Carrying His Name to the Stars: Northrop Grumman’s First Cygnus XL Will Honor Columbia Pilot Willie McCool

Carrying His Name to the Stars: Northrop Grumman’s First Cygnus XL Will Honor Columbia Pilot Willie McCool

NASA astronaut Willie McCool, STS-107 pilot, on the aft flight deck of the space shuttle Columbia on Jan. 18, 2003. (NASA) When the newest American cargo spacecraft lifts off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral this September, it will carry more than supplies, science experiments, and spare parts to the International Space Station. Stenciled on its side will be the name of a man who never got the chance to return to Earth, but whose spirit continues t…