Apollo Astronaut Ken Mattingly, Hero of Apollo 13, Passes Away at 87

Ken Mattingly, the astronaut known for his crucial role in helping bring the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft back to Earth, has passed away at the age of 87. Mattingly, a former Navy pilot, joined NASA in 1966 and contributed to the development of spacesuits and backpacks for the Apollo moon missions. Although he didn't fly on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission due to exposure to German measles, Mattingly played a vital role in analyzing the situation and providing real-time decisions to save the crew. He later commanded two space shuttle missions before retiring as a rear admiral. Mattingly's legacy will be remembered as a key figure in the success of the Apollo Program.