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Alfred Merrill Worden (February 7, 1932 – March 18, 2020) was an American test pilot, engineer and NASA astronaut who was command module pilot for the Apollo 15 lunar mission in 1971. One of 24 people to have flown to the Moon, he orbited it 74 times in the command module (CM) Endeavour.

Key Information

Worden was born in Michigan in 1932; he spent his early years living on farms and attended the University of Michigan for one year, before securing an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Graduating in 1955, he elected to be commissioned in the United States Air Force, though he had no piloting experience. He proved adept at flying fighter planes, and honed his skills, becoming a test pilot before his selection as a Group 5 astronaut in 1966. He served on the support crew for Apollo 9 and the backup crew for Apollo 12 before his selection for the Apollo 15 crew in 1970, with David Scott as commander and James Irwin as lunar module pilot.

After Apollo 15 reached lunar orbit, and his crewmates departed to land on the Moon, Worden spent three days alone in the CM, becoming in the process the individual who traveled the farthest from any other human being, a distinction he still holds. He took many photographs of the Moon and operated a suite of scientific instruments that probed the Moon. During Apollo 15's return flight to Earth, Worden performed an extravehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalk, to retrieve film cassettes from cameras on the exterior of the spacecraft. It was the first "deep space" EVA in history, and as of 2022 remains the one that has taken place farthest from Earth.

After their return, the crew became involved in a controversy over postal covers they had taken to the Moon; they were reprimanded by NASA and did not fly in space again. Worden remained at NASA until 1975 at the Ames Research Center, then entered the private sector. He engaged in a variety of business activities, and had a longtime involvement with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, serving as chair of its board of directors from 2005 until 2011. He made many public appearances, promoting a renewed space program and education in the sciences, before his death in 2020.

Early life and education

[edit]

Alfred Merrill Worden was born February 7, 1932, in Jackson, Michigan, the son of Merrill Bangs Worden and Helen Garnett Worden (née Crowell).[1][2] The second of six children, and the oldest of the four boys, Alfred Merrill Worden lived on his family's farm outside the city of Jackson, though the family stayed part of the time at his maternal grandparents' farm near East Jordan.[3] Worden attended Dibble, Griswold, Bloomfield and East Jackson grade schools and graduated from Jackson High School,[4] where he became the student council president.[5] He was a Boy Scout and earned the rank of First Class Scout.[6]

His family was not wealthy, so Worden sought a scholarship to enable his studies. He was able to secure one to the University of Michigan, but it was good for only one year. Seeing the U.S. service academies as his road to an education, Worden took an entrance examination and was offered appointments both to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He selected West Point and began his studies there in July 1951.[7] Worden later stated, "There was no way I was going to live the rest of my life on a farm. That kind of got me started down the path that led to NASA."[8]

Worden came to like the demanding life at West Point, especially once he passed the initial stages of his military education and was given greater responsibility within the Corps of Cadets. In addition to his studies, he participated in cross country running, gymnastics and cheerleading.[9] He received a Bachelor of Science degree in military science from West Point in 1955,[1] finishing 47th out of 470 in his class.[10]

Military service

[edit]
Worden's graduating class at the Aerospace Research Pilot School, 1965. Worden is standing furthest right.

At the time Worden graduated from West Point, he had no piloting experience.[11] The United States Air Force Academy was not yet graduating cadets, and would not until 1959. Graduates of West Point and Annapolis were permitted to choose to be commissioned in the Air Force,[12] and some of Worden's instructors urged this course upon him. He chose the Air Force, thinking promotion would be faster, something he subsequently learned was not the case.[13]

Worden received primary flight training at Moore Air Force Base, Texas, where he learned to fly on Beechcraft T-34 trainer aircraft, coming to love piloting.[1][14] Worden advanced for training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, on Lockheed T-33 jet trainers, and after eight months went on to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, for Air Defense Command training, flying F-86D Sabres.[1][15] Worden first post-training assignment was with the 95th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, near Washington, D.C., where he flew F-86Ds, and later, F-102 Delta Daggers.[16] In addition to serving as a pilot there from March 1957 until May 1961, he was his squadron's armament officer.[1]

Seeking both to advance his career and to benefit the Air Force, Worden in 1961 asked to be sent to study aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan.[17] He earned Master of Science degrees in aerospace engineering and instrumentation engineering from the University of Michigan in 1963.[1]

After graduation, Worden applied for U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, but to his surprise, he was not selected. He learned that his superiors wanted him to be part of an exchange program with Britain's Royal Air Force and be trained at the Empire Test Pilots' School in Farnborough, England. Since that course would not begin for six months, Worden spent the time at the Randolph Air Force Base Instrument Pilots Instructor School. After successfully completing the course at Farnborough, second in his class, Worden returned to the U.S. He then served as an instructor at the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS), to which he was ordered at the specific request of its commandant, Colonel Chuck Yeager, and from which he graduated in September 1965.[1][18][19]

NASA career

[edit]

Selection

[edit]

In 1963, Worden put his name in for selection to NASA Astronaut Group 3 but was told that though NASA was interested in him even without test pilot experience, he was ruled out by his pending orders to Farnborough, with which the agency could not interfere. Worden thought he would be beyond NASA's age limit for new astronauts when next free to consider such a career option, and so believed he would never be an astronaut.[20]

The Group 5 astronauts. Worden stands third from right.

