Jim Lovell, RIP

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell has passed away. He was 97. Lovell was the first Apollo astronaut I ever met, getting a signed copy of his book at Epcot on my honeymoon in 1994. What a great wedding present!  

Lovell is known for coining the epic phrase “Houston, we have a problem.”

Ad astra per aspera, Jim Lovell. You will be missed.

From NASA.Gov - 

From a pair of pioneering Gemini missions to the successes of Apollo, Jim helped our nation forge a historic path in space that carries us forward to upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.

“As the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 8, Jim and his crewmates became the first to lift off on a Saturn V rocket and orbit the Moon, proving that the lunar landing was within our reach. As commander of the Apollo 13 mission, his calm strength under pressure helped return the crew safely to Earth and demonstrated the quick thinking and innovation that informed future NASA missions.

“Known for his wit, this unforgettable astronaut was nicknamed Smilin’ Jim by his fellow astronauts because he was quick with a grin when he had a particularly funny comeback.

“Jim also served our country in the military, and the Navy has lost a proud academy graduate and test pilot. Jim Lovell embodied the bold resolve and optimism of both past and future explorers, and we will remember him always.”

BILL ANDERS, RIP

Apollo 8 lunar module pilot Bill Anders has died in a plane crash. He was 90 years old. Anders is generally accepted to have taken the iconic Earthrise photo on Christmas Eve on 1968, as the Apollo 8 crew orbited the moon for the first time. 

He joins fellow Apollo 8 commander Frank Borman and leaves Jim Lovell the only surviving crew member from that historic mission.

AD ASTRA Bill. May flights of angels speed thee to thy rest.

RIP THOMAS P. STAFFORD

 

Apollo 10 and Apollo Soyuz Test Project commander Thomas Stafford shuffled off this mortal coil today. He was 93.

And while he may not have walked on the moon, America certainly couldn’t have won the space race without him, as he guided Apollo 10’s Lunar Module to within 60 nautical miles of the moon’s surface as part of a critical dress rehearsal. 

He then formally ended the space race by shaking hands with Alexi Leonov in low earth orbit as the two rival nations docked and worked together in space for the first time. The two would end up as best friends.

If you want to learn more, the Thomas P. Stafford Space Museum in Oklahoma is quite excellent.

Ad Astra, Thom. You are now reunited with Gene and John in your greatest voyage yet.

RIP FRANK BORMAN, 1928 – 2023

 R.I.P Frank Borman who died on Tuesday age 95

Borman was the Command Pilot of Gemini 7 which spent 14 days in space and the Commander of Apollo 8 the first manned mission to orbit the Moon in December 1968. 

Borman was also the man in charge of the commission that investigated the Apollo 1 fire. It’s likely we would’ve never made it to the moon if BORMAN hadn’t bluntly suggested that congress stop playing politics and let them get back to work.

Ad Astra.

Ad Astra Ken Mattingly, 1936-2023

For the record. Ken Mattingly never got the measles.

Ad Astra, Ken. RIP.

AD ASTRA WALT CUNNINGHAM

Apollo 7 Lunar Module Pilot Walt Cunningham has passed away at 90. Cunningham succumbed after a fall and after living what his family said was a full and complete life.

AD ASTRA.

RIP Jim McDivitt, Apollo 9 CMDR

Apollo Astronaut Jim McDivitt died last week. He was 93. McDivitt was the command pilot of Gemini 4, which had as its highlight the first American Spacewalk by Ed White. McDivitt would also serve as commander of Apollo 9, which tested the first lunar module in low earth orbit.

McDivitt is also known for choosing to remain with his lunar module test mission, rather than accept the hail mary solo journey to the moon. Saying that Apollo 8 would simply be a two-week vacation, while Apollo 9 would be a pure test mission, and thus, more fun.

After putting the LEM through its paces, McDivitt would accept a promotion to Manager of Lunar Landing Operations and was the Apollo Spacecraft Program Manager. He retired in 1972 with the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.

Ad Astra.