Astronaut Profile
William C. McCool
Pilot
William McCool was piloting his first spaceflight aboard Columbia when the orbiter broke apart during reentry on February 1, 2003.
OrbitingTruths Archive
Pilot • Deceased
Biography
The person behind the mission
William C. McCool was a U.S. Navy test pilot who graduated second in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy before joining NASA's astronaut corps. He was piloting his first spaceflight, STS-107, a sixteen-day science mission aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. On February 1, 2003, damage sustained during launch caused the orbiter to break apart during reentry, killing McCool and all six of his crewmates.
Astronaut Details
Born
September 23, 1961
Died
February 1, 2003
Birthplace
San Diego, California, USA
Role
Pilot
Program
Space Shuttle
Time in Space
15 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes
Missions
STS-107
Recognition
Awards & Honors
- Congressional Space Medal of Honor
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal (posthumous)
- Navy Distinguished Flying Cross