NASA's recruitment for its fifth group of astronauts took place in 1965, at the same time the Air Force was seeking to recruit for its program, the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, with qualified pilots in the Air Force free to apply for either or both. Believing, as proved correct, that the Air Force program would never get off the ground, Worden chose to apply only to NASA, which he did in September 1965. Worden wrote in his first book of memoirs that "professionally, I figured it couldn't get any better than that. Even being a test pilot couldn't compare with being an astronaut and making a spaceflight."[21] Under the selection criteria, candidates had to be born on or after December 1, 1929, raising the age limit from 34 to 36.[22] Worden, aged 34 when selected, was one of the 19 candidates chosen by NASA in April 1966, together with his ARPS classmates Stuart Roosa and Charles Duke; four others were previous graduates.[23]

Having been urged by NASA superiors to have plenty of astronauts available for the many hoped-for Apollo and Apollo Applications missions, Director of Flight Crew Operations Deke Slayton, the astronauts' supervisor, hired all the Group 5 candidates he considered qualified. Budget cuts and the diversion of funds to other programs meant there would be relatively few flights, and Worden perceived some resentment at the new intake from more senior astronauts as the competition for spots on Apollo missions intensified.[24][25]

Early assignments

[edit]

On October 3, 1966, Chief Astronaut Alan Shepard assigned Worden and four other Group 5 selectees, Ken Mattingly, Jack Swigert, Ronald Evans and Vance Brand, to the astronaut team dealing with the Block II command module (CM), headed by Pete Conrad.[26] The Block I command modules were intended only for Apollo's initial Earth-orbit flights, and in fact never flew in space on a crewed mission; the Block II modules would go to lunar orbit.[27] The following month, Worden was assigned as part of the support crew for the second crewed Apollo mission, along with Fred Haise and Edgar Mitchell. Apollo support crews were to do the things that the prime and backup crews did not have time for. Worden took the assignment as an indication that NASA management, including Slayton, was pleased with him.[28]

Worden was at North American Aviation's plant in Downey, California, where the Block II command module was being built, on January 27, 1967, when he received an urgent phone call from Slayton, informing him that all three Apollo 1 astronauts had been killed in a fire at the launch pad, where a test was under way. Worden informed the other astronauts on-site and they flew back to Houston. He was especially saddened by the fact that the three accomplished pilots who were to make up the first Apollo space crew died on the ground, rather than flying. During the complete safety review that followed, Worden spent much of his time in Downey working on the Block II CM, seeking (with other CM specialists such as Swigert) to remove potential combustibles and other hazards. After the pause, he remained on the support crew for the second Apollo mission, which was to include testing of the CM and Lunar Module (LM) in Earth orbit.[29][30]

This mission was initially designated Apollo 8.[31] There were delays in the development of the LM and in August 1968, NASA official George Low proposed that if Apollo 7 in October went well, Apollo 8 should go to lunar orbit without a LM, so as not to hold up the program. The Earth-orbit test would become Apollo 9.[32] The crew who had been scheduled for Apollo 8, led by Jim McDivitt, became the Apollo 9 crew,[33] and Worden became part of that mission's support crew along with Mitchell and Jack Lousma.[34]

Worden was named as backup command module pilot (CMP) for the Apollo 12 flight.[34][35] Apollo 9's CMP had been David Scott,[34] who became, by the normal rotation of crews instituted by Slayton, the backup commander of Apollo 12 and the prospective commander of Apollo 15, with Worden likely to be the CMP of Apollo 15's prime crew. Jim Irwin was named backup lunar module pilot (LMP) for Apollo 12, with similar prospects of flying on Apollo 15. Slayton, in his memoirs, mentioned that Worden had been on the support crew for Apollo 9, and deemed him a "logical choice".[36] Worden wrote in his own autobiography that he and Irwin had learned of their selection for Apollo 12 at a meeting in Scott's office.[37]

The Corvettes owned by Worden (left) and Scott, as photographed in 2019

As Apollo 12's backup command module pilot, Worden forged a close, lifelong friendship with the prime crew's CMP, Dick Gordon, with whom he trained. Worden remembered, "Dick was my buddy. We flew together and worked together for a year and a half when he was training for Apollo 12 and I was his backup. We just went everywhere together. We worked really hard but it was also a lot of fun."[38] Gordon and Worden learned navigational techniques for space so that if communications with Mission Control failed, the CMP could bring the craft home.[39] Worden remembered that the Apollo 12 prime crew, led by Pete Conrad, had a close bond and drove matching black and gold Chevrolet Corvettes at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). In reaction, the backup crew secured a red one for Irwin, white for Worden, and a blue car for Scott, both emphasizing their individuality within the crew and making them less conspicuous at times when they did not want to be recognized as astronauts, especially since the three cars were rarely seen together.[a][40]

Apollo 15

[edit]

