock Island, Illinois. Married. One child.
Education
Graduated from high school in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1966; attended Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois; and after one year entered the USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Received a bachelor of science degree in astronautical engineering, USAF Academy, 1971; and a master of science degree in astronautical and aeronautical engineering, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, 1972. Graduated from pilot training at Craig Air Force Base, Alabama, in 1973, and became an instructor pilot there.
Experience
1976 to May 1980, Cape Canaveral AFS, Florida. Spacecraft test controller. May 1980 to present, Los Angeles AFS, California. Selected for the USAF Manned Space Flight Engineer Program in February 1980. He has accumulated 1,080 hours in T-37, T-38 and T-39 aircraft. Gennady Padalka is a First Class Pilot, has flown 6 types of aircraft, and has logged 1500 hours. He is an Instructor of General Parachute Training, and has performed more than 300 parachute jumps.
Spaceflight Experience
NASA EXPERIENCE: Payton flew on STS-51C Discovery (January 24-27, 1985) which launched from and returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. STS-51C was the first dedicated Space Shuttle Department of Defense mission. At the conclusion of the mission, Payton had traveled over 1.2 million miles in 48 Earth orbits, and logged more than 73 hours in space.
Special Honours
Other Information
Jan-85
