Beloved NASA Astronaut Thomas K. “TK” Mattingly II passed away on October 31, 2023, at the age of 87. Mattingly began his career as a United States Navy Pilot before entering the astronaut class of 1966.
At the height of his career, just three days before the Apollo 13 mission launch, Mattingly was exposed to rubella (human viral disease). As a precaution, he was unable to serve as the mission’s command module pilot and stayed on the ground.
After launch, an oxygen tank explosion rocked the spacecraft, endangering the crew on the way to the Moon. Mattingly, who was later confirmed not sick, went to Mission Control and strategized with the ground crew to develop a procedure to conserve power and successfully return the crew home. Guests can view the modified Lithium Hydroxide Canister prototype that help save all three astronauts in our Starship Gallery.
Space Center Houston honors the life and legacy of Thomas K. Mattingly II. His contributions have played a pivotal role in the success of lunar exploration and the human spaceflight program. Now, as we return to the Moon, we look to legends like him to inspire the next generation of explorers. With human ingenuity, resilience and determination, anything is possible!
Photos courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
