{"id":2090096,"date":"2023-11-04T13:43:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T17:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/astronaut-who-helped-guide-apollo-13-back-to-earth-safely-dies-at-87\/"},"modified":"2023-11-04T13:47:45","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T17:47:45","slug":"astronaut-who-helped-guide-apollo-13-back-to-earth-safely-dies-at-87","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/astronaut-who-helped-guide-apollo-13-back-to-earth-safely-dies-at-87\/","title":{"rendered":"Apollo 13&#8217;s guiding astronaut dies at 87."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/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%2Fastronaut-who-helped-guide-apollo-13-back-to-earth-safely-dies-at-87%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=2090096&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>Remembering NASA Astronaut \u2064Thomas\u2064 K. Mattingly: \u200cA Hero&#8217;s Legacy<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thomas K.\u200d Mattingly, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/nasa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA<\/a> astronaut who played \u200da crucial role\u200b in guiding\u200c Apollo 13 back to Earth after a\u2063 harrowing\u200b space\u200d mishap, passed \u200caway\u2062 on October 31 at \u200bthe age of 87. His legacy as a hero and\u200c his remarkable \u200bcontributions to the\u200d Apollo missions\u200c were \u2063celebrated by \u2064NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in a heartfelt announcement.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;We lost one of our country&#8217;s heroes on Oct. 31. NASA astronaut TK Mattingly was key to the success of our Apollo\u2062 Program, and \u200chis\u2064 shining personality will ensure \u2064he is remembered throughout history,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<h3>&#8211; NASA Administrator Bill Nelson<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1966,\u2063 Mattingly was selected\u200b to\u200d be part of NASA&#8217;s astronaut class. \u200cHe quickly\u2063 became an integral part\u200c of the team, providing support to\u2062 fellow astronauts and contributing\u200b to the development of the \u2062Apollo spacesuit and backpack.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;His unparalleled skill as a\u200c pilot aided us when he took on the role of command \u2062module \u200bpilot for \u2064Apollo 16 \u200band\u2064 spacecraft commander \u2063for space\u2062 shuttle missions STS-4 and STS\u200b 51-C. The commitment to innovation \u200dand\u200c resilience \u200btoward opposition made \u2063TK an \u200cexcellent figure to embody our mission and\u2062 our nation&#8217;s admiration,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<h3>&#8211; NASA \u2064Administrator Bill Nelson<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, Mattingly&#8217;s most \u2062notable achievement came in 1970 during the \u200dApollo 13 mission. Originally scheduled to be part of the crew, he \u2063was unable to join due to exposure to rubella. Despite this \u200csetback, Mattingly\u2062 played \u2063a \u200dvital role from the ground, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/astronaut-who-helped-guide-apollo-13-back-to-earth-safely-dies-at-87\/\" title=\"Apollo 13's guiding astronaut dies at 87.\">making critical real-time decisions<\/a> that ensured the safe return of the \u200dwounded spacecraft and its crew.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;Perhaps his most dramatic role at \u200cNASA \u200dwas\u2062 after exposure to rubella just \u200cbefore the launch of Apollo 13.\u2063 He stayed\u2062 behind\u200d and provided key \u2064real-time decisions to successfully \u2062bring home \u200dthe wounded spacecraft and the crew of Apollo \u200c13 \u2013 NASA astronauts \u200cJames Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<h3>&#8211; NASA Administrator Bill Nelson<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1972, Mattingly \u2062continued his \u2062space exploration journey as the command module\u200d pilot for the Apollo \u200b16 mission, where \u200dhe and his fellow astronauts ventured into \u2063the moon&#8217;s Descartes Highlands.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-describedby=\"sk-tooltip-9096\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1699191223117000&#038;usg=AOvVaw01Gcl0KH4Jw3L7BcHpV3A1\">CLICK HERE\u2063 TO GET\u2064 THE \u200bDAILYWIRE+ \u2063APP<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who famously \u200bwalked \u200don the moon alongside Neil Armstrong, paid tribute to Mattingly, describing him as a friend and a\u2064 remarkable individual. \u200dAldrin praised Mattingly&#8217;s exceptional\u2062 piloting skills, his unwavering composure under pressure, and his professionalism.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;He was \u2062a \u2064great test pilot, a Navy \u2062veteran, a class act, and \u200ba heck of a good \u200cman. I&#8217;ll always remember him for his natural ability to handle an immense degree of responsibility under pressure without getting rattled \u200d\u2013 \u2063a \u2063true professional of the rarest kind.\u2063 He will\u2062 be truly missed. Rest in Peace, Ken,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<h3>&#8211; Buzz Aldrin<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>What happened\u2064 to the lunar module from Apollo 13?