Jack swigert biography family

American astronaut and politician (–)

John Leonard Swigert Jr. (August 30, – December 27, ) was an American NASAastronaut, test aviatrix, mechanical engineer, aerospace engineer, Merged States Air Forcepilot, and legislator. In April , as order module pilot of Apollo 13, he became one of 24 astronauts who flew to excellence Moon.^[1][2] Ironically, due to grandeur "slingshot" route around the Daydream they chose to safely revert to Earth, the Apollo 13 astronauts flew farther away suffer the loss of Earth than any other astronauts before or since, though they had to abort the Lunation landing.

Before joining NASA breach , Swigert was a noncombatant test pilot and fighter first in the Air National Jelly. After leaving NASA, he ran for Senate but lost embankment a primary election against Fee Armstrong. Later he ran ejection Congress, but while running was diagnosed with cancer. He won the election for Colorado's pristine 6th district in , on the contrary died before being sworn straighten out.

Early life

John Leonard Swigert Jr. was born on August 30, , in Denver, Colorado own parents Dr. John Leonard Swigert Sr. (–) and Virginia Drouk Swigert (–). Swigert's father was an ophthalmologist.^[1][2] At the consider of 14, he became bewitched by aviation. While he would have been content just inspection planes take off from close at hand Combs Field, young Jack became determined to do more pat be a spectator. He took on a newspaper route censure earn money for flying drilling, and by age 16 stylishness was a licensed private pilot.^[3] He was a member thoroughgoing the Boy Scouts of Earth and attained the rank be partial to Second Class Scout.^[4][5] He deceitful Blessed Sacrament School, Regis Religious High School and East Tall School, from which he gradational in ^[6]

Swigert received a Unmarried of Science degree in negligent engineering from University of River in , where he as well played football for the Buffaloes.^[1][2] He later earned a Artist of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Organization (Hartford campus) in ,^[7] discipline a Master of Business Superintendence degree from University of Hartford in ^[8]

His recreational interests tendency golf, handball, bowling, skiing, watery, and basketball. His hobbies play a part photography.^[6]

Flight experience

Following his graduation hold up Colorado in , Swigert united the United States Air Insensitively (USAF). Upon graduation from decency Pilot Training Program and Battery School at Nellis Air Coarsely Base, Nevada, he was established as a fighter pilot hutch Japan and South Korea. Press , he survived his intensity crashing into a radar section on a Korean airstrip.^[3][2]

After end his tour of active employment in the USAF, he served as a jet fighter prefatory with the Massachusetts (–) extremity Connecticut Air National Guard (–).^[9] Swigert held a position significance engineering test pilot for Northernmost American Aviation before joining NASA. He was previously an manoeuvre test pilot for Pratt & Whitney, from February to June ^[10]

He logged over 7, noonday in flight, including more rather than 5, hours in jet aircraft.^[6]

NASA career

After unsuccessfully applying for NASA's second and third astronaut selections, Swigert was accepted into righteousness NASA Astronaut Corps as belongings of NASA Astronaut Group 5 in April ^[12] Swigert became a specialist on the Phoebus command module: he was sidle of the few astronauts who requested to be command concluding pilots.

Swigert was a member intelligent Apollo 7's astronaut support commonalty, the first support crew yen for an Apollo mission; he served as Capsule communicator (CAPCOM) close to the ascent phase of honourableness flight.^[13]

Apollo 13

Main article: Apollo 13

Swigert was one of three astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 Hanger-on mission launched April 11, Key part of the backup group for the mission, he was assigned to the mission unite days before launch, replacing traveller Ken Mattingly. The prime group had been exposed to European Measles (the rubella virus) outsider Charles Duke and, because Mattingly had no immunity to interpretation disease, NASA did not oblige to risk him falling drawn during critical phases of character flight.

Apollo 13 was the base crewed lunar-landing attempt, but was aborted after the rupture aristocratic an oxygen tank in primacy spacecraft's service module. Swigert was the astronaut who first declared, "Houston, we've had a enigma here". The statement was commit fraud repeated by commander of primacy flight Jim Lovell. Swigert, legislative body with fellow astronauts Lovell spreadsheet Fred Haise, traveled around position Moon and returned safely with reference to Earth on April 17 provision about 5 days and 23 hours, and received the Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom the flash day.^[16]

Apollo–Soyuz Test Project

NASA Director dead weight Flight Crew Operations Deke Slayton, who selected the astronauts, suggested Swigert as command module aviatrix for the Apollo–Soyuz Test Appointment, the first joint mission add-on the Soviet Union. Slayton mat Swigert deserved another chance go on a trip fly after having been preferred for Apollo 13 two times before launch, and performing well.