Preparation and launch

[edit]
Worden in the command module during training

Scott, Worden, and Irwin were publicly named as the crew of Apollo 15 on March 26, 1970.[41] Apollo 15 was originally scheduled to be an H mission, with a limited stay of 33 hours on the Moon and two moonwalks, but the cancellation of two Apollo missions in mid-1970 meant the flight would be a J mission, with three moonwalks during its three-day stay, the first Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV),[42] and in the service module (SM) a suite of scientific instruments to probe the Moon. It was Worden's job, as his crewmates walked on the Moon, to operate these devices. For the first time, observations from lunar orbit were made a formal mission objective, and, like the CMPs of Apollo 13 and Apollo 14, Worden worked with geologist Farouk El-Baz during training, learning to interpret what he saw as he flew over the mountains and deserts of the western United States.[43] Worden found El-Baz to be an enjoyable and inspiring teacher.[44] He also accompanied his crewmates on geology training which took them to places where they walked over terrain resembling the Moon's, including sites in Hawaii, Mexico, and Iceland. He trained for the possibility he might have to return without Scott and Irwin or rescue them if the LM launched into the wrong orbit.[45] When he was not busy with that or other training, Worden spent much of his time at North American Rockwell's facilities at Downey, supervising the construction and testing of Apollo 15's command and service module (CSM).[46]

Before leaving on his mission, Worden appeared on the children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He felt NASA needed to do more to engage children, members of a generation whose support would one day be necessary for the space program. Fred Rogers was planning to do shows on parents going away on trips, and felt Worden's appearance would mesh well with that. Worden appeared on the show before going to the Moon and answered several children's questions: he wrote down some others and took them with him on the spacecraft, promising to think about them on the trip, and after the mission, appeared again on the program to answer them.[47]

Apollo 15 took off on its lunar journey from KSC on July 26, 1971.[48] Once trans-lunar injection had been achieved, placing the spacecraft on a trajectory towards the Moon, explosive cords separated the CSM, Endeavour, from the booster as Worden operated the CSM's thrusters to push it away. Worden then maneuvered the CSM to dock with the LM, Falcon, which was mounted on the end of the S-IVB (the booster that had supplied the thrust for TLI), and the combined craft was then separated from the S-IVB by explosives.[49]

Lunar orbit

[edit]

After the mission arrived in lunar orbit, Scott and Irwin entered Falcon while Worden remained in Endeavour. When the two craft failed to separate to allow Falcon and its crew to prepare for the Moon landing, Worden went into the docking tunnel and reconnected a loose umbilical, fixing the problem.[50][51] Worden, in Endeavour, was able to listen as Scott and Irwin descended toward and landed on the Moon, but was unable to spot Falcon until a later orbit, though he passed over the targeted site at the moment of planned landing.[52] He had executed a burn of the CSM's main engine, the Service Propulsion System, to send Endeavour from the lower orbit in which the two craft separated, to an orbit of 65.2 nautical miles (120.8 km; 75.0 mi) by 54.8 nautical miles (101.5 km; 63.1 mi) in preparation for his scientific work.[51]

I didn't come to any conclusions. I still don't know what is out there. What I strongly sensed is that we as a species have not yet experienced enough of the universe. Whatever we believe now is probably not accurate. We have developed our ideas based only on what we can see, touch, and measure. Now I was having a glimpse into infinity and could only dimly sense, not understand, the journey ahead for humans.

Alfred M. Worden[53]

Worden began what amounted to a separate mission from his crewmates, with a separate CAPCOM and mission controllers. His main tasks while alone in lunar orbit were photography, and operating the instruments in the SIM bay.[54] Filling previously unused space in the service module, the SIM bay contained a gamma-ray spectrometer, mounted on the end of a boom, an X-ray spectrometer and a laser altimeter, which failed part way through the mission. A stellar camera and a metric camera together comprised the mapping camera, which was complemented by a panoramic camera, derived from the long-classified Corona spy technology. Also present were an alpha particle spectrometer, which could be used to detect evidence of lunar volcanism, and a mass spectrometer, also on a boom in the hope it would be unaffected by contamination from the ship.[55] He supplemented the photographs with verbal descriptions; Endeavour's inclined orbit caused it to pass over features never seen before in detail as Worden watched.[56] Each time Endeavour's orbit passed from the far side of the Moon to a view of the Earth and renewed communications with Mission Control, Worden greeted it with the words, "Hello, Earth. Greetings from Endeavour", expressed in different languages. Worden and El-Baz had come up with the idea, and had collaborated on translations.[57]

Busy as he was, he still had time to savor the experience.[58] Knowing he was unlikely to come back to the Moon, Worden was determined to absorb the entire experience. He did not need all the rest periods for sleep, and spent part of that time in contemplation of what was outside his craft, and what it all meant. Through Endeavour's windows, he watched the Moon, the Earth, and the stars – he could see many more stars, and more intensely, than Earthbound observers. He concluded it was naive to believe Earth had the only life in the universe, and he wondered if space exploration was part of humanity's survival instinct to avoid being trapped in a single solar system.[59]

Worden has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the "most isolated human being" during his time alone in Endeavour. Orbiting the Moon alone, he was at his greatest distance from Scott and Irwin in Falcon, 2,235 miles (3,597 km) away from any other human beings.[60] He later stated he enjoyed his "three wonderful days in a spacecraft all by myself", and that he was used to being alone as a fighter pilot.[8][61] Worden remembered, "On the back side of the Moon, I didn't even have to talk to Houston and that was the best part of the flight."[61]

Return

[edit]
Worden performing the first deep-space EVA during Apollo 15's homeward journey (1971)

