Current:Home > InvestFrank Borman, Apollo 8 astronaut who orbited the moon, dies at age 95-LoTradeCoin
Frank Borman, Apollo 8 astronaut who orbited the moon, dies at age 95
View Date:2024-12-24 00:09:30
Frank Borman, an astronaut who flew on the Apollo 8 mission that orbited the moon, has died, NASA announced. He was 95.
Borman died Tuesday in Billings, Montana, according to NASA.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson, in a statement, called Borman "one of NASA's best" and "a true American hero." "His lifelong love for aviation and exploration was only surpassed by his love for his wife Susan," Nelson added.
Apollo 8, launched in 1968, was the first NASA mission to both leave low Earth orbit and reach the moon. Borman, along with astronauts James Lovell, and William Anders, orbited the moon 10 times before returning to Earth. They were the first humans ever to see the far side of the moon. "Earthrise," the iconic photograph showing the Earth half-covered in shadow above the moon's horizon, was taken by Anders during this mission.
A decade later, Borman was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor for his role in the mission.
Borman was born in Gary, Indiana, and raised in Tucson, Arizona.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1950, the same year he began his career in the Air Force.
"His love of flying proved essential through his positions as a fighter pilot, operational pilot, test pilot, and assistant professor," Nelson said. "His exceptional experience and expertise led him to be chosen by NASA to join the second group of astronauts."
Prior to the Apollo program, Borman was part of the Gemini 7 flight in 1965. In that mission, he and Lovell orbited the Earth 206 times over the course of nearly 14 days and, along with Gemini 6, were part of NASA's first rendezvous in space.
Borman was also a member of the Apollo 204 Fire Investigation Board, which investigated the fire that sparked aboard Apollo 1 during a launch rehearsal, killing astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger B. Chaffee.
Borman retired from the Air Force in 1970 and went on to become senior vice president for operations of Eastern Airlines, which he had joined in 1969 as a special advisor. He would rise through the ranks of the company, eventually becoming CEO in 1975.
Borman also served on the boards of numerous companies, including Home Depot and National Geographic. He also served as CEO of Patlex Corporation from 1988 to 1996.
In addition to numerous awards, he was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1993. A section of Interstate 94 between Lake Station, Indiana, and the Illinois state line was named the Frank Borman Expressway in his honor.
- In:
- NASA
veryGood! (827)
Related
- Why have wildfires been erupting across the East Coast this fall?
- The Flying Scotsman locomotive collided with another train in Scotland. Several people were injured
- Did you profit big from re-selling Taylor Swift or Beyoncé tickets? The IRS is asking.
- Group of homeless people sues Portland, Oregon, over new daytime camping ban
- Social media star squirrel euthanized after being taken from home tests negative for rabies
- Virginia man wins lottery 24 times in a row using a consecutive number
- It's a trap! All of the goriest 'Saw' horror devices, ranked (including new 'Saw X' movie)
- Jessica Campbell, Kori Cheverie breaking barriers for female coaches in NHL
- NY forest ranger dies fighting fires as air quality warnings are issued in New York and New Jersey
- Kansas guard Arterio Morris charged with rape, dismissed from men’s basketball team
Ranking
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- New York man who served 18 years for murder acquitted at 2nd trial
- California man arrested, accused of killing mother by poisoning her with fentanyl
- It's a trap! All of the goriest 'Saw' horror devices, ranked (including new 'Saw X' movie)
- Climate Advocacy Groups Say They’re Ready for Trump 2.0
- Pilot of small plane dies after crash in Alabama field
- Titanic Submersible Movie in the Works 3 Months After OceanGate Titan Tragedy
- Deion Sanders is Colorado's $280 million man (after four games)
Recommendation
-
Hill House Home’s Once-A-Year Sale Is Here: Get 30% off Everything & up to 75% off Luxury Dresses
-
Angels star Shohei Ohtani finishes with the best-selling jersey in MLB this season
-
Collection of 100 classic cars up for auction at Iowa speedway: See what's for sale
-
The Flying Scotsman locomotive collided with another train in Scotland. Several people were injured
-
Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says
-
Love Is Blind's Chris Fox Reveals Why He Gave Johnie Maraist a Second Chance
-
Death toll from Pakistan bombing rises to 54 as suspicion falls on local Islamic State group chapter
-
Colts QB Anthony Richardson will start but as many as three starting linemen could be out