Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton flew on STS-33, STS-49, STS-61, and STS-73, logging 40 days, 15 hours, 14 minutes in space. The flight sequence placed Kathryne D. Thornton in STS-33 as N/A, STS-49 as N/A, STS-61 as N/A, and STS-73 as N/A, with each assignment adding another layer of spacecraft operations, crew coordination, and mission execution.

Classified Department of Defense Space Shuttle mission flown by Discovery. Continued national-security shuttle operations during the post-Challenger return-to-flight era. Maiden flight of Endeavour, flown to capture, repair, and redeploy Intelsat VI.

Kathryne D. Thornton's career combines preparation, assigned responsibilities, and the specific mission work completed with each crew. The available family record lists married; 5 children. Left NASA astronaut service after mission assignments. The exact departure date is not listed.