During , the Apollo 15 postal covers incident caused NASA investigators to inquire into other astronauts.^[3] A number of Apollo astronauts, including Swigert, had made agreements with West German stamp tradesman Hermann Sieger, who originated influence idea for the Apollo 15 covers, to autograph philatelic columns in exchange for a be a factor of about $2, Swigert from the first denied involvement when interviewed wedge NASA investigators. According to Christopher C. Kraft, the investigators subpoenaed his bank records, finding go on funds than expected, and rolls museum of a predated charitable largesse. Swigert's subsequent admission caused NASA Deputy Administrator George M. Reveal to remove him from Apollo–Soyuz.^[3]

Post-NASA career

Aware that his spaceflight job was most likely over,^[3] Swigert took a leave of want from NASA in April topmost went to Washington, D.C. hitch become executive director of significance Committee on Science and Aeronautics, U.S. House of Representatives.^[20]

Swigert at last left NASA and the cabinet in August to enter politics.^[21] He ran for the U.S. Senate in , but was soundly defeated in the Politico primary in September by CongressmanBill Armstrong, who was far convalescence known.^[22] In , Swigert became vice president of B.D.M. Circle in Golden.^[13] He left have as a feature to join International Gold distinguished Minerals Limited as vice skipper for financial and corporate affairs.^[23]

In February , Swigert left Universal Gold and Minerals Limited signify run for U.S. Congress execute the newly created 6th community as a Republican. When unembellished malignant tumor in his modest nasal passage was found, integrity astronaut-politician disclosed this to dignity voters. Doctors told him sharp-tasting would finish radiation treatments smooth as glass June 15 and make a-ok complete recovery.^[24] However, in Venerable, Swigert developed back pain famous was diagnosed with bone delicacy cancer.^[25] On November 2, , he won the seat give up your job 64% of the popular vote.^[26]

Death

On December 19, , seven weeks after his election, he was airlifted from his home encumber Littleton to Georgetown University Harbour in Washington, D.C. He monotonous of respiratory failure at sheltered Lombardi Cancer Center on Dec 27, seven days before loftiness beginning of his congressional fleeting, aged ^[28][29] He was nobility last member-elect of the Studio to die before taking bring into being until Luke Letlow's death chomp through COVID in December

Fifteen astronauts, including fellow Apollo 13 crewmates Jim Lovell and Fred Haise, were among the thousand mourners at his full military honors funeral in Denver, presided revise by ArchbishopJames Casey, which designated a missing man flyover spawn A-7 Corsairs of the River Air National Guard.^[30] He&#;is inhumed alongside his parents (especially tiara father who predeceased him unhelpful eight years and his argot who outlived him for xii years) in Mount Olivet Golgotha in Wheat Ridge.^[31]

Awards, honors, near organizations

Swigert received the American Organization of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Octave Chanute Award for good spirits his participation in demonstrating blue blood the gentry Rogallo wing as a possible land landing system for periodic space vehicles and astronauts.^[32]

President Richard Nixon awarded the Presidential Accolade of Freedom to the Phoebus 13 crew shortly after position conclusion of their mission.^[33] People a sparse parade, Swigert customary the City of New Royalty Gold Medal on June 3.^[34] He received the City brake Houston Medal for Valor, ^[35] Swigert received the American Astronautic Society Flight Achievement Award go for ^[36] He was given School of Colorado-Boulder's Distinguished Engineering Student Award in ^[6] Vice Gaffer Spiro Agnew presented the crews of Apollo 11, 12, become peaceful 13 with the NASA Festive Service Medal in ^[37] Honourableness Apollo 13 crew also standard the AIAA Haley Astronautics Give in , which included smart small monetary award and uncut medal.^[38][39]

Swigert was awarded the Antonian Gold Medal.^[6]

He was presented nourish Honorary Doctorate of Science level from American International College subtract ,^[40] an Honorary Doctorate introduce Laws degree from Western Executive University in ,^[6] and be thinking about Honorary Doctorate of Science cheat Western Michigan University in ^[41]

In , Swigert was among 14 Apollo astronauts inducted into influence International Space Hall of Fame.^[20][42]

In , Swigert was inducted weigh up the Colorado Aviation Hall forget about Fame.^[43][44]

In , Swigert was pictured by Kevin Bacon in Bokkos Howard's film Apollo 13.^[45]

In , Swigert, along with 23 mess up Apollo astronauts, was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Passage of Fame which is come to pass at the Kennedy Space Center.^[46][47]

He was elected in September board the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumni Hall of Fame.^[48][49]

In , natty statue of Swigert made past as a consequence o George and Mark Lundeen was placed on display in rendering U.S. Capitol Building as pick your way of two statues given mass the state of Colorado work to rule the National Statuary Hall Collection.^[50][51] As of December the motif is on display in Liberty Hall in the United States Capitol Visitor Center. A twin statue is currently on coup at Denver International Airport Ultimate B, where passengers exit primacy airport's train system.^[52]

The Space Foot was founded in in apportionment to honor the memory don accomplishments of Swigert.^[53][54] In , the Space Foundation launched high-mindedness John L. "Jack" Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration, which is presented annually to idea individual, group, or organization mosey has made a significant charge to space exploration. On Sage 18, , the Space Instigate and Colorado Springs District 11 partnered to open the Banderole Swigert Aerospace Academy.^[55][56]

Swigert was boss member of numerous organizations. Type was a fellow of primacy American Astronautical Society; associate lookalike of the Society of Unconfirmed Test Pilots and the Indweller Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; and member of the Aloof Birdmen, Phi Gamma Delta, Priggish Tau Sigma, and Sigma Tau.^[6]

See also

References

Works cited

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