Thomas P. Stafford - Weatherford, OK
Posted by: The Snowdog
N 35° 32.655 W 098° 40.210
14S E 529897 N 3933451
This statue of Thomas P. Stafford greets visitors to the Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
Waymark Code: WM1461T
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 04/25/2021
Views: 3
Thomas P. Stafford (born September 17, 1930 right here in Weatherford) is an American former Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut; he flew two Gemini missions and is one of 24 people who flew to the Moon (in Apollo 10). He served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1969 to 1971, and then returned to space for the fourth time in the Apollo-Soyuz mission of 1975. Stafford and Soyuz commander Alexey Leonov became lasting friends and Stafford gave the eulogy at Leonov's funeral. Facilities in his honor here include the Thomas P. Stafford Airport and this facility, the Stafford Air and Space Museum. His most recent honor was in 2019, when Stafford was awarded the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award.
This larger-than-life bronze statue is just outside the entrance to the museum; no admission is required to view the statue. Stafford is depicted wearing a space suit and holding a helmet. The text on the base of the statue lists a few of his many achievements.