Gary E. Payton

USAF Major Gary E. Payton (born 20 June, 1948) is an accomplished American aviator and astronaut.

Career

Payton served as a Spacecraft Test Controller from 1976 to 1980, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, in Florida. He was selected for the USAF Manned Space Flight Engineer Program in February 1980.

Related Topics:
1976 - 1980 - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Florida - USAF Manned Space Flight Engineer Program

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He has accumulated at least 1,080 hours in T-37, T-38 and T-39 aircraft.

Related Topics:
T-37 - T-38 - T-39

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Payton flew on the STS-51-C mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in January, 1985 which launched from and returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, in 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.

Related Topics:
STS-51-C - Space Shuttle Discovery - 1985 - Kennedy Space Center - Florida - Space Shuttle - Department of Defense - Orbits - Space

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~