Image:Donald_Peterson-NASA-file-photo.jpg
'''Donald H. Peterson''' (Colonel, USAF, ret.) is a former
NASA Astronaut. He was born in Winona, Mississippi, on October_22, 1933. Peterson is married, and has three children and four grandchildren.
==Education==
He graduated from Winona City High School, Winona, Mississippi; received a Bachelor_of_science degree from the United_States_Military_Academy at West_Point, New_York, in 1955, and a master's degree in Nuclear_Engineering from the Air_Force_Institute_of_Technology, Wright-Patterson_Air_Force_Base, Ohio, in 1962.
==Pre-NASA Experience==
Peterson graduated from West Point in 1955. His assignments included four years as a Flight_instructor and Military_training_officer with the Air_Training_Command, three years as a Nuclear_systems_analyst with the Air_Force_Systems_Command, and one year as a Fighter_pilot with Tactical_Air_Command, including 3 months Combat_weapons training.
He is a graduate of the Aerospace_Research_Pilot_School at Edwards_Air_Force_Base, California, and was one of the third group of Astronauts assigned to the USAF Manned_Orbiting_Laboratory_Program.
He has logged over 5,300 hours flying time--including more than 5,000 hours in Jet_aircraft.
==NASA Career==
Peterson became a NASA astronaut in September 1969. He served on the astronaut support crew for Apollo_16.
Peterson retired from the United_States_Air_Force with the rank of Colonel after having completed more than 24 years of active service, but continued his assignment as a NASA astronaut in a civilian capacity. His areas of responsibility have included engineering support, man/machine interface, and safety assessment.
Peterson was a Mission_specialist on STS-6, which launched from Kennedy_Space_Center, Florida, on April_4, 1983. He was accompanied by Paul_J._Weitz (spacecraft commander), Col. Karol_J._Bobko (pilot), and Dr. F._Story_Musgrave (mission specialist). During this maiden voyage of the spacecraft Challenger, the STS-6 crew conducted numerous experiments in materials processing, recorded lightning activities, deployed the first Tracking_and_Data_Relay_Satellite (TDRS-A), and activated three Getaway Specials. Peterson and Musgrave conducted an extravehicular activity (EVA), commonly called a "Spacewalk," to test the new suit, the Shuttle Airlock, and new tools and techniques for construction and repair outside a Spacecraft. After 120 hours of orbital operations STS-6 landed on the concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on April_9, 1983. With the completion of this flight Don Peterson has logged 4 hours 15 minutes in extravehicular activity, and a total of 120 hours in space.
==Post-NASA career==
Peterson resigned from the Astronaut_Office in November 1984, and since that time has worked as a Consultant in the area of Manned_aerospace_operations.
==Special Honors==
He was awarded the Air_Force_Commendation_Medal, the Meritorious_Service_Medal, and the JSC_Group_Achievement_Award (1972).
==References==
Peterson's NASA Bio
{{NASA}}
Peterson, Donald H.
Peterson, Donald H.
Peterson, Donald H.
Peterson, Donald H.
Peterson, Donald H.
Peterson, Donald H.