Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton ( born Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton ; born August 17, 1952 , Montgomery , Alabama ) is an American female astronaut and physicist. It made 4 space flights (1989, 1992, 1993, 1995), spent 975 hours in orbit and 21 hours in open space.
| Katherine Ryan Cordell Thornton | |
|---|---|
| Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton | |
 | |
| A country |  USA |
| Specialty | flight specialist |
| Expeditions | STS-33 , STS-49 , STS-61 , STS-73 |
| Date of Birth | August 17, 1952 (66 years old) |
| Place of Birth | Montgomery , USA |
| Awards | Astronaut Hall of Fame |
Content
Education and Organizations
- Auburn University (BS, physics, 1974)
- University of Virginia (Mast., Physics, 1977)
- University of Virginia (Doct., Physics, 1979)
- Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (Postdoctoral Fellowship)
- Member of the American Physical Society
- Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science (1996).
- Director of UVA's Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education.
NASA Career
- At NASA since 1984
Spaceflight
- Katherine Thornton became the 223rd man in space, the 133rd US astronaut and the 12th woman to complete an orbital space flight.
- November 23, 1989: Discovery STS-33
- May 7, 1992: Endeavor STS-49
- December 2, 1993: Endeavor STS-61
- October 20, 1995: Columbia STS-73
- Mission emblems: