William Thornton | |
|---|---|
 Thornton in 1981 | |
| Born | William Edgar Thornton April 14, 1929 Faison, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | January 11, 2021 (aged 91) Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BS, MD) |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 13d 1h 16m |
| Selection | NASA Group 6 (1967) |
| Missions | STS-8 STS-51-B |
Mission insignia |   |
| Retirement | May 31, 1994 |
William Edgar Thornton (April 14, 1929 – January 11, 2021) was an American NASA astronaut. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from University of North Carolina and a doctorate in medicine, also from UNC. He flew on Challenger twice, the STS-8 and STS-51-B missions.