Kenneth Cockrell - Revision history

imported>Tigerdude9: Fixed grammar and added link.

2025-10-14T22:02:37Z

Fixed grammar and added link.

← Previous revision		Revision as of 22:02, 14 October 2025
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	{{Infobox astronaut		{{Infobox astronaut
	\|name = Ken Cockrell		\| name = Ken Cockrell
	\|image = Ken Cockrell.jpg		\| image = Ken Cockrell.jpg
	\|birth_name = Kenneth Dale Cockrell		\| birth_name = Kenneth Dale Cockrell
	\|birth_date = {{birth date and age\|1950\|4\|9}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date and age\|1950\|4\|9}}
	\|birth_place = [[Austin, Texas]], U.S.		\| birth_place = [[Austin, Texas]], U.S.
	\|death_date =		\| death_date =
	\|death_place =		\| death_place =
	\|other_names = Taco <ref name="v659"/>		\| other_names = Taco<ref name="v659"/>
	\|education = [[University of Texas, Austin]] ([[Bachelor of Science\|BS]])<br>[[University of West Florida]] ([[Master of Science\|MS]])		\| education = [[University of Texas at Austin]] ([[Bachelor of Science\|BS]])<br>[[University of West Florida]] ([[Master of Science\|MS]])
	\|type = [[NASA astronaut]]		\| type = [[NASA astronaut]]
	\|rank = [[Captain (United States O-6)\|Captain]], [[United States Navy\|USN]]		\| rank = [[Captain (United States O-6)\|Captain]], [[United States Navy\|USN]]
	\|selection = [[NASA Astronaut Group 13\|NASA Group 13 (1990)]]		\| selection = [[NASA Astronaut Group 13\|NASA Group 13 (1990)]]
	\|time = 64d 12h 24m		\| time = 64d 12h 24m
	\|missions = [[STS-56]]<br>[[STS-69]]<br>[[STS-80]]<br>[[STS-98]]<br>[[STS-111]]		\| missions = [[STS-56]]<br>[[STS-69]]<br>[[STS-80]]<br>[[STS-98]]<br>[[STS-111]]
	\|insignia = [[File:Sts-56-patch.png\|45px]] [[File:Sts-69-patch.png\|52px]] [[File:Sts-80-patch.png\|45px]] [[File:Sts-98-patch.png\|38px]] [[File:Sts-111-patch.png\|40px]]		\| insignia = [[File:Sts-56-patch.png\|45px]] [[File:Sts-69-patch.png\|52px]] [[File:Sts-80-patch.png\|45px]] [[File:Sts-98-patch.png\|38px]] [[File:Sts-111-patch.png\|40px]]
	}}		}}
	'''Kenneth Dale''' "'''Taco'''" '''Cockrell''' (born April 9, 1950) is a retired American [[astronaut]], [[engineer]] and a veteran of five [[Space Shuttle]] missions. He served as [[Chief of the Astronaut Office]] from 1997 to 1998.<ref name="kcockrell">{{cite web \|author1=~~Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center~~ \|~~author1-link~~=~~Johnson Space Center~~ \|title=Kenneth D. Cockrell \|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cockrell_kenneth.pdf \|~~website=Biographical Data \|publisher=[[NASA]] \|access~~-~~date~~=~~7 May 2021~~ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507120026/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cockrell_kenneth.pdf \|archive-date=7 May 2021 \|~~location~~=[[~~Houston, Texas~~]] \|format=PDF \|~~date=January 2018 \|url~~-~~status~~=~~live~~}}</ref>		'''Kenneth Dale''' "'''Taco'''" '''Cockrell''' (born April 9, 1950) is a retired American [[astronaut]], [[engineer]] and a veteran of five [[Space Shuttle]] missions. He served as [[Chief of the Astronaut Office]] from 1997 to 1998.<ref name="kcockrell">{{cite web \|author1= \|date=January 2018 \|title=Kenneth D. Cockrell \|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cockrell_kenneth.pdf \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507120026/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cockrell_kenneth.pdf \|archive-date=7 May 2021 \|access-date=7 May 2021 \|website=Biographical Data \|publisher=[[NASA]] \|place=[[Johnson Space Center\|Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center]] \|format=PDF \|publication-place=[[Houston, Texas]]}}</ref>

	==Pre-NASA career==		==Pre-NASA career==
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	==Awards==		==Awards==
	~~Cockrells~~ awards include the [[National Defense Service Medal]], [[Naval Aviator Badge]], and the Naval [[Astronaut Badge]].		Cockrell's awards include the [[National Defense Service Medal]], [[Naval Aviator Badge]], and the Naval [[Astronaut Badge]].

