Robert Laurel Crippen (born September 11, 1937 in Beaumont, Texas) is an engineer, retired United States Navy Captain and a former NASA astronaut. He flew on four Space Shuttle missions, including three as commander. Crippen is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
He married Pandora Lee Puckett of Miami, Florida, and they have three daughters.
After graduating from New Caney High School in New Caney, Texas, Crippen received a ba...
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Robert Laurel Crippen (born September 11, 1937 in Beaumont, Texas) is an engineer, retired United States Navy Captain and a former NASA astronaut. He flew on four Space Shuttle missions, including three as commander. Crippen is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
He married Pandora Lee Puckett of Miami, Florida, and they have three daughters.
After graduating from New Caney High School in New Caney, Texas, Crippen received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1960. He was selected as a member of the Texas Alpha chapter of Sigma Gamma Tau.
Crippen was commissioned through the United States Navy's Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) Program. As a Navy pilot from June 1962 to November 1964, he made multiple deployments aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence, flying the A-4 Skyhawk in Attack Squadron 72 (VA-72). He later attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base,...
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