Robert Crippen
Robert Laurel Crippen USAF/NASA Astronaut Nationality American Status Retired Born (1937-09-11) September 11, 1937 (age 77) Beaumont, Texas Other occupation Test pilot Alma mater UT, B.S. 1960 Rank Captain, USN Time in space 23d 13h 46m Selection 1966 USAF MOL Group 2, 1969 NASA Group 7 Missions STS-1, STS-7, STS-41-C, STS-41-G Mission insignia Awards Robert Laurel Crippen (born September 11, 1937, in Beaumont, Texas) is a retired United States Navy Captain and former astronaut for the United States Department of Defense and for NASA. He was the pilot of the first Space Shuttle flight and flew three more missions as commander. Crippen received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.