"In his long and distinguished career, General Stafford was a fighter pilot, flight instructor, distinguished test pilot, pioneering astronaut, aerospace record-setter, author, and advisor to federal agencies and U.S. Presidents alike. He established a successful pattern that led directly from the Gemini missions to the International Space Station. His Apollo X mission was a pathfinder that laid the foundation for the successful lunar landings. Today’s international cooperation and partnership in space was forged upon the historic handshake he offered his Soviet counterpart during the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975." Source: From a portion of the commentary published by the NAA Board, in memory of General Tom Stafford, who passed away this week at the age of 93.
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