Alabama remembers astronaut Ken Mattingly and his history here
NASA and space enthusiasts in Alabama and around the world are remembering Apollo astronaut Thomas K. (Ken) Mattingly today as a brave and eloquent space veteran who never walked on the moon but played major roles in America’s Apollo and space shuttle programs.
A “hero,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson called Mattingly in a statement on the agency’s website today
“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,” Nelson said. “The commitment to innovation and resilience toward opposition made TK an excellent figure to embody our mission and our nation’s admiration.”
An Auburn University graduate, U.S. Navy pilot and retired rear admiral, Mattingly was part of the first astronaut class of 1966.
In April 1972, the Apollo 16 Command Module flew to the moon and back, carrying astronauts John Young, Thomas “Ken” Mattingly and Charles Duke. It returned them safely back home 11 days later, along with more than 200 pounds of moon rocks.Matt Wake/[email protected]
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of American hero and astronaut TK Mattingly, who earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn in 1958 and later went on to earn his doctorate in the same discipline in 1986,” Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering posted on its Facebook page.
“So sorry to hear about the death of TK,” Auburn graduate and astronaut Jan Davis posted on the Association of Space Explorers Facebook page. “He was one of Auburn University’s astronauts and was always gracious to me.”
Mattingly flew to the moon as command module pilot for Apollo 16 but didn’t walk on the lunar surface. That mission capsule is on display at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center where visitors cluster to see its nearly 60-year-old design and technology and the burns left on the capsule’s bottom by re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
“TK,” as he was known in NASA, was also spacecraft commander for space shuttle missions STS-4 and STS 51-C.
“Perhaps his most dramatic role at NASA was after exposure to rubella just before the launch of Apollo 13, Nelson said. “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.”
Gary Sinese portrayed Mattingly in the movie “Apollo 13.” He called the role “an honor.”