Henry C. Gordon
Encyclopedia
Henry Charles Gordon was a X-20 Dyna-Soar
astronaut
and a colonel
in the United States Air Force
.
Gordon was selected as an astronaut in the X-20 Dyna-Soar program in April 1960 and began training at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base
, California
. He retired as an astronaut when the Dyna-Soar program was cancelled on December 10, 1963, having never flown in space.
Gordon flew combat missions in the Korean
and Vietnam
wars. He remained in the U.S. Air Force after the Dyna-Soar program was cancelled and retired with the rank of Colonel.
Gordon was born in Valparaiso, Indiana
. He graduated from the Purdue University
in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science
in aeronautical engineering. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California
in 1966. He was married and had four children.
X-20 Dyna-Soar
The X-20 Dyna-Soar was a United States Air Force program to develop a spaceplane that could be used for a variety of military missions, including reconnaissance, bombing, space rescue, satellite maintenance, and sabotage of enemy satellites...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
and a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Gordon was selected as an astronaut in the X-20 Dyna-Soar program in April 1960 and began training at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He retired as an astronaut when the Dyna-Soar program was cancelled on December 10, 1963, having never flown in space.
Gordon flew combat missions in the Korean
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
wars. He remained in the U.S. Air Force after the Dyna-Soar program was cancelled and retired with the rank of Colonel.
Gordon was born in Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:...
. He graduated from the Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in aeronautical engineering. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1966. He was married and had four children.