The world of astronomy, space exploration and science in general is in mourning. Astronaut Ken Mattingly of the POT, died at the age of 87. This name is very important in the history of the US agency, since it was fundamental in missions such as Apollo 16, which landed on the Moon and collected remains of the natural satellite.
Ken Mattingly was one of the last NASA astronauts to reach the Moon, before the North American space agency stopped making trips to the natural satellite. It occurs just in the year before manned missions return to the space agency’s plans.
The American astronaut flew on three space missions, including Apollo 16, which was the first manned lunar landing in the southern hemisphere of the rocky body.
Many do not remember him, but Mattingly is remembered for being originally intended to be the pilot of the Apollo 13 lunar module. However, he was removed from the mission after it was discovered that he had been exposed to rubella. He was replaced by Jack Swigert.
I was sad to hear of Ken Mattingly’s passing, forever famous for his roles on Apollo 13, Apollo 16, and as a veteran shuttle astronaut.
We found this lovely 70mm footage of him training in the altitude chamber with his Apollo 13 crewmates. #RIP #apollo50 #KenMattingly pic.twitter.com/vzsc4CAdgp
— Stephen Slater (@steveslater1987) November 3, 2023
Life and studies
Mattingly was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1936. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958 and became a fighter pilot. In 1966, he was selected by NASA to become an astronaut.
Contributions to NASA
- Lunar exploration: He was one of the few astronauts to have walked on the Moon. His mission to Apollo 16 in 1972 was the first manned lunar landing in the southern hemisphere of the Moon. Mattingly and his crewmates, John Young and Charles Duke, collected more than 90 kilograms of lunar rocks and regolith.
- Space Shuttle Exploration: He also flew on two space shuttle missions, STS-4 in 1982 and STS-51-C in 1985. These missions helped develop space shuttle technology and pave the way for future space exploration missions.
- Risks prevention: He was an advocate for safety in space exploration. His experience on Apollo 13, when he was removed from the mission after being exposed to rubella, led him to be a strong advocate for safety protocols. Mattingly was also a pioneer in the use of space suits with protective suits against radiation exposure.