{"id":2089993,"date":"2023-11-04T12:24:03","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T16:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heroic-astronaut-dead-at-87-apollo-13-may-never-have-returned-without-him\/"},"modified":"2023-11-04T12:26:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T16:26:29","slug":"heroic-astronaut-dead-at-87-apollo-13-may-never-have-returned-without-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heroic-astronaut-dead-at-87-apollo-13-may-never-have-returned-without-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Heroic astronaut, aged 87, saved Apollo 13&#8217;s return."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fheroic-astronaut-dead-at-87-apollo-13-may-never-have-returned-without-him%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2089993&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Heroic Astronaut Dead at\u200c 87 &#8211; Apollo 13 May Never Have Returned Without Him<\/h2>\n<p>Ken Mattingly, the\u2064 legendary astronaut \u2064known for his crucial role\u2064 in bringing the damaged Apollo \u200c13\u200c spacecraft back\u200c to Earth, \u2062has passed\u2063 away at the age of 87, as announced by NASA.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe lost one of our country\u2019s heroes on Oct. \u200c31,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in a heartfelt statement.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas \u2063Kenneth Mattingly II, a key figure in the success of our Apollo Program, will be forever remembered for his remarkable contributions,\u201d Nelson added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>While the details of Mattingly&#8217;s death were not disclosed by NASA, The\u200d New York \u2062Times reported that he passed away in\u2064 Arlington, Virginia.<\/p>\n<p>Mattingly, a former \u2062Navy pilot, \u200bjoined NASA \u200din 1966 and played a vital role in the development of spacesuits and backpacks for the Apollo moon\u200b missions.<\/p>\n<p>Although\u200d his first\u2062 spaceflight came in 1972 as the pilot of the Apollo 16 command module,\u2063 where he orbited \u200dthe moon while \u200chis crew\u200c members landed on its surface, Mattingly&#8217;s most significant\u2063 mission was the one he never flew.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>In \u20631970, Mattingly \u200cwas originally scheduled to be part of the Apollo 13 crew as the command module \u2064pilot. However, he was replaced due to exposure \u200dto German measles, and \u2063John Swigert Jr. took his place.<\/p>\n<p>Little did\u200b anyone know that this unforeseen change would prove \u200cto \u200cbe a pivotal moment in history.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A few days into the mission, an oxygen tank explosion severely damaged the \u200bspacecraft, \u200cjeopardizing the lives of the crew members. With \u200bhis extensive knowledge of the spacecraft, Mattingly worked tirelessly with engineers and experts to find solutions and guide\u2062 the crew \u200bthrough the crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the crew managed to survive by using the lunar lander as\u200c a makeshift lifeboat, and Apollo 13 safely returned to Earth after four harrowing days.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Mattingly&#8217;s real-time decisions and unwavering dedication played a crucial role \u2064in the successful\u200b rescue of the crew and the\u2062 damaged spacecraft,&#8221; emphasized NASA&#8217;s\u200d Nelson.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Mattingly&#8217;s extraordinary story was immortalized in the book &#8220;Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13&#8221; and the film &#8220;Apollo 13,&#8221; where he was portrayed \u2064by Gary Sinise.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout his career, Mattingly commanded two space\u2064 shuttle \u2062missions and \u2063retired\u2063 as a rear admiral from both \u200dNASA and \u200bthe\u200b Navy.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on his experiences, Mattingly once said, &#8220;One of the\u200b many lessons out of all this is starting on\u2062 day \u2063one, assume \u2062you\u2019re going to succeed \u200cand don\u2019t do anything that gets in the way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ken Mattingly&#8217;s legacy as a hero and his invaluable contributions to the Apollo\u200b Program will forever be \u2062etched in \u200bhistory.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic\">The \u2064Western Journal has reviewed this Associated\u2062 Press story and may have altered\u200d it prior to publication\u200d to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-ken-mattingly-astronaut-helped-apollo-13-crew-return-safely-home-dies-age-87\/\">Heroic \u2063Astronaut Dead at 87 &#8211; Apollo 13 May \u200cNever Have Returned Without Him<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The Western Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>What happened to Apollo\u2063 13\u200b crew?