View source for C. Gordon Fullerton

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Short description|American astronaut (1936–2013)}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Gordon Fullerton
|image         = Fullerton.jpg
|caption       = Fullerton in 1979
|birth_name    = Charles Gordon Fullerton
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1936|10|11}}
|birth_place   = [[Rochester, New York]], U.S.
|death_date    = {{death date and age|2013|8|21|1936|10|11}}
|death_place   = [[Lancaster, California]], U.S.
|education     = [[California Institute of Technology]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[Master of Science|MS]])
|awards       = [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<br>[[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|time          = 15d 22h 50m
|selection     = [[List of astronauts by selection#1966|USAF MOL Group 2 (1966)]]<br>[[NASA Astronaut Group 7|NASA Group 7 (1969)]]
|missions      = [[Approach and Landing Tests|ALT]]<br>[[STS-3]]<br>[[STS-51-F]]
|insignia      = [[File:Enterprise 1977 Approach and Landing Test mission patch.png|50px]] [[File:Sts3-patch.png|50px]] [[File:Sts-51-f-patch.png|50px]]
|retirement   = December 31, 2007
}}
'''Charles Gordon Fullerton''' (October 11, 1936 – August 21, 2013) was a [[United States Air Force]] [[colonel]], a USAF and [[NASA]] [[astronaut]], and a research pilot at NASA's [[Dryden Flight Research Facility]], [[Edwards, California]].<ref name=Biographies>[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/Biographies/Pilots/bd-dfrc-p004.html NASA biography of Gordon Fullerton], retrieved November 17, 2009</ref> His assignments included a variety of flight research and support activities piloting NASA's [[B-52 Stratofortress|B-52]] launch aircraft, the [[Boeing 747]] [[Shuttle Carrier Aircraft]] (SCA), and other multi-engine and high performance aircraft. 

Fullerton logged more than 380 hours in space flight, and was a NASA astronaut from September 1969 until November 1986 when he joined the research pilot office at Dryden. In July 1988, he completed a 30-year career with the [[U.S. Air Force]] and retired as a colonel. He continued in his position of NASA research pilot as a civilian. Fullerton, his wife, and their two children lived in [[Lancaster, California]].

==Biography==

===Early years and education===
Born October 11, 1936, in [[Rochester, New York]], Fullerton graduated from [[Grant High School (Portland, Oregon)|Ulysses S. Grant High School]], [[Portland, Oregon]], in 1953.<ref name=oregonian2013>{{cite news |last=Bailey Jr. |first=Everton |title=Astronaut, former Portlander, dies at 76<!--(print-edition headline)--> |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]] |date=August 22, 2013 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=B3 |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/08/former_portland_resident_astro.html |accessdate=August 24, 2013}}</ref> He received [[Bachelor of Science]] and [[Master of Science]] degrees in [[mechanical engineering]] from the [[California Institute of Technology]], [[Pasadena, California]], in 1957 and 1958, respectively.<ref name="cs" />

===Air Force career===
Fullerton entered the U.S. Air Force in July 1958 after working as a mechanical design engineer for [[Hughes Aircraft Company]], [[Culver City, California]].<ref name="cs" />

After primary and basic flight school, he was trained as an [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86]] interceptor pilot, and later became a [[Boeing B-47 Stratojet|B-47]] bomber pilot at [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]], [[Arizona]]. In 1964 he was chosen to attend the Air Force [[Aerospace Research Pilot School]] (now the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School), [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California. Upon graduation he was assigned as a test pilot with the Bomber Operations Division at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], [[Ohio]]. In 1966, Fullerton was selected for and served as a flight crew member for the Air Force [[Manned Orbiting Laboratory]] (MOL) program until its termination in 1969.<ref name="cs" />

