WASHINGTON (AP) — Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, who
commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon
landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died Monday
in a hospital near his Space Coast Florida home.

Stafford, a retired Air Force three-star general, took part in
four space missions. Before Apollo 10, he flew on two Gemini
flights, including the first rendezvous of two U.S. capsules in
orbit.

Stafford was one of 24 NASA astronauts who flew to the moon,
but he did not land on it. Only seven of them are still alive.

ASTRONAUT THOMAS P. STAFFORD DURING GEMINI 9 MISSION.

SANDY KOZEL

FEEDING TUBE REMOVED ON THIS DAY IN 1990.

Terri Schiavo, the severely brain-damaged woman whose condition sparked an epic legal, medical and political battle 
that gripped America, died 13 days after her feeding tube 
was removed by the wishes of her husband and the orders
of several courts.