As Falcon took off from the Moon, Worden played a recording of the Air Force Song ("Off we go, into the wild blue yonder"), intending it to be heard only in Mission Control; somewhat to his chagrin, it was relayed to the LM, to the annoyance of Scott. Worden piloted the CSM as Scott maneuvered the LM, bringing them together in a direct rendezvous, on the first lunar orbit, the second time a first-orbit rendezvous had been accomplished (after Apollo 14).[62]

Endeavour completed 74 lunar orbits prior to trans-Earth injection (TEI), the burn to take the astronauts home.[63] On the way back to Earth, Worden did a spacewalk to retrieve film from the spacecraft's cameras.[64] He took 38 minutes in extravehicular activity (EVA) outside Endeavour to accomplish this, three times venturing from outside the hatch to the exterior of the SIM bay of the SM. In retrieving the film cassettes from the panoramic and mapping cameras, Worden performed the first deep-space EVA,[65][66] and reported his personal observations of the general condition of equipment housed there.[1] Worden remains, as of 2020, the record-holder for the spacewalk performed furthest from Earth.[67] Apollo 15 concluded with a Pacific splashdown and subsequent recovery by the amphibious assault ship USS Okinawa. In completing his flight, Worden logged 295 hours and 11 minutes in space.[1]

Covers incident

[edit]
Main article: Apollo 15 postal covers incident

The crew had, before the mission, agreed with an acquaintance named Horst Eiermann, who was working on behalf of a West German stamp dealer, Hermann Sieger, to carry 100 postal covers to the Moon in exchange for approximately $7,000 to each astronaut. The astronauts added 100 more for each crew member, though two covers were unaccounted for, leading to a total of 398. These were carried aboard Endeavour prior to launch by Scott in his spacesuit's pocket, were transferred into Falcon and spent three days on the lunar surface inside the lander. After the return, 100 covers were sent to Eiermann in West Germany, and the astronauts received the agreed payments. NASA rules required that personal items carried aboard Apollo flights be manifested for weight and other reasons and approved by Slayton; this was not done.[68] The astronauts stated their intent had been to set up trust funds for their children,[69] and that they intended that the covers not be sold or otherwise publicized until the Apollo program was over and they had left NASA and the Air Force.[70] Astronauts were forbidden by standards of conduct issued in 1967 from using their position for financial gain for themselves or other people.[71]

In addition to the 398 carried by Scott, Worden took 144 covers into space, at the instigation of F. Herrick Herrick, a retired movie director and a stamp collector.[72] These had, as required, been approved by Slayton, who did not ask where Worden had gotten them. After the flight Worden sent 100 of them to Herrick, who sold some.[73] These sales prompted an inquiry to NASA, alerting Slayton, who warned Worden to avoid further commercialization. Worden wrote an angry letter to Herrick, stating that the sales were putting his career at risk.[74]

Envelope with three stamps and a design of the phases of the moon
One of the covers created for Herrick

The 100 covers Scott sent to West Germany were put on sale to Sieger's customers in late 1971 at a price of about $1,500 each. After receiving the agreed payments, the astronauts returned them, and in the end, took no compensation.[75] Slayton heard about the Sieger covers, and he spoke with Worden and Irwin; both referred him to Scott. Slayton, knowing Worden was a stamp collector, became suspicious that he had arranged both deals, and this led to repeated phone calls asking for details.[76] In April 1972, Slayton met with Scott and Worden and learned from them that unauthorized covers had been flown.[77] Worden remembered what hurt the most about that meeting was having disappointed Slayton, a man he greatly admired.[78]

The Apollo 15 crew had been recycled as the backup crew for Apollo 17, the final Apollo mission, as using fully-trained astronauts was easier than training a fresh backup crew who would have no prospect of being the prime crew on a later lunar Apollo mission.[79] But in May 1972, as Worden remembered, Slayton called him while Worden was preparing for geological training, instructing him to clear out his office and go back to the Air Force. Slayton had prevailed on Irwin to retire, letting NASA assign a new backup crew. Worden did not clear out his office but began looking into ways of staying at NASA, even if outside the Astronaut Corps.[80] Slayton said at the time that he had to reduce the number of astronauts, that Irwin and Mitchell were eligible for retirement from the military, and the astronaut he could most easily do without after that was Worden; the postal covers incident had played a part in that determination.[81]

The matter became public in June 1972 and the three astronauts were reprimanded for poor judgment on July 10.[82] Concerned about commercialization of Apollo 15, the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences set a hearing for August 3, 1972; among those who testified were the astronauts, Slayton, NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher and Deputy Administrator George Low.[83] Slayton wrote of the astronauts' testimony, "they came clean and took their lumps but I was still pretty pissed off about it."[84]

This still left Worden trying to find a job at NASA; he testified before the committee that he had been told he could stay if he came to an agreement with whoever he was to work for.[85] He found an ally in Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight Dale D. Myers, who helped Worden get a position at the Ames Research Center in California.[86] According to Low, NASA was aware that the reprimands made the astronauts essentially unpromotable in the Air Force, which would not have jobs for them worth their abilities, and it was decided that though the crew was removed from flight status, they would be given positions elsewhere in NASA.[87] At Ames, Worden served as a Senior Aerospace Scientist, and from 1973 to 1975, chief of the Systems Study Division. He retired from NASA and the Air Force, with the rank of colonel, in 1975.[1][67]