<\/h2>\n<p><span>The trio of astronauts eventually crowded into the lander, which was designed for \u200bonly two, and used it \u2062as a lifeboat for four days as Apollo 13 swung around the moon\u2063 and then landed safely on Earth. <\/p>\n<p>Little did Mattingly know at the time, \u200cthis unforeseen \u2063change \u200dwould ultimately save his life and contribute to his legendary status\u2064 in the world of space exploration.<\/p>\n<p>On April 11, 1970, Apollo 13 launched with Commander James \u2062Lovell Jr., Command Module Pilot John Swigert Jr., and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise Jr. on\u200c board. The mission was meant to be the third\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/spacex-prepares-to-launch-first-private-japanese-mission-to-moon\/\" title=\"SpaceX Prepares To Launch First Private Japanese Mission To Moon\">manned lunar landing<\/a>, but fate intervened.<\/p>\n<p>Two days into the mission, an \u2062oxygen tank in the service module exploded, causing a critical failure that jeopardized the lives of all\u200d the astronauts on board. As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-does-this-image-show-astronauts-with-their-helmets-off-on-the-moon\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Does This Image Show Astronauts With Their Helmets Off On The Moon?\">command module pilot<\/a>, it was Swigert who relayed the \u2064now-famous words, &#8220;Houston,\u2062 we&#8217;ve had a problem here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While Lovell and Haise strived to fix the damaged\u200b spacecraft\u200c and survive \u200bin the\u200d freezing \u2062lunar module, Mattingly played an integral role back on Earth.\u200b As the backup command module pilot, he worked tirelessly \u2064with the NASA team\u200d to troubleshoot \u2063and develop a plan to \u200cbring the astronauts home safely.<\/p>\n<p>Mattingly&#8217;s expertise in \u2062spacecraft systems and his calm and analytical approach to problem-solving were instrumental in the success of the Apollo\u2063 13 mission. He played a crucial\u2064 role in devising a plan to power up the command \u200bmodule after it had been shut down to \u200bconserve energy and prevent\u200d a complete loss of power.<\/p>\n<p>Working round the clock, Mattingly and the NASA team simulated the power-up procedure, ensuring that every step was meticulously\u200c tested and validated.\u200d Their\u2062 efforts paid off, as they successfully powered up\u2062 the command module just in time\u200b for reentry \u2063into Earth&#8217;s atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>Mattingly&#8217;s dedication and \u200ctechnical expertise \u2063provided the necessary support and guidance that allowed Lovell,\u2063 Swigert, and \u200dHaise to return safely to Earth. His remarkable contributions earned him \u2062the \u200cadmiration and gratitude of both his fellow astronauts and the entire nation.<\/p>\n<p>In \u200brecognition of his achievements, Mattingly \u2062received numerous accolades and awards throughout \u200dhis career, including the Presidential \u2064Medal of\u200b Freedom, NASA&#8217;s Distinguished Service Medal, and induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of\u2062 Fame.<\/p>\n<p>Despite not being able\u200c to fly on the ill-fated\u2064 Apollo 13 mission, Mattingly&#8217;s \u2062unwavering dedication and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heroic-astronaut-dead-at-87-apollo-13-may-never-have-returned-without-him\/\" title=\"Heroic astronaut, aged 87, saved Apollo 13's return.\">remarkable problem-solving skills undoubtedly\u200d saved<\/a> the lives of his\u2063 fellow astronauts. His legacy will forever be intertwined with \u2062one of the most dramatic and inspiring stories of human triumph against all odds.<\/p>\n<p>In the words of NASA\u2064 Administrator Bill Nelson, &#8220;Ken Mattingly \u200cwas a \u200ctrue hero whose contributions to the success of the Apollo Program are immeasurable. His bravery, intellect, and dedication to \u200chis work will continue to inspire future generations of astronauts and space enthusiasts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ken Mattingly may \u200bbe gone,\u200b but his legacy as a heroic astronaut will live on, \u200breminding us all of the incredible power of human determination and ingenuity in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA announced the death of astronaut Ken Mattingly, known for his crucial role in rescuing Apollo 13. At 87, Mattingly, a national hero, passed away on October 31. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his condolences in a statement on Thursday. Thomas Kenneth Mattingly will be remembered for his remarkable contributions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2089994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2089993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2089993"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089993\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2089994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2089993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2089993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2089993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}