Nationality American Missions None Status Deceased Name Russell Rogers | Other names Russell Lee Rogers Role Astronaut Selection 1960 Dyna-Soar Group 1 | |
Born April 12, 1928Lawrence, Kansas, U.S. ( 1928-04-12 ) Died September 13, 1967, Kadena Air Base, Kadena, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan Alma mater University of Colorado Boulder Rank Lieutenant colonel, United States Air Force | ||
Russell Lee Rogers (April 12, 1928 – September 13, 1967), (Lt Col, USAF), was an American electrical engineer, U.S. Air Force officer, test pilot, and astronaut in the X-20 Dyna-Soar program.
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Early life and education
He was born on April 12, 1928 in Lawrence, Kansas. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1958. He was married with five children.
Test pilot
As a USAF Test Pilot School graduate, Rogers was an experimental test pilot at Edwards AFB, California when selected for the X-20 program in April, 1960. He left the program on December 10, 1963 when it was cancelled.
After the X-20 program, he remained in the U.S. Air Force on active flight duty as a pilot with the rank of Lt. Colonel at the time of his death.
Death
Rogers was killed when the engine of his F-105 fighter plane failed near Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan on September 13, 1967. He ejected from his aircraft, but his parachute failed to deploy properly. He was 39 years old.