Kathryn C. Thornton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathryn Thornton
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| Born | August 17, 1952 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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40d 15h 14m |
| Selection | NASA Group 10 (1984) |
| Missions | STS-33 STS-49 STS-61 STS-73 |
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Mission insignia
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Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton, born on August 17, 1952, is an American scientist and a former NASA astronaut. She spent over 975 hours in space, including more than 21 hours on spacewalks. After her time as an astronaut, she became a professor at the University of Virginia, teaching mechanical and aerospace engineering.
In 2010, Kathryn Thornton was honored by being added to the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kathryn Thornton finished Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1970. She then went to Auburn University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in physics in 1974.
Later, she continued her studies at the University of Virginia. She received her master's degree in physics in 1977. In 1979, she earned her Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in physics from the same university.
Thornton is also a member of several important science groups. These include the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Career as a Scientist
After getting her Ph.D. in 1979, Kathryn Thornton received a special scholarship. This allowed her to continue her research in Germany at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics.
In 1980, Thornton became a physicist. She worked at the United States Army Foreign Science and Technology Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
Kathryn Thornton was chosen by NASA in May 1984. She officially became an astronaut in July 1985. She helped test flight software for the Space Shuttle. She also worked as a CAPCOM, which means she was the main person talking to astronauts in space from Earth.
Thornton flew on four space missions: STS-33 in 1989, STS-49 in 1992, STS-61 in 1993, and STS-73 in 1995. She spent over 975 hours in space in total. This includes more than 21 hours doing spacewalks, also known as extravehicular activity (EVA).
First Space Mission: STS-33
Thornton was a mission specialist on the STS-33 crew. This mission launched at night on November 22, 1989. They flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
The mission carried important payloads for the United States Department of Defense. After orbiting Earth 79 times, this five-day mission ended on November 27, 1989. The Space Shuttle landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Second Space Mission: STS-49
Her second flight was STS-49, from May 7 to May 16, 1992. This was the very first flight of the new Space Shuttle Endeavour. During this mission, the crew tested Endeavour for the first time.
They also performed a record four spacewalks. These spacewalks were to fix and deploy the Intelsat satellite. Thornton was one of two astronauts who did a spacewalk to practice building parts of a future space station. STS-49 spent 213 hours in space before landing in California.
Third Space Mission: STS-61 (Hubble Repair)
On her third flight, Thornton was a mission specialist for STS-61. This mission was very important because it was about repairing the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The Space Shuttle Endeavour launched at night on December 2, 1993.
During the 11-day flight, the Hubble Telescope was captured. Astronauts then fixed it through five spacewalks, including one by Thornton. After traveling millions of miles, the crew landed back in Florida on December 13, 1993.
Fourth Space Mission: STS-73
From October 20 to November 5, 1995, Thornton flew on Space Shuttle Columbia for STS-73. She was in charge of the science experiments on this mission. It was the second United States Microgravity Laboratory mission.
This mission focused on studying materials, biotechnology, and how fluids behave in space. In total, Thornton orbited Earth 256 times on this flight. She traveled over 6 million miles and spent more than 15 days in space.
Thornton left NASA on August 1, 1996.
Leadership and Personal Life
Kathryn Thornton is a Director Emeritus for the Space Foundation. She joined this organization in 2010 and even served as its Chairwoman from 2020 to 2022.
In November 2020, Thornton spoke at the Women in Tech Global Awards. She shared her experiences as a scientist and astronaut. Her goal was to support and inspire other women in technology.
Thornton is married to Stephen T. Thornton. She has two stepsons and three daughters. In her free time, she enjoys skiing and scuba diving. In 2019, she completed a long hike on the Appalachian Trail.
See also
In Spanish: Kathryn C. Thornton para niños
