Ken Mattingly

Thomas Kenneth (Ken) Mattingly II (born March 17, 1936) is an American astronaut who flew on the Apollo 16, STS-4, and STS-51-C missions.

Related Topics:
March 17 - 1936 - American - Astronaut - Apollo 16 - STS-4 - STS-51-C

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He was a student at the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School when NASA selected him as an astronaut in April 1966. His first flight assignment was Command Module pilot on the Apollo 13 mission, but he was removed from the mission three days before the scheduled launch because he was exposed to German measles. He thereby missed the dramatic in-flight explosion and ultimately safe return of the crew. However, he was involved in helping the crew figure out how to conserve as much power as possible for re-entry. He finally flew as Command Module pilot on Apollo 16. Commander John Young, Lunar Module pilot Charles Duke, and Mattingly were launched on April 16, 1972. While Young and Duke explored the lunar surface for three days, Mattingly used instruments mounted in the service module from an altitude of 100 km to photographically and geochemically map a band of the lunar surface around the equator.

Related Topics:
NASA - Apollo 13 - German measles - John Young - Charles Duke - April 16 - 1972 - Lunar surface

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Following his return to earth, Mattingly served in astronaut managerial positions in the Space Shuttle development program. He was named to command the fourth and final test flight of the shuttle Columbia. On June 27, 1982, he and pilot Henry Hartsfield were launched on a seven-day mission during which they thoroughly tested the shuttle systems and operated the spaceplane's first military payload. Mattingly's final entry into space came on January 24, 1985, as commander of Discovery on the 15th shuttle flight. During three days in orbit, he and a crew of four deployed a military satellite from the cargo bay.

Related Topics:
June 27 - 1982 - Henry Hartsfield - January 24 - 1985

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Thereafter he retired from NASA and the Navy (with the rank of Rear Admiral), and entered the aerospace business. He worked as a Director in Grumman's Space Station Support Division. He then headed the Atlas booster program for General Dynamics in San Diego, California. At Lockheed Martin he was Vice President in charge of the X-33 development program.

Related Topics:
Navy - Grumman's Space Station Support Division - General Dynamics - Lockheed Martin - X-33

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In the movie Apollo 13, which is about the actual failed lunar mission which Ken Mattingly was supposed to have been on, he is played by Gary Sinise. There is little physical resemblance between Mattingly and Sinise, but interestingly, they have the same birthday.

Related Topics:
Apollo 13 - Gary Sinise

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A native of Chicago, Illinois, Mattingly graduated with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1958 from Auburn University where he also served as Student Government Association president.

Related Topics:
Chicago, Illinois - Auburn University

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