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Jim IrwinUS astronaut
Date of Birth: 17.03.1930
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and NASA Career
James Irwin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on March 17, 1930. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1951 and served as a naval aviator. In 1966, he was selected as one of 19 astronauts by NASA, becoming the 55th astronaut worldwide.
Apollo 15 Mission
In 1969, Irwin served as the backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 12. In 1971, he flew into space aboard Apollo 15 as the lunar module pilot. During the mission, Irwin became the eighth person to walk on the Moon. The lunar module remained on the Moon's surface for 66 hours and 55 minutes.
Post-Apollo Life
After the Apollo 15 mission, Irwin became a fervent Christian and founded the High Flight Foundation (also known as Soaring High Ministries), a religious organization he led with his wife, Mary. In 1972, he was dismissed from NASA for attempting to profit from space-borne postage stamps.
Legacy and Death
Irwin passed away from a heart attack on August 8, 1991. He was the first of the twelve astronauts to walk on the Moon to die. His death was preceded by the deaths of Alan Shepard from leukemia in 1998 and Charles Conrad in a motorcycle accident in 1999. As of 2022, the remaining nine Apollo moonwalkers are still alive.
Personal Life and Trivia
Irwin was a devout Christian who experienced a religious awakening during his time on the Moon. He was also an accomplished pilot, logging over 1,500 flight hours as a naval aviator and as a NASA astronaut. Irwin's lunar boot, which he wore during his Apollo 15 moonwalk, was donated to his hometown of Pittsburgh and is now on display at the Carnegie Science Center.