In his first book of memoirs, Worden took responsibility for making "a decision that fucked up my life completely, utterly, and irreversibly", but felt Scott did not take enough of the blame on himself.[65] In a second book, published posthumously in 2021, Worden expressed his belief that Slayton would not have fired him from the Astronaut Corps if given the chance, but that Slayton's superior, Christopher C. Kraft, wanted him fired.[88] Apollo 10 commander Thomas P. Stafford wrote an epilogue to Worden's first book and stated, "Al should not have his efforts degraded by the decades-old, short-lived publicity surrounding some postal covers carried on board."[65] Worden later stated, "We probably didn't do the smartest thing in the world, but we didn't do anything that was illegal. We didn't do anything that anybody else hadn't done, but the consequences were rather severe to us."[89]

Post-NASA activities

[edit]
Worden receiving NASA's Ambassador of Exploration Award in July 2009

After leaving the Air Force and NASA, Worden founded Alfred M. Worden, Inc., then served as the director of Energy Management Programs at the Northwood Institute in Midland, Michigan.[67] In 1982, Worden ran for the United States House of Representatives in Florida's 12th congressional district but lost the Republican primary to state senator Tom Lewis.[90] Despite the loss, Worden referred to his run as the high point of his life, "I thought that was a very important thing to do. I put everything into it and lost, but that is okay."[8]

The Apollo 15 astronauts had been required to turn in, and NASA had retained, 298 of the postal covers carried aboard by Scott, as well as 61 more envelopes from the deal with Herrick; they were transferred to the National Archives in August 1973. It had been Worden's understanding that the covers would be returned once NASA's investigation was over,[91] and in 1983 he sued the government. Believing it could not win, the government returned the covers and the 298 were divided by the three astronauts.[92] Worden sold some of them to pay debts from his unsuccessful run for Congress.[68]

Worden still believed other former astronauts looked at him askance because of the postal covers incident. In 1984, he began to involve himself with the Mercury Seven Foundation, set up by the original astronauts to provide scholarships for promising students in the sciences. Worden was at the time living near KSC and as the Mercury Seven aged, he and other later astronauts took on greater responsibilities. The organization's name was changed to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, and in 2005, Worden was elected to chair its board of directors.[93] He served in that capacity until 2011.[94]

Worden in March 2019

Worden held executive positions with Jet Electronics and Technology, Inc., and with B.F. Goodrich prior to his retirement from the business world in 1996.[95] In 2011, Worden's autobiography, Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon made the top 12 of the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list.[38] He also wrote Hello Earth: Greetings from Endeavour (1974), a collection of poetry, in 1974, and a children's book, I Want to Know About a Flight to the Moon (1974).[96]

Widely known as "Al", Worden made many public appearances, and was one of the most approachable of the former astronauts, ready to chat over a vodka on the rocks.[94] In 2018, Worden joined the Back to Space organization as an Astronaut Consultant with the goal of using film to inspire the next generation to go to Mars.[97] Worden was a technical consultant to the 2018 film First Man, a biopic of Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong.[11] 2019 saw the establishment of the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship to send "aspiring young space explorers" and their teachers to U.S. Space Camp in Alabama.[98]

Awards and honors

[edit]

Worden received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1971. He entered the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983.[67][99] He was inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997.[95][100] In 2009, Worden was honored with the NASA Ambassador of Exploration Award.[101] He was inducted in 2016 into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.[102]

Worden and the other Apollo 15 crew members received the first United Nations Peace Medal in 1971.[103] They also received the Robert J. Collier Trophy (1971), the Kitty Hawk Memorial Award (1971) and the AIAA Haley Astronautics Award (1972).[104] He received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1971.[96]

[edit]

Worden married Pamela Vander Beek, whom he met on a blind date while a cadet, in June 1955. The couple divorced in December 1969, just before Worden was selected to fly on Apollo 15.[11] Worden became the first astronaut to divorce during the program and thereafter fly in space.[105][b] Al and Pamela Worden lived across the street from each other following the separation, and he remained involved in their daughters' lives. He was initially shunned by the Astronaut Wives Club but in time this ended.[94]

In September 1974 he married Sandra Lee Wilder; they divorced in January 1980. Worden married Jill Lee Hotchkiss in July 1982. She died in May 2014. He had two daughters with Pamela Worden, Merrill and Alison, and one stepdaughter, Tamara, from his third marriage.[11] Worden's recreational interests included bowling, water skiing, golf, racquetball[1] and playing the piano.[94]

In the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon Worden was played by Michael Raynor.[64]

Death

[edit]

Hello Earth! Your life is finite.
Does the answer lie out here?
If we don't resolve our problems,
Life on Earth may be too dear.

