Norman E. Thagard
| Norman E. Thagard | |
|---|---|
 |
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| NASA Astronaut | |
| Nationality | American |
| Status | Retired |
| Born |
July 3, 1943 Marianna, Florida, U.S. |
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Other names
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Norman Earl Thagard |
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Other occupation
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Naval aviator, medical doctor |
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Florida State University, B.S. 1965, M.S. 1966 UT Southwestern, M.D. 1977 University of Florida, MBA 2007 |
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| Rank | Captain, USMC |
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Time in space
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140d 13h 24m |
| Selection | 1978 NASA Group 8 |
| Missions | STS-7, STS-51-B, STS-30, STS-42, Soyuz TM-21, Mir EO-18, STS-71 |
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Mission insignia
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| Retirement | January 3, 1996 |
Norman Earl Thagard (born July 3, 1943), (Capt, USMC, Ret.), is an American scientist and former U.S. Marine Corps officer and naval aviator and NASA astronaut. He is the first American to ride to space on board a Russian vehicle, and can be considered the first American cosmonaut. He did this on March 14, 1995, in the Soyuz TM-21 spacecraft for the Russian Mir-18 mission.
Thagard was born July 3, 1943, in Marianna, Florida, but considers Jacksonville, Florida, to be his hometown. He is married to Rex Kirby Johnson, formerly of South Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. They have three sons. During his free time, he enjoys classical music and electronic design. Thagard has published articles on digital and analog electronic design. His father, ames E. Thagard, and his mother, Mary F. Key, are deceased.
Thagard held a number of research and teaching posts while completing the academic requirements for various earned degrees.
In September 1966 he entered active duty with the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He achieved the rank of Captain in 1967, was designated a Naval Aviator in 1968 and was subsequently assigned to duty flying F-4 Phantom IIs with VMFA-333 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. He flew 163 combat missions in Vietnam while assigned to VMFA-115 from January 1969 to 1970. He returned to the United States and an assignment as aviation weapons division officer with VMFA-251 at the Marine Corps Air Station at Beaufort, South Carolina.
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