Selected in 1966 as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 5, John Sumter Bull held a trajectory through military aviation and aerospace engineering that ended abruptly due to medical complications. His career spanned service as a Navy fighter pilot and critical support roles in the early Apollo program before he transitioned into long-term research at the NASA Ames Research Center.
Military Service and Aviation Training
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1934, Bull graduated from Central High School in 1952. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Rice University in 1957. Shortly after, he joined the U.S. Navy. Between 1959 and 1960, he served with VF-114, flying F-3 Demon and F-4 Phantom II aircraft from the decks of the USS Ranger, USS Hancock, and USS Kitty Hawk. By 1964, he had graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, where he served as a project test pilot. During his flight career, he accumulated over 2,100 total flying hours, with 1,800 of those hours logged in jet aircraft.
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Bull joined NASA in 1966. In November 1967, he was assigned to the support crew for Apollo 8, the second crewed flight of the Saturn V. He also prepared for environmental testing of the Apollo Lunar Module at the Houston Space Environment Simulation Laboratory. However, during the lead-up to these tests in 1968, he was diagnosed with pulmonary disease and a severe sinus condition. These health issues forced his resignation from the astronaut corps in July 1968, ending his path to active spaceflight.
Research and Engineering Career
Following his departure from the astronaut program, Bull focused on academic and research pursuits. He earned a Master of Science in 1971 and a Ph.D. in 1973, both in aeronautical engineering from Stanford University. Returning to NASA Ames Research Center, he conducted flight test research on advanced systems for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for over a decade. In 1983, he became the chief of the Aircraft Systems Branch. By 1986, he shifted his focus to managing NASA-wide research regarding autonomous systems technology. He remained a consultant for Ames until his full retirement in 1997.
Personal Life and Final Years
Bull was married to Nancy Laraine Gustafson. The couple had three children: Jeffrey Tyler, Scott A., and Whitney A. After concluding his career in aerospace research, Bull lived in South Lake Tahoe, California. He died there on August 11, 2008, at the age of 73, due to complications from long-term asthma. He was buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Memphis, Tennessee
- Died: 11 August 2008, South Lake Tahoe, California
- Military Rank: Lieutenant Commander
- Education: Rice University, Stanford University
- NASA Group: Astronaut Group 5
- Flight Hours: Over 2,100 total
- Burial Site: Alta Mesa Memorial Park
Questions readers ask
Did John S. Bull ever fly in space?
No, he resigned from the astronaut corps in 1968 due to a pulmonary disease diagnosis before he was assigned to a spaceflight mission.
What was his role at NASA after leaving the astronaut program?
He worked at the Ames Research Center from 1973 to 1989, conducting research on flight systems and managing autonomous systems technology programs.
Achievements
- Recorded as military officer, test pilot and military flight engineer
