William McCool

William Cameron Willie McCool (September 23, 1961 - February 1, 2003) was an American NASA astronaut, and commander of the USN (US Navy). the United States).

Biography

Born in San Diego, California, McCool was a pilot on the STS-107 mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

McCool died in the Columbia tragedy on February 1, 2003 over the southern United States 16 minutes before landing, leaving behind a wife and three children.

Education

Willie McCool graduated from Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas in 1979; in 1983 he earned a bachelor of applied science from the United States Naval Academy, a master of science in computer science from the University of Maryland, and in 1992 a master of science in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Organizations

United States Naval Academy Alumni Association.

Special Honors

Eagle Scout; second graduate of a total of 1083 in the Class of 1983 at the United States Naval Academy; received awards for "Outstanding Student" and "Best Thesis DT-II" as a graduate of Class 101 of the United States Navy Test Pilot School; he received 2 Navy Commendation Medals, 2 Navy Achievement Medals, and several other service awards from him.

Experience

William McCool aboard Columbia.

McCool completed his flight training in August 1986 and was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129 at Whidbey Island, Washington, for initial training of the EA-6B Prowler. His first operational tour was with the 129th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron where he made two deployments aboard the USS CORAL SEA (CV-43) to the Mediterranean Sea, and was designated as a qualified landing signal officer (LSO).). In November 1989, he was selected for the Graduate School/Test Pilot School (TPS) of the Cooperative Education Program. After graduating from TPS in June 1992, he served as a Flight Systems test pilot for the TA-4J and EA-6B at the Air Accidents Department Directorate in Patuxent River, Maryland. McCool was there responsible for directing and conducting a wide variety of projects, from fatigue of structures under air pressure to various refinements in other fields of aviation. His primary efforts were devoted to the test flight of the Advanced Capability EA-GB (ADVCAP). McCool subsequently returned to Whidbey Island and was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65). He served as the Administrative and Operations Officer with the squadron. McCool received the news of his selection by NASA when he had embarked on ENTERPRISE for the final phase of his work. McCool had logged a total of 2,800 flight hours in 24 different aircraft and more than 400 freighter arrests.

NASA experience

After being selected by NASA in April 1996, McCool reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. He completed 2 years of training and evaluation and qualified for assignment as a pilot. Initially assigned to the Computer Support Section, McCool also served as Technical Assistant to the Director of Crew Flight Operations, and worked on the Space Shuttle cockpit refinement for the Astronaut Office. He was the pilot of the STS-107 mission and logged 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.

Space flight experience

Mission STS-107 Columbia (January 16 – February 1, 2003). This 16-day mission was dedicated to scientific research, to which 24 hours a day was assigned in two alternating shifts. The crew successfully carried out nearly 80 experiments. The mission ended in tragedy when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry over the southwestern sky of the United States with only 16 minutes to go before landing. The cause of this tragedy originated on launch day when a piece of insulating foam from the external tank detached and damaged the lower part of the orbiter's left wing, tearing off some thermal protection tiles. On the day of reentry, the absence of these tiles caused the internal structure to overheat, causing the destabilization and consequently disintegration of the ship, killing its 7 crew members.

Font

• Jsc.Nasa.gov (Mcool party at the Nasa site).