Jack Swigert

John Leonard "Jack" Swigert, Jr., (August 30, 1931 - December 27, 1982) was a NASA astronaut.

Related Topics:
August 30 - 1931 - December 27 - 1982 - NASA - Astronaut

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Born in Denver, Colorado, Swigert attended the University of Colorado, where he played varsity football and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served with the United States Air Force as a combat pilot in Korea and then became a test pilot.

Related Topics:
Denver, Colorado - University of Colorado - Football - United States Air Force - Korea

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After earning a Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Hartford College, Swigert was accepted into the NASA Apollo program.

Related Topics:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Hartford College - NASA - Apollo program

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Swigert was one of three astronauts aboard the ill-fated Apollo 13 moon mission, which was launched on April 11 1970. The mission was the third lunar landing attempt, but was aborted after the rupture of an oxygen tank on the spacecraft's service module. Swigert and fellow astronauts Jim Lovell, and Fred Haise, returned safely to Earth on April 17 after approximately 5 days and 23 hours in space. Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1970.

Related Topics:
Apollo 13 - Moon - April 11 - 1970 - Oxygen - Spacecraft - Jim Lovell - Fred Haise - April 17 - Space - Presidential Medal of Freedom

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Swigert was originally suggested as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project's Command Module Pilot, but was removed as punishment for his role in the postage stamp scandal following the Apollo 15 mission. Swigert was not involved in the controversial Apollo 15 stamp deal, but in the investigation that followed the scandal he initially denied having any involvement in similar schemes. When evidence against him started to build up he confessed to Deke Slayton and was consequently considered to be undesirable from a public relations viewpoint.

Related Topics:
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project - Command Module - Apollo 15 - Deke Slayton

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He later became staff director of the Committee on Science and Technology of the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected as a Republican to Colorado's newly created Sixth Congressional District in November 1982, he died of bone cancer before taking office.

Related Topics:
Committee on Science and Technology - U.S. House of Representatives - Colorado - November - 1982 - Cancer

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In 1995, Swigert was portrayed by Kevin Bacon in the movie Apollo 13.

Related Topics:
1995 - Kevin Bacon - Apollo 13

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In 1997 the state of Colorado submitted a statue of him to National Statuary Hall Collection.

Related Topics:
1997 - National Statuary Hall Collection

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