Michael Coats was an American astronaut who was born on January 16, 1946 in California. Before he became an astronaut, Coats served in the Vietnam War as a Naval fighter pilot. He has flown over 5000 hours in 28 types of aircraft.
Coats became an astronaut in 1978. He has spent over 463 hours in space on 3 spaceflights.
In 1984, Coats piloted Space Shuttle Discovery. This was the first
flight of the shuttle. During this mission, the crew put three
satellites into orbit. Coats commanded STS-29 in 1989. A satellite was
put into orbit in this mission. In 1991, Coats commanded STS-39.
Michael Coats was an American astronaut who was born on January 16, 1946 in California. Before he became an astronaut, Coats served in the Vietnam War as a Naval fighter pilot. He has logged over 5000 hours of flight time on 28 types of aircraft.
Coats became an astronaut in 1978. He has spent over 463 hours in space on 3 spaceflights.
In 1984, Coats piloted Space Shuttle Discovery. This was the first flight of the shuttle. During this mission, the crew deployed three satellites. Coats commanded STS-29 in 1989. The Tracking and Data Relay satellite was deployed in this mission.
In 1991, Coats commanded STS-39. This was the first unclassified
Department of Defense mission.
Coats left NASA in 1991.
Michael Coats was an American astronaut who was born on January 16, 1946 in California. Before he became an astronaut, Coats served in the Vietnam War as a Naval fighter pilot. He has logged over 5000 hours of flight time on 28 types of aircraft.
Coats became an astronaut in 1978. He has spent over 463 hours in space on 3 spaceflights.
In 1984, Coats piloted Space Shuttle Discovery. This was the first flight of the shuttle. During this mission, the crew deployed three satellites. Coats commanded STS-29 in 1989. The Tracking and Data Relay satellite was deployed in this mission.
In 1991, Coats commanded STS-39. This was the first unclassified Department of Defense mission, and a very complex one at that! During this mission, the crew deployed three satellites and made some very difficult flying manuevers while in tandem with a free-flying pallet carrying Defense experiments.
Coats left NASA in 1991. He currently works for the Loral Corporation.