Fred Haise

Fred Haise
Name	Fred Haise
Caption	NASA portrait
Type	NASA Astronaut
Nationality	American
Status	Retired
Birth name	Fred Wallace Haise Jr.
Birth date	14 November 1933
Birth place	Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation	Test pilot, Aerospace executive
Rank	Captain, United States Marine Corps
Selection	1966 NASA Group 5
Time	5d 22h 54m
Mission	Apollo 13
Insignia	50px
Retirement	June 29, 1979

Fred Haise is an American former NASA astronaut, test pilot, and aerospace executive, best known for his role as the Lunar Module Pilot on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. His calm professionalism during that in-flight emergency was critical to the crew's safe return to Earth. Following his NASA career, Haise served as a test pilot on the Space Shuttle Enterprise and held executive positions at Grumman and other aerospace firms.

Early life and education

Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Haise developed an early interest in aviation. He attended Perkinston Junior College before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1959. His military service began as a Naval Aviator in the United States Marine Corps, where he flew tactical aircraft. He later served as a fighter pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard and worked as a research pilot at the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

NASA career

Selected as part of NASA's fifth astronaut group in 1966, Haise served on the support crews for the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions. He was the backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 8 and Apollo 11, working closely with astronauts like Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin. His technical expertise and piloting skills were further demonstrated as the backup commander for the Apollo 16 mission. This trajectory positioned him for his prime crew assignment on Apollo 13, alongside commander Jim Lovell and command module pilot Jack Swigert.

Apollo 13 mission

Launched on April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 mission was intended to be the third Moon landing, targeting the Fra Mauro formation. Two days into the flight, an explosion in an oxygen tank crippled the Service Module, forcing the abandonment of the lunar landing. Haise, as Lunar Module Pilot, played a vital role in converting the Lunar Module "Aquarius" into a lifeboat. He worked with Jim Lovell and Jack Swigert to manage critical systems, including power conservation and carbon dioxide scrubbing, during the cold, harrowing return trip. The crew's safe splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean was a landmark moment for NASA and global spaceflight.

Post-Apollo career

After Apollo 13, Haise was assigned to command the Space Shuttle *Enterprise* approach and landing test flights in 1977. He piloted the orbiter during several critical free-flight tests from the back of a modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. He retired from NASA in 1979 and joined Grumman as a vice president. He later held executive roles at Grumman Technical Services and served as president of Northrop Grumman Technical Services. Haise also contributed to space advocacy through his involvement with organizations like The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

Personal life

Haise has been married twice and has four children. He maintains a relatively private life but has participated in documentaries and events commemorating the Apollo program, including the 1995 film *Apollo 13* where he was portrayed by actor Bill Paxton. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys fishing and resides in Texas.

Awards and honors

For his service, Haise has received numerous prestigious awards, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was presented to the entire Apollo 13 crew by President Richard Nixon. He is also a recipient of the AIAA Haley Astronautics Award and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame, and several schools and public buildings in Mississippi bear his name.

Category:American astronauts Category:Apollo astronauts Category:1933 births Category:Living people