Alfred M. Worden[107]

Alfred Worden died on March 18, 2020, at an assisted living center in Sugar Land, Texas. He was 88 years old.[11][108] Worden had been suffering from an infection at home in League City, Texas for which he was hospitalized at Texas Medical Center in Houston. He was convalescing at the Sugar Land facility at the time of his death.[98]

The tributes to Worden upon his death were many. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stated, "Al was an American hero whose achievements in space and on Earth will never be forgotten."[109] Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin, a fellow West Point graduate, tweeted, "'Line of Grey, Be Thou at Peace!' Godspeed Al."[89] Tom Kallman, president of Kallman Worldwide, Inc., with whom Worden had worked in setting up the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship Foundation, noted, "Though he was focused on STEM, Al's principal message was always to 'follow your passion, wherever that leads you'."[110] Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States, stated, "We stand on the shoulders of space pioneers like Al, and America will always marvel at his achievements and look to him for inspiration as we strive to go farther and faster than ever before."[110]

A celebration of Worden's life took place on September 19, 2020. This was originally to be a hybrid in-person/online event, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic was postponed and made online only. Those paying tribute to Worden included fellow Group 5 astronauts Duke, Haise and Jack Lousma.[111]

Books

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  • Hello Earth; Greetings from Endeavour, Nash Publishing (1974), ISBN 978-0-8402-1343-3
  • I Want to Know About a Flight to the Moon, Doubleday (1974), ISBN 978-0-385-05837-7
  • Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon with Francis French, Smithsonian Books (2011), ISBN 978-1-58834-309-3
  • Astronaut Al Travels to the Moon with Francis French, Illustrated by Michelle Rouch, Bookpress Publishing (2021), ISBN 978-1-94730-527-4
  • The Light of Earth: Reflections on a Life in Space with Francis French, University of Nebraska Press (2021), ISBN 978-1-49622-865-9

See also

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Notes

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References

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Sources

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Alfred Worden

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Alfred Merrill Worden (February 7, 1932 – March 18, 2020) was an American astronaut, U.S. Air Force colonel, and aeronautical engineer who served as command module pilot for NASA's Apollo 15 lunar mission in 1971. Selected as part of NASA's fifth astronaut group in 1966, Worden graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned advanced degrees in astronautical/aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan. During Apollo 15, the fourth crewed Moon landing and first to deploy a lunar rover, he orbited solo while crewmates David Scott and James Irwin explored the Hadley Rille site, achieving a record for the greatest distance from any other human at approximately 2,200 miles during his deep-space extravehicular activity to retrieve exposed film cassettes from the service module. This EVA marked the first conducted beyond low Earth orbit and contributed to the mission's scientific payload successes, including extended lunar orbit duration and subsatellite deployment. After Apollo, Worden held senior roles at NASA's Ames Research Center before transitioning to private industry as a business executive and author of works reflecting on space exploration.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Alfred Merrill Worden was born on February 7, 1932, in , to parents Merrill and Helen Worden. He was raised in a rural environment on a small near Jackson, where the household depended heavily on agricultural self-sufficiency for sustenance and daily needs. Worden grew up as one of seven children, with six siblings including , , Jim, and Jerry; his sister was the eldest, followed by Worden himself among the older children. This large family setting in Depression-era emphasized practical labor and resourcefulness, shaping an upbringing centered on farm chores and familial interdependence.

Academic Pursuits

Worden completed two years of undergraduate study at Jackson Junior College (now Jackson College) before transferring to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from West Point in June 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in military science, which included coursework in engineering, physics, and mathematics designed to prepare cadets for technical leadership roles in the armed forces. Following initial military assignments, Worden pursued graduate education in aerospace fields, earning two Master of Science degrees from the University of Michigan in 1963: one in astronautical/aeronautical engineering and another in instrumentation engineering. These programs emphasized applied mathematics, fluid dynamics, propulsion systems, and control mechanisms, providing the analytical rigor necessary for evaluating high-performance aircraft and emerging space technologies. The progression from West Point's broad scientific foundation to Michigan's specialized engineering training directly enhanced Worden's proficiency in and , qualifications that proved instrumental in his transition to experimental and subsequent eligibility for 's program.

Military Service

Commission and Initial Training

Worden graduated from the at West Point on June 1, 1955, earning a degree in with an engineering curriculum, and was commissioned as a in the United States Air Force the same day. Despite lacking prior aviation experience, his selection for pilot training reflected the Air Force's emphasis on officer candidates from elite academies for technical roles. Following commissioning, Worden entered undergraduate pilot training at Moore Air Force Base in , where he completed primary flight instruction on aircraft such as the T-6 Texan, focusing on fundamental , , and instrument procedures. He advanced to basic pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, , transitioning to the T-33 Shooting Star jet trainer for supersonic familiarization and , before concluding initial training at Tyndall Base, , with gunnery and advanced fighter tactics emphasizing air-to-air combat simulations. This pipeline, spanning approximately one year, culminated in Worden receiving his pilot wings in 1956, qualifying him for assignment to fighter squadrons. His rapid proficiency in transitioning from no flight hours to soloing high-performance jets underscored the rigorous selection and standardized curriculum of pilot training during the mid-1950s, which prioritized adaptability for Cold War-era operational demands.

