Richard A. Searfoss Status: Deceased 6/5/1956 – 9/29/2018 Nationality: American Type: Government First Flight: 10/18/1993 Last Flight: 4/17/1998 Richard Alan Searfoss was an American aviator who was United States Air Force colonel, NASA astronaut and test pilot. National Aeronautics and Space Administration – USA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.