===NASA career===
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 200
 | header = 
 | image1 = Haise i Fullerton podczas programu Approach and Landing Test GPN-2000-001421.jpg
 | alt1 = 
 | caption1 = Fullerton (right) alongside [[Fred Haise]], one of the [[Approach and Landing Tests|ALT]] crews
 | image2 = STS-51-F crew.jpg
 | alt2 = 
 | caption2 = The crew of the STS-51-F mission with Fullerton seated in the foreground
 | image3 = Astronaut Fullerton Suited for Training Exercises on KC-135 - GPN-2002-000147.jpg
 | caption3 = Fullerton (in spacesuit) training aboard a [[KC-135]] "zero-gravity" aircraft in 1981
}}
Fullerton was part of [[NASA Astronaut Group 7]] in September 1969 after the cancellation of the MOL program. After assignment to the NASA Johnson Space Center as an astronaut, Fullerton served on the support crews for the [[Apollo 14]], [[Apollo 15|15]], [[Apollo 16|16]], and [[Apollo 17|17]] lunar missions.<ref name="cs" />

In 1977, Fullerton was assigned to one of the two-man flight crews which piloted the Space Shuttle prototype ''[[Space Shuttle Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' during the [[Approach and Landing Tests]] Program at Dryden that same year.<ref name="nasabio" />

Fullerton was the pilot on the eight-day [[STS-3]] [[Space Shuttle]] orbital flight test mission March 22–30, 1982. Launched from the [[Kennedy Space Center]], [[Florida]], the mission exposed the orbiter ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' to extremes in thermal stress and tested the {{convert|50|ft|m|adj=on}} [[Canadarm]] used to grapple and maneuver payloads to orbit.<ref name="cs" /> STS-3 landed at [[Northrup Strip]], [[White Sands, New Mexico]], because [[Rogers Dry Lake]] at Edwards AFB was wet due to heavy seasonal rains.<ref name="cs" />

Fullerton was commander of the [[STS-51-F]] "Spacelab 2" mission, launched from Kennedy Space Center on July 29, 1985. This mission, with the orbiter ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'', was the first pallet-only [[Spacelab]] mission and the first to operate the Spacelab Instrument Pointing System (IPS). It carried 13 major experiments in the fields of astronomy, solar physics, ionospheric science, life science, and a super fluid helium experiment. The mission ended August 6, 1985, with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base.<ref name="nasabio" />

===Research test pilot career===
Fullerton served as project pilot on the NASA/[[Convair 990]] aircraft which has been modified as a Landing Systems Research Aircraft to test Space Shuttle landing gear components.<ref name=Biographies /> Additionally, Fullerton was also project pilot on [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F-18]] Systems Research Aircraft, a test bed to develop new flight control actuators, fiber optic control systems, and other advanced aircraft technology.<ref name=Biographies />

As the project pilot on the [[Propulsion Controlled Aircraft]] program, he successfully landed an [[F-15 Eagle|F-15]] and an [[MD-11]] with all control surfaces fixed, using only engine thrust modulation for control.<ref name=Biographies /><ref name="nasabio" />

In addition to these activities, Fullerton was a project pilot on a number of other research programs at Dryden. Among them were the [[C-140]] Jetstar Laminar Flow Control, [[General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark|F-111]] Mission Adaptive Wing, [[F-14]] Variable Sweep Flow Transition, Space Shuttle orbiter drag chute and F-111 crew module parachute tests with the [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52]], and [[X-29]] vortex flow control.<ref name=Biographies /> As project pilot on the B-52 launch aircraft, Fullerton was involved in tests to develop a new F-111 crew module recovery system. He also flew the B-52 for the first six mid-air launchings of the commercially developed [[Pegasus rocket|Pegasus space vehicle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-120913a.html|title=Orbital names next space station freighter for late pilot-astronaut|publisher=collectSPACE.com |date=December 9, 2013}}</ref> 

Fullerton was one of two NASA pilots who flew the Russian-built [[Tupolev Tu-144|Tu-144LL]] supersonic aircraft used in a joint high speed research program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/photo/TU-144LL/HTML/EC98-44749-27.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000412171316/http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/TU-144LL/HTML/EC98-44749-27.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2000|title=Research Pilot C. Gordon Fullerton in Cockpit of TU-144LL SST Flying Laboratory|publisher=NASA DFRC}}</ref>