Operational and Test Pilot Roles

Following commissioning in the U.S. Air Force, Worden completed and was assigned as pilot and armament officer to the 95th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Air Base, , from 1957 to 1960. In this operational role, he conducted air defense missions supporting commitments during the , flying the F-100 Super Sabre supersonic fighter in patrols that demanded precise navigation, rapid response to potential intercepts, and adherence to strict fuel and armament protocols amid heightened geopolitical tensions. These duties honed his ability to manage empirical risks, such as mechanical failures at high altitudes or adverse weather, through systematic pre-flight checks and real-time causal assessments of aircraft performance. Transitioning to test piloting, Worden graduated from the at Farnborough, , in February 1965, acquiring expertise in evaluating experimental aircraft envelopes, structural limits, and systems integration under controlled failure scenarios. He then completed the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Research Pilots School at , , in September 1965, and instructed there from 1964 to 1966, training pilots on techniques for probing aircraft stability, propulsion anomalies, and high-Mach dynamics using platforms like advanced jets. This phase emphasized first-principles analysis of flight data to isolate causal factors in deviations, fostering a rigorous approach to mitigating hazards in unproven configurations. By the mid-1960s, Worden had accumulated over 4,000 total flight hours, including 2,500 in jet aircraft, reflecting sustained proficiency in operating near performance margins where minor errors could precipitate catastrophic outcomes. Such extensive experience in operational intercepts and test evaluations directly informed his aptitude for NASA's demands, as the capacity to empirically validate aircraft responses in extreme regimes paralleled the precision required for spaceflight trajectory corrections and systems redundancy management.

NASA Career

Selection and Early Assignments

Alfred Worden was selected as one of 19 in 's fifth group of astronaut candidates, announced in April 1966. This selection followed his application in December 1965 and emphasized candidates with extensive jet piloting experience, including at least 1,000 hours, along with a in , biological science, or physical science, or equivalent qualifications. Worden, a U.S. at the time, met these criteria through his background and academic credentials from the and the . Following his selection, Worden underwent at NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center in , which included geological field trips, systems simulations, and survival training. His initial operational assignment was as a member of the support crew for , the March 1969 Earth-orbital mission that tested the in space. In this role, he assisted with mission planning, provided ground-based operational support, and participated in post-flight analysis. Worden subsequently served on the backup crew for , the November 1969 lunar landing mission commanded by Charles Conrad, where he trained as backup command module pilot behind Richard F. Gordon. This assignment honed his skills in command module operations and lunar mission procedures, preparing him for prime crew duties. By March 1970, he was named command module pilot for , marking his transition to a primary flight role under commander .

Apollo 15 Mission

Alfred Worden served as Command Module Pilot (CMP) for , the fourth crewed lunar landing mission, which launched on July 26, 1971, and lasted 12 days until splashdown on August 7. In this role, Worden managed the Command Module Endeavour during translunar transit, lunar orbit operations—including 74 revolutions around the Moon—and the transearth coast, while Scott and Irwin conducted surface explorations lasting nearly 67 hours using the first . His responsibilities encompassed deploying the mission's , operating instruments from the Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) bay, and performing the first (EVA) in deep space, contributing to geological mapping, particle flux measurements, and photography that yielded over 2,200 frames of lunar imagery. The mission advanced lunar science by extending surface stays and orbital , with Worden logging 295 hours and 12 minutes in space.

Preparation and Launch

Worden and the prime crew trained for over 20 months, emphasizing SIM bay operations, lunar orbit photography, rendezvous simulations, and contingency procedures, building on Worden's prior backup role for Apollo 12. Training incorporated flight-equivalent hardware for experiments like gamma-ray spectrometry and panoramic camera handling, alongside geological field exercises in Earth's analogs to the Hadley-Apennine site. The (SA-510) ignited smoothly at 9:34:00.6 a.m. EDT on July 26, 1971, from Launch Complex 39A at , with Worden noting lower vibration levels than prior missions. followed approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes later during the second Earth orbit, using the stage to achieve a , accompanied by a reported thrust surge and 10-12 Hz oscillations; three midcourse corrections refined the path using the primary .

Lunar Orbit and Scientific Contributions

Endeavour entered on July 29, 1971, via the service propulsion system, establishing an initial 60.9 by 60.8 that Worden adjusted to 65.2 by 54.8 post-undocking. From July 30 to August 2, during the lunar module's surface phase, Worden conducted solo operations over 34 , activating SIM instruments including the gamma-ray spectrometer for surface composition mapping, and alpha-particle spectrometers for , mass spectrometer for atmospheric traces, altimeter for , and panoramic/mapping cameras yielding 3,400 frames of high-resolution imagery. He performed 18 optical and 19 VHF tracking marks to support LM rendezvous, monitored systems, and collected stellar and lunar background , enhancing data on mascons and properties; these efforts returned 180 pounds of geological samples indirectly supported by orbital context. On August 2, following LM ascent and docking, Worden deployed the Particles and Fields (PFS-1) at approximately 2100 GMT into a 76 x 55 at 4 ft/sec , observing its 10-degree coning rotation from 15-20 feet away to study and plasma over a year.

Deep Space Extravehicular Activity

Approximately 16 hours after transearth injection on August 4, 1971—which fired the service propulsion system at 223 hours ground elapsed time despite a solenoid valve anomaly—Worden commenced the mission's deep space EVA at 242 hours GET on August 5. Lasting 38 minutes and 12 seconds, the spacewalk utilized modified EVA equipment with a 25-foot umbilical tether, enabling Worden to traverse the SIM bay, retrieve six film cassettes from the panoramic and mapping cameras in 16 minutes, and inspect equipment conditions. Conducted about 197,000 nautical miles from Earth, this marked the first EVA from a command module during transearth coast and the farthest from any celestial body, retrieving critical data canisters that would otherwise be lost upon service module jettison.

