NASA Apollo astronaut Frank Borman died at 95 after a stroke. The international aerospace union announced the prominent astronaut's death on Thursday, Nov. 9.
Borman died just days after his fellow Apollo astronaut, Ken Mattingly, passed away (Mattingly died at 87 on Oct. 31). Since Borman was the oldest NASA astronaut, the space organization was deeply saddened by his sudden passing.
RIP Frank Borman: NASA Apollo Astronaut Dies at 95
American astronaut Colonel Frank Borman, Commander of the Apollo 8 mission, leaves 10 Downing Street in London with his wife Susan after a visit to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, 4th February 1969. He is on a nineteen-day goodwill tour of Europe.
According to NPR's latest report, Frank Borman died on Tuesday, Nov. 7, after he had a stroke in Billings, Montana. When was still alive, Borman was known to be a NASA astronaut who wanted to beat the Soviet Union in the space race.
NASA considers Borman a prominent astronaut who doesn't want to gain personal glory but wants the U.S. to win the space race. The aerospace organization said that Frank's discipline and attention to detail were among the reasons why they chose him in 1962.
"Today we remember one of NASA's best. Astronaut Frank Borman was a true American hero," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson via the agency's news release.
"Among his many accomplishments, he served as the commander of the Apollo 8 mission, humanity's first mission around the Moon in 1968," added the NASA official.
Bill Nelson further stated that Frank Borman's love for exploration and aviation was only surpassed by his love for Susan Borman, his wife.
Before Frank Borman died, he shared what got his attention when he was in space. He said that it wasn't the moon that surprised him, but the Earth itself.
Borman shared that it is surprising to see that Earth is the only thing in the world that has any color, saying that other planets and hevenly bodies are just black and white.
He described how beautiful Earth really is. Borman described the planet as having gorgeous blue, white, and brownish continents, which really impressed his site during his space trip.
Read Also: How Old is the Moon? Apollo 17 Rock Sample's Crystallization Gives More Precise Answer
Frank Borman's Contributions
Apollo 8 crew members James Lovell (R) speaks as Frank Borman (L) looks on during a live taping of a NASA TV program at the Newseum November 13, 2008 in Washington, DC. The former astronauts participated in a discussion on the December 1968 lunar orbital mission and how the success of Apollo 8 contributed to the overall moon landing effort.
Frank Borman really helped NASA become what it is today. Aside from the space industry, he is also a prominent individual in the flight sectors and other industries.
To remember the NASA Apollo astronaut, here are some of his contributions:
- Became one of the NASA astronauts to join the first crewed flight around the moon.
- Remained in an orbit of around 112 km above the surface of the moon.
- Sent TV pictures of the moon back to Earth to prove that lunar landmarks could be used for navigation to lunar landing sites.
- Served as the 44th Fighter Bomber Squadron in the Philippines between 1951 and 1956.
- He became an instructor at the Air Force Fighter Weapons School.
If you want to learn more about Borman's contributions to the world, you can click here.
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