Air Force Astronaut Selections

<p>USNA69 - I decided to take some time to answer your question.</p>

<p>I had to do a little digging for this one and will not guarantee the accuracy of the data because I did not count a second time to verify (call the accuracy +/- a couple of people), but it was based on NASA’s official bios. I counted the number of USNA and USAFA graduates who flew as either Shuttle Commander or Pilot in their astronaut careers. It was interesting that some who I thought would have been either a Shuttle CDR or PLT were not. A good example is a USAFA graduate, C. Lacy Veach, who was a Thunderbird Pilot and who flew twice on STS missions as a mission specialist, but never a pilot.</p>

<p>My count is 20 USNA graduates have served as either Shuttle CDR or PLT. 27 USAFA graduates have done the same. These numbers surprised even me.</p>

<p>If somebody would like to go back and double-check these numbers, the Astronaut Bios are at [Astronaut</a> Biographies: Home Page](<a href=“Johnson Space Center - NASA”>Johnson Space Center - NASA)</p>

<p>I actually would like it if someone else did, because it was tedious (although interesting).</p>