Author Topic: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke  (Read 6517 times)

Offline Space Pete

On December 31, 2009, former NASA Astronaut Gordon "Gordo" Fullerton (ALT, STS-3, STS-51F) suffered a “massive stroke” while under anaesthetic for throat surgery.

He was taken to UCLA Medical Center in L.A., where he will remain for at least another two weeks.

He is reportedly responding “on demand”, i.e. if he is asked to hold up a certain number of fingers, he will. He is also giving a lot of “thumbs up”.

It is hoped that he will make a full recovery.

My thoughts are with him & his family, and I hope you can join me in wishing him a full & speedy recovery.


Sources:
www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ihgfjHS_zasfWkAG8bYjNKbhbRog
« Last Edit: 01/09/2010 02:25 am by Andy USA »
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Offline Jorge

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Re: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke
« Reply #1 on: 01/09/2010 05:53 am »
Best wishes to Gordo. 

If I remember correctly, Fullerton piloted the first Enterprise free-flight landing in 1977, which I believe was broadcast live.  He also piloted NASA's B-52 "mother ship" for the first six Pegasus launches. 

A bit of pucker factor for those inaugural flights, if not for the unknown elements, at least for the fact that the whole world was watching to see if he would mess up the first landing of the "flying brick".  Goes without saying that only pretty darn good pilots get to do such things. 

 - Ed Kyle

If I remember correctly, Fullerton was Haise's right-seater for the ALT program.
JRF

Offline Ben E

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Re: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke
« Reply #2 on: 01/09/2010 02:49 pm »
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr Fullerton.

I had the opportunity to speak to him a few years back about his two Shuttle missions. Very pleasant gentleman, with an encyclopedia memory and a genuine warmth of character.

Offline zerm

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Re: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke
« Reply #3 on: 01/09/2010 04:21 pm »
My best to Gordo as well. He flew the final, retirement flight of Balls-8 (the NB-52,) and along on the flight with him was one of the Klyde Morris dolls from my cartoon strip (provided by a friend of mine who works at DFRC). Gordo was nice enough to pose for a photo holding his "passenger" afterward- it was all in good fun. The Klyde was wearing a NASA pin as a tie-tack. Later I received the pin. Although Mr. Fullerton seems a fairly straight arrow most of the time, he has, I'm told- a terrific sense of humor and to stand in front of his aircraft and pose with cartoon character doll really shows that.

Get well soon!

Offline JJ..

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Re: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke
« Reply #4 on: 01/09/2010 04:42 pm »
Ive only just downloaded and watched the 51f flight (1'st ATO on a shuttle flight),then logged in here to see this news ,

Good luck to him and a full and speedy recovery,


JJ..

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Offline vt_hokie

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Re: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke
« Reply #5 on: 01/09/2010 04:46 pm »
Wishing him a speedy recovery!

Offline Anu

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Re: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke
« Reply #6 on: 01/09/2010 09:36 pm »
Post-spaceflight career with NASA, he was probably the only ever astronaut to have operationally flown a supersonic airliner (IIRC he was lead on the Dryden TU-144LL flights in the late Nineties). An absolute legend - maximum respect and best wishes for his recovery.

« Last Edit: 01/09/2010 09:37 pm by Anu »

Offline kraisee

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Re: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke
« Reply #7 on: 01/10/2010 03:11 am »
All the very best to him and his family.

Ross.
"The meek shall inherit the Earth -- the rest of us will go to the stars"
-Robert A. Heinlein

Offline SpacebroDerek

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Re: Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Suffers Stroke
« Reply #8 on: 12/13/2011 05:58 am »
Anybody know how he is holding up?

I hope he is doing well; I would like to meet him someday.

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