Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z

---

Bull, John Sumter

---

Bull Credit: www.spacefacts.de

Status: Deceased; Active 1966-1968. Born: 1934-09-25. Died: 2008-11-08. Birth Place: Memphis, Tennessee.

Educated Rice; Stanford; Patuxent. Died in South Lake Tahoe, California.

Official NASA Biography as of June 2016:John Sumter Bull (Ph.D.)
NASA Astronaut (Deceased)

PERSONAL DATA: Born September 25, 1934, in Memphis, Tennessee.  Died on August 11, 2008, following complications related to long-term asthma.  He is survived by his wife, two grown married children, a son and a daughter, and four wonderful grandchildren.

EDUCATION: Attended primary and secondary schools in Memphis, Tennessee, and graduated in 1952 from Central High School; received a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University in 1957; Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Stanford, 1971; Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from Stanford University, 1973.

ORGANIZATIONS: Society Experimental Test Pilots; Member, Sigma Tau Engineering Fraternity; Tau Beta Pi Engineering Fraternity; Sigma Xi; American Helicopter Society; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

EXPERIENCE: He entered active duty with the Navy in June 1957, and received his flight training at Kingsville, Texas.  From March 1959 to November 1960, he flew F-3 Demons while assigned to VF-114 at the Naval Air Station in Mirimar, California, flying the F-3 Demon and F-4 Phanton II.  He also served three tours on WESTPAC cruises aboard the carriers USS RANGER, USS HANCOCK, and USS KITTY-HAWK.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in February 1964, and was named "outstanding student" of his class.  Bull was assigned as a project test pilot in the Carrier Suitability Branch at the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland, March 1964 to April 1966.

He logged more than 2,100 hours flying time; 1,800 hours in jet aircraft.

Resigned from astronaut duty in 1968 due to pulmonary disease, returned to Stanford University graduate school, and received a Ph.D. in 1973.

At NASA Ames Research Center, from 1973-1985, he conducted simulation and flight test research in advanced flight systems for both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. From 1986 until his retirement in 1989, he managed NASA wide research programs in autonomous systems technology for space applications.  He also provided consulting services for aerospace research and technology programs.

DECEMBER 2008

This is the only version available from NASA.

Official NASA Biography

NAME: John Sumter Bull (Ph.D.)
NASA Astronaut (former)

PERSONAL DATA: Born September 25, 1934, in Memphis, Tennessee. He is married and has two grown children, a son and a daughter. He enjoys swimming and golf.

EDUCATION: Attended primary and secondary schools in Memphis, Tennessee, and graduated in 1952 from Central High School; received a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University in 1957; Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Stanford, 1971; Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from Stanford University, 1973.

ORGANIZATIONS: Society Experimental Test Pilots; Member, Sigma Tau Engineering Fraternity; Tau Beta Pi Engineering Fraternity; Sigma Xi; American Helicopter Society; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

EXPERIENCE: He entered active duty with the Navy in June 1957, and received his flight training at Kingsville, Texas. From March 1959 to November 1960, he flew F-3 Demons while assigned to VF-114 at the Naval Air Station in Mirimar, California, flying the F-3 Demon and F-4 Phanton II. He also served three tours on WESTPAC cruises aboard the carriers USS RANGER, USS HANCOCK, and USS KITTY-HAWK.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in February 1964, and was named "outstanding student" of his class. Bull was assigned as a project test pilot in the Carrier Suitability Branch at the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland, March 1964 to April 1966.

He has logged more than 2,100 hours flying time; 1,800 hours in jet aircraft.

Resigned from astronaut duty in 1968 due to pulmonary disease, returned to Stanford University graduate school, and received a Ph.D. in 1973.

At NASA Ames Research Center, from 1973-1985, he conducted simulation and flight test research in advanced flight systems for both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. From 1986 until his retirement in 1989, he managed NASA wide research programs in autonomous systems technology for space applications. He currently provides consulting services for aerospace research and technology programs.

DECEMBER 1993

Photo Gallery

---

---

Apollo Astronaut John Bull wears newly designed Apollo pressure suit Credit: NASA

---

• Birth of John Sumter Bull - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bull, John. American test pilot astronaut, 1966-1968..

• NASA Astronaut Training Group 5 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Brand, Bull, John, Carr, Duke, Engle, Evans, Givens, Haise, Irwin, Lind, Lousma, Mattingly, McCandless, Mitchell, Pogue, Roosa, Swigert, Weitz, Worden.

  The group was selected to provide pilot-astronauts for the Apollo Applications Program (then planned as 10 lunar landings after Apollo 11 and 30 Apollo flights to earth-orbit space stations).. Qualifications: Qualified jet pilot with minimum 1,000 flight-hours, bachleor's degree in engineering or physical or biological sciences, under 35 years old, under 183 cm height, excellent health. US citizen.. 351 applications (including six women and a legless US Navy pilot). All 19, except X-15 astronaut Engle, would fly into space on Apollo or Skylab missions. Engle and six others would fly shuttle missions.

• Death of John Sumter Bull at South Lake Tahoe, California - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bull, John. American test pilot astronaut, 1966-1968..