Ken Mattingly

Ken Mattingly was a distinguished NASA astronaut and United States Navy officer whose career spanned the Apollo program and the early Space Shuttle program. He is best known for his critical role supporting the Apollo 13 mission from Mission Control Center and later flying as the Command Module Pilot on Apollo 16. Mattingly also commanded two Space Shuttle missions before retiring as a rear admiral.

Early life and education

Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II was born on March 17, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. He spent much of his youth in Miami, Florida, where he developed an early interest in aviation. Mattingly attended Auburn University, graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He subsequently received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and completed flight training, earning his Naval Aviator wings in 1960. His early naval service included assignments flying F-9 Cougars and F-8 Crusaders from the USS *Saratoga* and the USS *Franklin D. Roosevelt*.

NASA career

Selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 5 in 1966, Mattingly began intensive training for upcoming Apollo program missions. He served on the support crew for Apollo 8 and Apollo 11, the latter being the historic first Moon landing. His technical expertise and performance in the simulator led to his assignment as the prime Command Module Pilot for Apollo 13, working alongside commander Jim Lovell and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise. Mattingly's career was also intertwined with the development of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, the advanced spacesuit used for lunar surface operations.

Apollo 13 mission

Just days before the scheduled launch of Apollo 13 in April 1970, Mattingly was removed from the prime crew due to exposure to German measles (rubella), against which he had no immunity. He was replaced by Jack Swigert. During the subsequent in-flight crisis caused by an oxygen tank explosion, Mattingly played an indispensable role in Mission Control Center in Houston. Working extensively in the simulator, he helped develop the critical procedures and power-up sequences that conserved the Command/Service Module's limited resources, enabling the safe return of the crew. His efforts were dramatized in the 1995 film Apollo 13, where he was portrayed by actor Gary Sinise.

Space Shuttle missions

Following his lunar mission, Mattingly transitioned to the Space Shuttle program. He served as the spacecraft commander for two early shuttle missions. The first was STS-4 in 1982, the final test flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia, which carried a Department of Defense payload. His second command was STS-51-C in 1985, the first fully dedicated Department of Defense mission for the Space Shuttle Discovery, which deployed a Magnum ELINT satellite. These flights contributed valuable data to the shuttle's operational certification.

Later life and legacy

After leaving NASA and retiring from the United States Navy with the rank of rear admiral in 1985, Mattingly held several executive positions in the aerospace industry. He worked for Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and General Dynamics, contributing to programs such as the X-33 venture. His numerous awards include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Mattingly's legacy is that of a skilled engineer and cool-headed problem-solver whose contributions were vital to the success and safety of American human spaceflight during a critical era.

Category:American astronauts Category:Apollo program astronauts Category:NASA astronauts Category:United States Navy rear admirals