Apollo astronaut Ken Mattingly passes away at 87
R.I.P. Apollo astronaut Ken Mattingly, who flew on Apollo 16 and stayed in lunar orbit in the Apollo capsule while John Young and Charles Duke spent three days on the Moon, passed away on October 31, 2023 at the age of 87.
Ten years later Mattingly flew on the space shuttle, on its fourth flight.
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R.I.P. Apollo astronaut Ken Mattingly, who flew on Apollo 16 and stayed in lunar orbit in the Apollo capsule while John Young and Charles Duke spent three days on the Moon, passed away on October 31, 2023 at the age of 87.
Ten years later Mattingly flew on the space shuttle, on its fourth flight.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Mattingly was supposed to fly as part of the Apollo 13 crew, but was replaced by his backup, Jack Swigert, after being “exposed” to measles just prior to the flight. Stuck on the ground during the mission, Mattingly led the effort to figure out an alternative checklist for powering the crippled Command Module back up on the homeward leg of the abortive mission. He was memorably portrayed in Ron Howard’s classic film, Apollo 13, by Gary Sinise.
Ad astra, Ken. Charlie Duke is now the only surviving member of the Apollo 16 crew.
The ranks of the Apollonians grow thinner.
Ad Astra, Mr. Mattingly!