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William C. "Willie" McCool (September 23, 1961 –
February 1, 2003) was an United States Navy
Commander, NASA astronaut and the Space Shuttle
aviation|pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia
mission STS-107  who was killed when the aerospace
engineering|craft disintegrated after reentry
(orbital)|re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. 

==Personal data==
McCool was born 23 September 1961 in San Diego,
California, and died on 1 February 2003 over the
southern United States when Space Shuttle Columbia
and her crew perished during entry, 16 minutes
prior to scheduled landing. He is survived by his
wife and children. He enjoyed running, mountain
biking, back country hiking/camping, swimming,
playing guitar, and chess.

==Education==
* 1979: Graduated from Coronado High School,
Lubbock, Texas
* 1983: Received a bachelor of science degree in
applied science from the US Naval Academy
* 1985: Received a master of science degree in
computer science from the University of Maryland,
College Park
* 1992: Received a master of science degree in
aeronautical engineering from the US Naval
Postgraduate School in 1992.

==Organizations==
* U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.

==Awards==
* Posthumously awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal
* the NASA Distinguished Service Medal
* the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM)
* the Congressional Space Medal of Freedom.

==Special honors==
* Eagle Scout
* Graduated second of 1,083 in the Class of 1983
at the US Naval Academy
* Presented “Outstanding Student” and “Best
DT-II Thesis” awards as graduate of U.S. Naval
Test Pilot School, Class 101
* Awarded Navy Commendation Medals (2)
* Awarded Navy Achievement Medals (2)
* Asteroid 51829 Williammccool was posthumously
named for McCool
* McCool Hill in the Columbia Hills on Mars was
posthumously named for McCool

==Experience==
McCool completed flight training in August 1986
and was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare
Squadron 129 at Whidbey Island, Washington, for
initial EA-6B Prowler training. His first
operational tour was with Tactical Electronic
Warfare Squadron 133, where he made two
deployments aboard USS Coral Sea (CV-43) to the
Mediterranean Sea, and received designation as a
wing qualified landing signal officer (LSO). In
November 1989, he was selected for the Naval
Postgraduate School/Test Pilot School (TPS)
Cooperative Education Program. After graduating
from TPS in June 1992, he worked as TA-4J and
EA-6B test pilot in Flight Systems Department of
Strike Aircraft Test Directorate at Patuxent
River, Maryland. He was responsible for the
management and conduct of a wide variety of
projects, ranging from airframe fatigue life
studies to numerous avionics upgrades. His primary
efforts, however, were dedicated to flight test of
the Advanced Capability (ADVCAP) EA-6B. Following
his Patuxent River tour, McCool returned to
Whidbey Island, and was assigned to Tactical
Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 aboard USS
Enterprise (CVN-65). He served as Administrative
and Operations Officer with the squadron through
their work-up cycle, receiving notice of NASA
selection while embarked on Enterprise for her
final pre-deployment at-sea period.

McCool accumulated over 2,800 hours flight
experience in 24 aircraft and over 400 carrier
arrestments.

==NASA experience==
Selected by NASA in April 1996, McCool reported to
the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. He
completed two years of training and evaluation,
and was qualified for flight assignment as a
pilot. Initially assigned to the Computer Support
Branch, McCool also served as Technical Assistant
to the Director of Flight Crew Operations, and
worked Shuttle cockpit upgrade issues for the
Astronaut Office. He was the pilot on STS-107,
logging 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.

==Space flight experience==
STS-107 Columbia (January 16 to February 1, 2003).
The 16-day flight was a dedicated science and
research mission. Working 24 hours a day, in two
alternating shifts, the crew successfully
conducted approximately 80 experiments. The
STS-107 mission ended abruptly on 1 February 2003
when Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew perished
during entry, 16 minutes before scheduled landing.

==See also==
* Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
* space science

== Quote ==
* From our orbital vantage point, we observe an
earth without borders, full of peace, beauty and
magnificence, and we pray that humanity as a whole
can imagine a borderless world as we see it and
strive to live as one in peace.

== References ==
*
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mccool.html
NASA biography
*
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-1
07/memorial/mccool.html William McCool STS-107
Crew Memorial