A Proposal For The Designation Of Lunar Craters
In Honor Of Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) Crew
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Proposal Exhibit (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
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 COMMANDER
WILLIAM C. McCOOL, U.S.N., 41, was born in San Diego, Calif.,
but considered Lubbock, Texas, his home. He served as a United
States Navy test pilot and squadron commander before becoming an
astronaut in April 1996 (Group 16). The Columbia mission,
during which he served as shuttle pilot, was his first space
flight.
After reporting to Johnson Space
Center in August 1996, he completed two years of training and
evaluation, and was qualified for flight assignment as a pilot.
Initially assigned to the Computer Support Branch, Cmdr. McCool
also served as Technical Assistant to the Director of Flight Crew
Operations, and worked shuttle cockpit upgrade issues for the
Astronaut Office.
Known to his friends as
"Willie," Cmdr. McCool was married and had three
children. He enjoyed running, mountain biking, back-country hiking
and camping, swimming, playing guitar, and chess. An Eagle Scout
and 1979 graduate of Coronado Senior High School in Lubbock, he
earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science from the
U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1983, graduating second in a
class of 1,083 students. He subsequently earned a Master of
Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland
in 1985 and a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering
from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1992.
He was presented with
"Outstanding Student" and "Best DT-II Thesis"
awards as a graduate of U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Class 101.
He was awarded two Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement
Medals, and various other service awards. Cmdr. McCool logged over
2,800 hours flight experience in 24 aircraft and over 400 carrier
arrestments during his career with the U.S. Navy.
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