Go4Liftoff - William C. McCool

William C. McCool

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Nationality American

Date Of Birth 1961-09-23

Deceased 2003-02-01

Status Lost In Flight

Type Government

Agency

Astronaut Biography

William Cameron "Willie" McCool was an American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut, who was the pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107. He and the rest of the crew of STS-107 were killed when Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into the atmosphere. He was the youngest male member of the crew. McCool was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.