	==Personal life==		==Personal life==
	Cockrell has two children and lives in [[Friendswood, Texas]]. His recreational interests include: sport flying, snow and water skiing. He was also called Taco by his fellow astronauts.		Cockrell has two children and lives in [[Friendswood, Texas]]. His recreational interests include: sport flying, snow and water skiing. He was also called Taco by his fellow astronauts.
	<ref name="v659">{{cite book \| last=Jones \| first=Thomas D. \| title=Sky Walking ~~\| publisher=Harper Collins~~ \| date=2007-01-30 \| isbn=0-06-088436-3 \| page=160}}</ref>		<ref name="v659">{{cite book \|last=Jones \|first=Thomas D. \|author-link=Thomas David Jones \|title=Sky Walking \|date=2007-01-30 \|publisher=Harper Collins \|isbn=0-06-088436-3 \|page=160}}</ref>

	== References ==		== References ==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
	* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/cockrell_kenneth.htm Spacefacts biography of Kenneth Cockrell]

	== External links ==		== External links ==
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061220115548/http://www.thespacestore.com/dogcrewiipatch.html Dog Crew II patch]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061220115548/http://www.thespacestore.com/dogcrewiipatch.html Dog Crew II patch]
			* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/cockrell_kenneth.htm Spacefacts biography of Kenneth Cockrell]

	{{s-start}}		{{s-start}}

imported>Bob305: punctuation

2024-10-19T21:41:15Z

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{{Short description|American astronaut and engineer (born 1950)}}
{{For | the similarly named interim mayor of Detroit | Kenneth Cockrel, Jr.}}
{{multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=May 2021}}
{{more footnotes|date=May 2021}}
}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name = Ken Cockrell
|image = Ken Cockrell.jpg
|birth_name = Kenneth Dale Cockrell
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|4|9}}
|birth_place = [[Austin, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|other_names = Taco <ref name="v659"/>
|education = [[University of Texas, Austin]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) [[University of West Florida]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
|type = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank = [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]], [[United States Navy|USN]]
|selection = [[NASA Astronaut Group 13|NASA Group 13 (1990)]]
|time = 64d 12h 24m
|missions = [[STS-56]] [[STS-69]] [[STS-80]] [[STS-98]] [[STS-111]]
|insignia = [[File:Sts-56-patch.png|45px]] [[File:Sts-69-patch.png|52px]] [[File:Sts-80-patch.png|45px]] [[File:Sts-98-patch.png|38px]] [[File:Sts-111-patch.png|40px]]
}}
'''Kenneth Dale''' "'''Taco'''" '''Cockrell''' (born April 9, 1950) is a retired American [[astronaut]], [[engineer]] and a veteran of five [[Space Shuttle]] missions. He served as [[Chief of the Astronaut Office]] from 1997 to 1998.<ref name="kcockrell">{{cite web |author1=Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center |author1-link=Johnson Space Center |title=Kenneth D. Cockrell |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cockrell_kenneth.pdf |website=Biographical Data |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507120026/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cockrell_kenneth.pdf |archive-date=7 May 2021 |location=[[Houston, Texas]] |format=PDF |date=January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Pre-NASA career==
Cockrell was born in [[Austin, Texas]], to Buford Dale Cockrell and Jewell Moorman. Growing up, he spent some time living in [[Geelong, Victoria]], [[Australia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://space.southernfm.com.au/spaceshow2007interview.html|title=The Space Show Interviews during 2007|access-date=April 26, 2023|website=space.southernfm.com.au}}</ref> He graduated from Rockdale High School in nearby [[Rockdale, Texas]], in 1968. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the [[University of Texas at Austin]] in 1972 and received his commission in the [[United States Navy]] that same year. He also earned a master's in aeronautical systems from the [[University of West Florida]] in 1974. He was trained as a pilot and was stationed from 1975 to 1978 aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Midway|CV-41|6}}. Cockrell then became a test pilot for several years before serving two tours of duty aboard {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}}. In 1987, Cockrell resigned from the Navy and joined the Aircraft Operations Division of [[Johnson Space Center]] as a research pilot.

==NASA experience==
Selected by NASA in January 1990,<ref name="release 90-006">{{cite wikisource |last1=Carr |first1=Jeffrey |author1-link=Johnson Space Center |plainchapter=[[s:JSC News Release Log 1990/90-006|1990 Astronaut Candidates Selected]] |title=JSC News Release Log 1990 |location=[[Houston, Texas]] |publisher=[[NASA]] |date=17 January 1990 |id=90-006 }}</ref> Cockrell became an astronaut in July 1991. His technical assignments to date include: duties in the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch, working on landing, rollout, tires and brakes issues; CAPCOM in Mission Control for ascent and entry; Astronaut Office representative for Flight Data File, the numerous books of procedures carried aboard Shuttle flights. He also served as Assistant to the Chief of the Astronaut Office for Shuttle operations and hardware, Chief of the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch, and Chief of the Astronaut Office. He served one year as Director of Operations, [[Russia]], in [[Star City, Russia]]. He served as the liaison between the Astronaut Office and the training organization at the [[Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center|Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center]] in Star City. Cockrell is currently the Assistant Director, Flight Crew Operations, for aircraft operations. In addition, he serves as an instructor pilot in the [[Northrop T-38 Talon|T-38]] airplane.

