On This Day In Alabama History: Astronaut Kathryn Thornton Retired

Alabama News Center | August 1, 2018 @ 5:00 am

By Alabama NewsCenter Staff

Aug. 1, 1996

Nuclear physicist Kathryn Thornton was an astronaut at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from 1985-1996. During that time, the Alabama native flew four missions for NASA’s space shuttle orbiter program, logging more than 970 hours in space.

Thornton’s contributions while in space included helping to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, testing systems for the construction of the International Space Station and helping launch and repair satellites. After retiring from NASA on Aug. 1, 1996, she worked as a professor and a scientific researcher. Thornton is among six astronauts who have graduated from Auburn University.Read more at Encyclopedia of Alabama.

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