RIP Ken Mattingly, having never gotten the measles

Famous for not only being the command module pilot for Apollo 16 and two early Shuttle missions, being unlucky/lucky enough to get pulled from the crew of Apollo 13 just three days before launch.

Of course, nobody ever made a movie about Apollo 16.

RIP to a steely-eyed missileman.


Astronaut Ken Mattingly, who launched to the moon on Apollo 16, dies at 87

 

Goddam those guys were heroes. Brilliant, steely, fearless. Some of the best of us.

 

@maumann @UNCGrad
Very well stated. I have nothing more to add.

 

RIP. And great thread title.

 

Go re-read "The Right Stuff". Those guys, and those who are like them today, simply amaze me.

 

Gary Sinise's portrayal of Mattingly in "Apollo 13" was very cool, but it was also a "composite character" of not only him but numerous Apollo astronauts who jumped into action to help develop the procedures to save the flight. Also, Sinise really didn't resemble Mattingly very much, but Mattingly wasn't an iconic face so that wasn't a major factor.

 

I denounce myself for the DB.

 

Take a dip in the blue moon lake of fail?

 

Between Pete Conrad, Tom Stafford, Ken Mattingly and Al Bean, Apollo had a few hair-challenged astronauts for guys so young.

 

A lot of testosterone.

 

Oldest living lunar mission guy: Frank Borman, 95 (Jim Lovell 11 days younger).

Youngest: Charlie Duke, 88. LM pilot on 16 with Mattingly (who also exposed Mattingly to the Measles virus), but probably better known as the Capcom who told Neil Armstrong, "You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again, thanks a lot."