A veteran of five space flights, Cockrell has logged over 1,560 hours in space. He served as a mission specialist on STS-56 (April 8–17, 1993), was the pilot on STS-69 (September 7–18, 1995), and was the mission commander on STS-80 (November 19 to December 7, 1996), STS-98 (February 7–20, 2001), and STS-111 (June 5–19, 2002).

Cockrell was reassigned in February 2006 to Flight Crew Operations' Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) at [[Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base|Ellington Field]], as the [[Martin B-57 Canberra|WB-57]] High Altitude Research Program Manager. He manages NASA's two WB-57F research airplanes and serves as pilot for research flights. In addition, he is a T-38 Instructor Pilot for astronaut flight training.

==Spaceflight experience==
===STS-56===
[[File:Kenneth Cockrell on Discovery with the HERCULES camera system (STS056-08-018).jpg|thumb|right|Cockrell during STS-56]]
{{main|STS-56}}
STS-56 carrying ATLAS-2 was a nine-day mission aboard the {{OV|103}} during which the crew conducted atmospheric and solar studies in order to better understand the effect of solar activity on the Earth's climate and environment. STS-56 launched April 8, 1993, and landed April 17, 1993. Mission duration was 9 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, 21 seconds.<ref name="STS-56">{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-56 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-56.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506152533/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-56.html |archive-date=6 May 2021 |date=31 March 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===STS-69===
{{main|STS-69}}
STS-69 was a 10-day mission aboard the {{OV|105}}. The primary objective of STS-69 was the successful deployment and retrieval of a SPARTAN satellite and the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). The WSF was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a free-flying platform to grow semiconductors, high temperature superconductors and other materials using the ultra-high vacuum created behind the spacecraft. STS-69 launched September 7, 1995, and landed September 18, 1995. Mission duration was 10 days, 20 hours, 28 minutes.<ref name="STS-69">{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-69 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-69.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507082635/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-69.html |archive-date=7 May 2021 |date=1 April 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===STS-80===
{{main|STS-80}}
STS-80 was a 17-day mission aboard the {{OV|102}}. During STS-80 the crew deployed and retrieved the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) and the Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS) satellites. The ORFEUS instruments, mounted on the reusable [[Shuttle Pallet Satellite]], studied the origin and makeup of stars. STS-80 launched November 19, 1996, and landed December 7, 1996. Mission duration was a record-breaking 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes.<ref name="STS-80">{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-80 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-80.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506154706/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-80.html |archive-date=6 May 2021 |date=23 November 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===STS-98===
[[File:Destiny rack curtain.jpg|thumb|right|Cockrell as [[STS-98]] commander, emerges from behind a rack curtain in [[Destiny (ISS module)|''Destiny''.]]]]
{{main|STS-98}}
STS-98 was a 12-day mission aboard the {{OV|104}}. The STS-98 crew continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory module ''Destiny''. The Shuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached, and three spacewalks were conducted to complete its assembly. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. STS-98 launched February 7, 2001, and landed February 20, 2001. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes. Unacceptable weather conditions in Florida necessitated a landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.<ref name="STS-98">{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-98 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-98.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507120254/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-98.html |archive-date=7 May 2021 |date=15 February 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===STS-111===
{{main|STS-111}}
STS-111 was a 13-day mission aboard the {{OV|105}}. The STS-111 mission delivered a new ISS resident crew and a Canadian-built mobile base for the orbiting outpost's robotic arm. The crew also performed a late-notice repair of the station's robot arm by replacing one of the arm's joints. It was the second Space Shuttle mission dedicated to delivering research equipment to the space platform. STS-111 also brought home the Expedition-Four crew from their {{frac|6|1|2}}-month stay aboard the station. STS-111 launched June 5, 2002, and landed June 19, 2002. Mission duration was 13 days, 20 hours and 35 minutes. Unacceptable weather conditions in Florida necessitated a landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.<ref name="STS-111">{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-111 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-111.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507120523/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-111.html |archive-date=7 May 2021 |date=16 February 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards==
Cockrells awards include the [[National Defense Service Medal]], [[Naval Aviator Badge]], and the Naval [[Astronaut Badge]].

==Personal life==
Cockrell has two children and lives in [[Friendswood, Texas]]. His recreational interests include: sport flying, snow and water skiing. He was also called Taco by his fellow astronauts.
<ref name="v659">{{cite book | last=Jones | first=Thomas D. | title=Sky Walking | publisher=Harper Collins | date=2007-01-30 | isbn=0-06-088436-3 | page=160}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/cockrell_kenneth.htm Spacefacts biography of Kenneth Cockrell]

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061220115548/http://www.thespacestore.com/dogcrewiipatch.html Dog Crew II patch]

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert D. Cabana]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of the Astronaut Office]] | years=1997–1998}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Charles J. Precourt]]}}
{{end}}

{{NASA Astronaut Group 13}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cockrell, Kenneth}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of West Florida alumni]]
[[Category:People from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Naval Aviators]]
[[Category:NASA civilian astronauts]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Texas]]