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| Legendary Astronaut Ken Mattingly Passes Away at Age 87 |
Ken Mattingly, a celebrated astronaut who circled the moon and led NASA shuttle missions, is etched in history not only for his triumphant journeys but also for a mission he was spared from, the perilous Apollo 13. On Tuesday, his journey in this world came to an end in Arlington, Va., at the age of 87.Cheryl Warner, a NASA spokeswoman, confirmed his passing, though the specific cause and the location of his death in Arlington remain undisclosed.A former Navy jet pilot with an aeronautical engineering background, Mattingly embarked on his NASA voyage in 1966. However, it wasn't until April 1972 that he soared into space as part of Apollo 16, NASA's second-to-last mission to the moon.As a lieutenant commander, he piloted the command module in orbit, capturing extensive lunar imagery and conducting experiments while Cmdr. John W. Young of the Navy and Lt. Col. Charles M. Duke Jr. of the Air Force descended to collect rock and soil samples near the Descartes crater, marking a significant chapter in space exploration.
During the return journey to Earth, Commander Mattingly embarked on a daring spacewalk from his spacecraft, affectionately named Casper due to its resemblance to the friendly ghost, Casper.
While tethered to the spacecraft, he retrieved two canisters of lunar photos for later analysis.After the Apollo program, Mattingly took on the role of leading the astronaut support office for the shuttle program, focused on transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station in Earth's orbit. In 1982, he commanded the fourth and final Earth-orbiting test flight of the shuttle Columbia, completing 112 orbits. He also led the first space shuttle mission for the Department of Defense in January 1985.However, his remarkable achievements came after a setback. In April 1970, he was removed from the Apollo 13 mission just before launch due to recent exposure to German measles. This surprising turn of events led to John L.Swigert Jr.
taking his place as the command module pilot.Despite being grounded, Mattingly played a pivotal role in the Apollo 13 crisis when an oxygen tank exploded, jeopardizing the mission. He assisted in the astronauts' survival by helping them transfer to the lunar module, which was not intended for this purpose.
They used it as a "lifeboat" to return to Earth. Mattingly's detailed instructions and guidance were essential during this critical period.As they neared Earth, the astronauts re-entered the command module for the final descent, successfully touching down in the Pacific Ocean. This dramatic event was portrayed in the 1995 movie "Apollo 13," with Gary Sinise portraying Commander Mattingly.Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II, known as Ken, was born in Chicago on March 17, 1936. He spent his formative years in the Miami area, where his father worked for Eastern Airlines.
Mattingly's fascination with flight began early, building model airplanes and collecting cereal boxes with cutout paper airplanes.After earning a bachelor's degree from Auburn University in 1958, he joined the Navy, became a pilot in 1960, and flew from aircraft carriers. His journey to becoming an astronaut took him through test-pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base in California.Following his missions on the Apollo and space shuttle programs, Mattingly continued to contribute to NASA in the 1980s.
He eventually retired as a rear admiral from both NASA and the Navy, transitioning to work with aerospace companies.Mattingly is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Ruemmele) Mattingly, and their son, Thomas III. Despite the disappointment of missing the Apollo 13 flight, he expressed that he would have preferred to be part of the mission, regardless of the outcome, reflecting on the emotional significance of the opportunity.