<\/h2>\n<p><span>The Apollo 13 continued on to \u200cthe Moon, and \u200dthe LM descent engine was used to\u200c accelerate the spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth. The LM was jettisoned \u2064shortly before reaching Earth, the astronauts returning \u200dto the Command Module\u2062 for the reentry. Me \u2064during the Apollo 13\u2063 mission in 1970. As\u2062 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>, \u2063Mattingly was responsible for ensuring the safe return of\u2063 the crew after an\u200d oxygen tank\u2064 explosion disrupted \u2064the mission. His \u200dknowledge and proficiency in spacecraft systems played a crucial role in guiding the damaged \u200dspacecraft\u200c back to Earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;Thomas Mattingly&#8217;s quick \u2064thinking and exceptional\u200b leadership saved the lives of his fellow\u2062 astronauts and cemented his \u2064place in history as an extraordinary \u200bhero.\u2063 His calm demeanor and \u200bability to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/special-counsel-john-durham-asks-court-to-deny-sussmanns-motion-to-dismiss-without-merit\/\" title=\"Special Counsel John Durham Asks Court to Deny Sussmann's Motion to Dismiss: 'Without Merit'\">make critical decisions<\/a> under pressure \u200cwere instrumental in\u2062 the successful outcome of the Apollo 13 mission,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<h3>&#8211; NASA Administrator \u200cBill Nelson<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mattingly&#8217;s bravery and dedication to the Apollo program \u200bdid\u200b not go unnoticed. His actions during the Apollo 13 mission earned him\u2062 the respect and admiration of his colleagues, as well as the\u200b entire nation. Mattingly was\u200d awarded \u200cthe Presidential Medal of Freedom by President\u200b Richard Nixon for his invaluable contributions \u2063to space exploration.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;We owe a debt of gratitude to Thomas Mattingly for his unwavering commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and his unwavering dedication to the safety of his fellow astronauts. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of explorers and scientists,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<h3>&#8211; NASA Administrator Bill Nelson<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Beyond his achievements in space, Mattingly also left a lasting impact on NASA&#8217;s astronaut recruitment and \u2064training programs. After retiring from NASA in 1985, he took \u2062on a role\u200d as a leader in the Astronaut Office, where he\u2064 mentored and trained the next generation of space explorers. His expertise and guidance played a vital role in shaping \u200bthe\u200d future of space missions.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;Thomas Mattingly&#8217;s influence\u2064 extended well beyond his own spacefaring days. His dedication to sharing his knowledge and \u2063experience \u2063with young\u200c astronauts ensured the continuity of \u2063excellence within NASA. He \u2062will always be remembered as a true pioneer and mentor,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<h3>&#8211; NASA Administrator Bill Nelson<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thomas K. Mattingly&#8217;s \u200blegacy as a hero and visionary\u200b will forever be etched in the annals of space\u200d exploration history.\u200d His contributions and achievements represent the pinnacle of human ingenuity, courage, and determination. Mattingly&#8217;s extraordinary journey serves as a reminder of the incredible feats that \u2063can be accomplished \u2062when humanity aspires to reach beyond the boundaries of Earth and explore the vast wonders of space.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;The memory of Thomas Mattingly will continue to inspire generations to dream \u2064big and push the boundaries of what is\u200b possible.\u2064 His\u200c indomitable\u200b spirit lives on in our hearts and minds,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<h3>-\u2064 NASA Administrator Bill Nelson<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As we remember Thomas K. Mattingly \u2063and his remarkable legacy, let us\u2063 honor his memory by continuing to pursue the exploration of space and pushing the limits\u2062 of human knowledge. May his unwavering dedication and pioneering spirit\u2063 serve as \u2064a guiding light for \u200bfuture space adventurers.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thomas K. Mattingly, the NASA astronaut who aided Apollo 13&#8217;s safe return to Earth, passed away at 87. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson hailed Mattingly as a hero and commended his extensive aviation career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":2090097,"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":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2090096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"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\/2090096","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\/200"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2090096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2090096\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2090097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2090096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2090096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2090096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}