The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the passing of former NASA astronaut Rear Adm. (ret.) Thomas K. (TK) Mattingly II.
“We lost one of our country’s heroes on Oct. 31. NASA astronaut TK Mattingly was key to the success of our Apollo Program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history.
“Beginning his career with the U.S. Navy, TK received his wings in 1960 and flew various aircraft across multiple assignments. Once he joined the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School as a student, NASA chose him to be part of the astronaut class in 1966. Before flying in space, he aided the Apollo Program working as the astronaut support crew and took leadership in the development of the Apollo spacesuit and backpack.
“His unparalleled skill as a pilot aided us when he took on the role of command module pilot for Apollo 16 and spacecraft commander for space shuttle missions STS-4 and STS 51-C. The commitment to innovation and resilience toward opposition made TK an excellent figure to embody our mission and our nation’s admiration.
“Perhaps his most dramatic role at NASA was after exposure to rubella just before the launch of Apollo 13. He stayed behind and provided key real-time decisions to successfully bring home the wounded spacecraft and the crew of Apollo 13 – NASA astronauts James Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise. “TK’s contributions have allowed for advancements in our learning beyond that of space. He described his experience in orbit by saying, ‘I had this very palpable fear that if I saw too much, I couldn’t remember. It was just so impressive.’ He viewed the universe’s vastness as an unending forum of possibilities. As a leader in exploratory missions, TK will be remembered for braving the unknown for the sake of our country’s future.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA+ streaming service is launching on November 8thNASA is launching NASA+, an ad-free, and family-friendly streaming service, on November 8.
Read more »
Astronaut Ken Mattingly, who flew to the moon on Apollo 16, has died at 87He piloted Apollo 16 and commanded the shuttle. But he may be best known for the mission he didn't fly: the ill-fated Apollo 13. And he worried late in life about the high cost of human space flight.
Read more »
Astronaut Ken Mattingly, who flew to the moon on Apollo 16, has died at 87He piloted Apollo 16 and commanded the shuttle. But he may be best known for the mission he didn't fly: the ill-fated Apollo 13. And he worried late in life about the high cost of human space flight.
Read more »
WATCH LIVE: Senate Finance Committee holds hearing to consider new Social Security administratorBrady Knox is a breaking news reporter for the Washington Examiner with a particular focus on Russia, Eastern Europe, and foreign affairs. Hailing from Pittsburgh, he graduated from Miami University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian studies and political science. He was in St.
Read more »
Rita Owens: Keeper of NASA's Digital KnowledgeData Systems Engineer Rita Owens supports NASA’s Digital Transformation as part of the NASA Data Strategy Mission. This involves transforming how NASA operates by using digital capabilities to increase the reliability and effectiveness of NASA’s Information Technology (IT) operations.
Read more »
NASA is launching a free streaming service with live shows and original seriesNASA has announced a streaming service called NASA+ that will launch on November 8. It's free, and doesn't have ads. NASA+ will be available on the NASA iOS and Android app, and streaming players including Roku, Apple TV and Fire TV.
Read more »