With over 16,000 hours of flying time, Fullerton piloted 135 different types of aircraft, including full qualification in the [[T-33 Shooting Star|T-33]], [[T-34 Mentor|T-34]], [[T-37 Tweet|T-37]], [[North American T-39 Sabreliner|T-39]], F-86, [[F-101]], [[F-106]], F-111, F-14, X-29, [[KC-135]], C-140, and B-47.<ref name="cs" /> After joining Dryden as a research pilot, Fullerton piloted nearly all the research and support aircraft flown at the facility, including the [[Northrop T-38 Talon|T-38]], F-18, F-15, B-52, NASA/Convair 990, 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, and the [[DC-8]].<ref name=Biographies />

===Later years and death===
Fullerton retired in 2007.<ref name=oregonian2013 />  He suffered a [[stroke]] in 2009 and was cared for in a facility in [[Lancaster, California]], where he died from complications on August 21, 2013, aged 76.<ref name="cs">{{Cite web |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-082113b.html |title=Gordon Fullerton, space shuttle test pilot, dies at 76 |accessdate=August 21, 2013 |publisher=collectSPACE |year=2013 |author=Robert Z. Pearlman}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==

===Military and government awards===
{|
| [[File:Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]
| [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref name="nasabio" />
|-
| [[File:U.S. Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]
| [[Defense Superior Service Medal]]<ref name="nasabio" />
|-
| [[File:Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|60px]]
| [[Distinguished Flying Cross (U.S.)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<ref name="nasabio" />
|-
| [[File:NasaDisRib.svg|60px]]
| [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref name="nasabio" />
|-
| [[File:USA - NASA Excep Rib.png|60px]]
| [[NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]<ref name="nasabio" />
|-
| {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=SpaceFltRib.svg|width=60}}
| [[NASA Space Flight Medal]] (1983 and 1985)<ref name="nasabio" />
|}

===Other awards and honors===
* [[Iven C. Kincheloe Award]] from the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]], 1978<ref name="nasabio">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/fullerton_charles.pdf|title=Gordon Fullerton NASA Biography|publisher=NASA|access-date=January 29, 2021 |date=August 2013}}</ref>
* [[United States Astronaut Hall of Fame|U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame]], 2005 inductee<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16059250/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Hall of Fame Inducts McCandless, 1st Untethered Astronaut|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|date=May 1, 2005|page=34|via=Newspapers.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
* General [[Thomas D. White]] Space Trophy, 1977<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1997/May%201997/0597recs.pdf|magazine=Airforce Magazine: USAF Almanac: Records, Trophies, and Competitions|title=The Gen. Thomas D. White USAF Space Trophy|publisher=USAF|date=1997 |edition=May |page=156}}</ref>
* Haley Space Flight Award from the [[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]]<ref name="nasabio" />
*Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]], 1982<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#science-exploration}}</ref>
* Certificate of Achievement Award from the [[Soaring Society of America]]<ref name="nasabio" />
* [[Ray E. Tenhoff Award]] from the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]] in 1992 and 1993.<ref name="nasabio" />
* Fellow of the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]]<ref name="nasabio" />
* Member, [[Tau Beta Pi]]<ref name="nasabio" />
* Honorary member of the National World War II Glider Pilot Association<ref name="nasabio" />
* Fellow of the [[American Astronautical Society]]<ref name="nasabio" />

Fullerton was inducted with Lousma into the [[International Space Hall of Fame]] during a ceremony with the governor of New Mexico in 1982 for their involvement in the STS-3 mission.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28086589/honolulu_starbulletin/|title=Far Out Honor|agency=Associated Press|location=Honolulu, Hawaii|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date=May 19, 1982|page=2|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The governor also presented them with the International Space Hall of Fame's Pioneer Award, and were the second group to receive this award.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28841188/carlsbad_currentargus/|title=Astronauts to be Inducted into the Space Hall of Fame|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Carlsbad Current-Argus|location=Carlsbad, New Mexico|date=March 26, 1982|page=3|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Portal|Biography}}

==Sources==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/fullerton_gordon.htm Biography of C. Gordon Fullerton]

{{NASA Astronaut Group 7|state=expanded}}
{{U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fullerton, Gordon}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Rochester, New York]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:United States Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:California Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:United States Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:Grant High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni]]
[[Category:United States Air Force astronauts]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Burials_at_Arlington_National_Cemetery]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]