Kenneth Cockrell

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Kenneth Cockrell

Astronaut
Nationality	American
Born	April 9, 1950 Austin, Texas
Other occupation	Test Pilot
Space time	64d 12h 25m
Selection	1990 NASA Group
Missions	STS-56, STS-69, STS-80, STS-98, STS-111
Mission insignia

Kenneth Dale "Taco" Cockrell (born 9 April 1950) is an American astronaut and a veteran of five space shuttle missions.

Cockrell was born in Austin, Texas to Buford Dale Cockrell and Jewell Moorman. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972 and received his commission in the United States Navy that same year. He also earned a master's in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida in 1974. He was trained a pilot and was stationed from 1975 to 1978 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway. Cockrell then became a test pilot for several years before serving two tours of duty aboard the USS Constellation. In 1987, Cockrell resigned from the Navy and joined the Aircraft Operations Division of Johnson Space Center as a research pilot.

Cockrell was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1990 and made his first spaceflight in 1993 on mission STS-56 as a mission specialist. He flew as a pilot on the STS-69 in 1995 and commanded STS-80 (1996), STS-98 (2001) and STS-111 (2002).

The nickname "Taco" dates from his days as a naval aviator. As a member of the second NASA "Dog Crew" on STS-69 (in which all of the crewmembers were given dog-themed nicknames), he received the nickname "Cujo" after the dog in the Stephen King novel.