Nasa pays tribute to late astronaut and Air Force Major General Joe Engle – Times of India

Nasa pays tribute to late astronaut and Air Force Major General Joe Engle – Times of India



Retired Nasa astronaut and US Air Force Main Common Joe Engle handed away on July 10 at his dwelling in Houston. Engle was the one astronaut to pilot each the X-15 and area shuttle.
Joe died on the age of 91 surrounded by his household.
Engle is survived by his spouse, Jeanie, who mirrored on his legacy, saying, “Blessed with pure piloting expertise, Common Joe was at his happiest in any cockpit.His passing leaves an amazing loss in our hearts. We take consolation that he has joined his greatest associates, Tom Stafford and George Abbey.”
Born in Dickinson County, Kansas, Engle graduated from the College of Kansas with a level in Aeronautical Engineering in 1955. He earned his pilot wings in 1958 by means of the Air Drive Reserve Officers Coaching Course.
At age 32, Engle turned the youngest pilot to qualify as an astronaut whereas flying the X-15 for the US Air Drive. He was the final surviving X-15 pilot and was already engaged in spaceflight operations when he was chosen as a Nasa astronaut candidate in 1966.
“A pure pilot, Gen. Joe Engle helped humanity’s desires take flight,” stated Nasa administrator Invoice Nelson.
“He was one of many first astronauts I met at Nasa’s Johnson Area Middle. I’ll always remember his massive smile, his heat, and his braveness. All of us will miss him,” Invoice added.
Engle supported the Apollo program and was the backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 14. He commanded the area shuttle Enterprise in 1977 and the second flight of the area shuttle Columbia in 1981, the place he manually flew the car from Mach 25 to touchdown. His last mission was commanding the area shuttle Discovery in 1985, deploying and repairing satellites.
“Joe’s accomplishments and legacy of perseverance will proceed to encourage and impression generations of explorers for years to return,” stated Vanessa Wyche, Nasa Johnson’s middle director.
Engle logged over 14,000 flight hours in additional than 180 completely different plane sorts. His army decorations embody the Division of Protection Distinguished Service Medal, the US Air Drive Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air Drive Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster.







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