... C. GORDON FULLERTON . NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED) . ... His assignments included a variety of flight research and support activities piloting the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) and other multi-engine and high performance aircraft. ... In July 1988, he completed a 30-year career with the U.S. Air Force and retired in the rank of colonel. As the project pilot on the NASA B-52 launch aircraft, Fullerton flew during the first six air launches of the commercially developed Pegasus space vehicle. ...