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Paul Weitz
(1932 - 2017)
American astronaut
American astronaut
American NASA astronaut who flew on the Skylab 2 mission and commanded the maiden Space Shuttle flight STS-6.
Selected by NASA in 1966, Paul Weitz served as pilot for the Skylab 2 mission in 1973, the first crewed flight to the Skylab space station.
He spent 28 days in orbit repairing and outfitting the damaged station, demonstrating exceptional technical skill.
In 1983, Weitz commanded STS-6 aboard Challenger, deploying the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.
His work on early space station operations and shuttle missions paved the way for future long-duration missions.
After retiring from NASA, Weitz managed the Mission Development Center at Johnson Space Center and mentored new astronaut candidates.
He is remembered for his leadership, ingenuity, and significant contributions to human space exploration.
Paul Weitz