Ken Mattingly, astronaut who helped Apollo 13 crew return safely home, dies at age 87

Ken Mattingly, a former Navy pilot and NASA astronaut, died on Oct. 31. He was remembered for his efforts on the ground that helped bring the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft safely back to Earth. He was key to the success of the Apollo Program and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history.

Ken Mattingly, an astronaut who is best remembered for his efforts on the ground that helped bring the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft safely back to Earth, has died, NASA announced. He was 87.

“We lost one of our country’s heroes on Oct. 31," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement on November 2.

Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II “was key to the success of our Apollo Program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history,” Nelson said.

NASA didn't mention where or how Mattingly died. However, The New York Times reported that Mattingly died in Arlington, Virginia.

A former Navy pilot, Mattingly joined NASA in 1966. He helped with development of the spacesuit and backpack for the Apollo moon missions, NASA said.

However, his own first spaceflight only came in 1972 when he orbited the moon as pilot of the Apollo 16 command module, while two other crew members landed on the moon's surface.

On the trip back to Earth, Mattingly spacewalked to collect film cannisters with photographs he had snapped of the moon's surface.