Return Journey and Recovery

Post-EVA, Worden stowed samples and monitored systems during the four-day transearth coast, with continued SIM data acquisition until jettison. Reentry commenced on , 1971, at 295 hours and 11 minutes ground elapsed time, targeting a splashdown at 26°7'48"N, 158°8'24"W; one of three main parachutes partially deflated, increasing descent rate to 25 ft/sec but within safe limits. Recovery by USS Okinawa occurred at 4:47 p.m. EDT, with the crew extracted via after minutes in the water, concluding a mission that achieved all primary objectives despite minor anomalies like the valve issue.

Preparation and Launch

The Apollo 15 prime crew, consisting of Commander David R. Scott, Command Module Pilot Alfred M. Worden, and Lunar Module Pilot James B. Irwin, underwent extensive training for the mission, spanning approximately 20 months and encompassing simulations, field geology exercises, and spacecraft-specific procedures. Worden, responsible for command module operations during solo lunar orbit phases, focused on tasks such as managing the Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) bay, orbital photography, and rendezvous maneuvers, conducted through simulator runs at the Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center). In the final week before launch, the crew participated in terminal countdown demonstrations, spacecraft simulator sessions, simulated Lunar Roving Vehicle traverses for site familiarization, and geology briefings under preflight quarantine protocols, with interactions separated by glass barriers to maintain isolation. Countdown operations commenced on July 20, 1971, with the terminal phase beginning July 24, proceeding smoothly and ahead of schedule by about 20 minutes for key events. On launch day, July 26, the crew awakened at 4:19 a.m. EDT, consumed breakfast, and began suiting up in pressure suits at 6:13 a.m. EDT before departing crew quarters at 6:28 a.m. for an 18-minute transfer to Launch Pad 39A. Ingress into the command module Endeavour followed: Scott entered first at 6:53 a.m. to the left couch, Irwin at 6:58 a.m. to the right couch, and Worden last at approximately 7:08 a.m. to the center couch, positioned between his crewmates for ascent monitoring. Liftoff occurred at 9:34 a.m. EDT atop a rocket from Pad 39A under clear weather conditions, with the ascent phase nominal as Worden verified pressurization at T-40 minutes 54 seconds and propellant systems at T-26 minutes while tracking computer displays. The crew reported a smooth ride, achieving insertion at 000:11:44 ground elapsed time in an orbit of approximately 166 by 150 kilometers.

Lunar Orbit and Scientific Contributions

During the Apollo 15 mission, Alfred Worden piloted the Command Module Endeavour into lunar orbit on July 29, 1971, after a 398-second Lunar Orbit Insertion burn on the Moon's far side. While Commander David Scott and Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin separated in the Lunar Module Falcon for the Hadley-Apennine landing site, Worden remained solo in Endeavour, completing 74 revolutions over approximately three days to conduct independent orbital science operations. These activities included systematic photography using the 80-mm and 250-mm mapping cameras, yielding detailed images of the Hadley Rille—a sinuous lunar channel—and the surrounding Apennine Mountains, which provided contextual data for surface sample analysis and geological mapping. Worden operated the Scientific Instrument Module (SIM bay) instruments, including the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer, Spectrometer, and Alpha-Particle Spectrometer, to map elemental compositions and interactions across the lunar nearside. He also performed visual geological observations, relaying descriptions of features to the surface via S-band communications to guide their traverses and enhance sample collection efficiency. On the mission's 74th , prior to trans-Earth injection, Worden deployed the Particles and Fields Subsatellite (PFS-1) from the SIM bay at an altitude of about 100 kilometers, initiating a subsynchronous to measure interactions, plasma waves, and microparticles in the lunar wake for roughly seven months until battery depletion. The solo phase underscored empirical limits of human isolation , with Worden reaching a maximum separation of 3,596.4 kilometers from his crewmates on the surface—equivalent to over one —earning recognition as the most isolated human . Despite the absence of direct visual or physical contact, mission logs indicate no degradation in ; Worden maintained operational tempo across shifts, meals, and instrument activations, attributing sustained focus to pre-mission simulations emphasizing autonomous and minimal reliance on ground control for routine tasks. This resilience aligned with human factors data from prior missions, validating designs that prioritized crew self-sufficiency to mitigate isolation-induced errors observed in analogous high-fidelity analogs.

Deep Space Extravehicular Activity

On August 5, 1971, Alfred Worden performed the first (EVA) in deep space, occurring at approximately 171,000 nautical miles from during Apollo 15's trans-Earth coast phase. This milestone marked the initial human venture outside a beyond and remains the farthest such activity from to date. The EVA lasted about 22 minutes, commencing at 242:04:25 Ground Elapsed Time (GET), with Worden exiting the command module hatch and maneuvering hand-over-hand along the service module to the Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) bay. Primary objectives included retrieving exposed film cassettes from the panoramic and mapping cameras and inspecting bay equipment, such as the mass spectrometer boom and camera mechanisms, for operational anomalies like jamming or scorching. Worden relied on a 7.4-meter umbilical connected to the service module, which provided oxygen, electrical power for suit systems, and voice communications, facilitating mobility without a self-contained portable . This configuration enabled precise task execution in the resource-constrained deep space environment, where independent suit operation would have been logistically demanding. The procedure successfully secured the film cassettes containing lunar imagery data and confirmed no critical SIM bay damage beyond pre-identified issues, such as a stuck mapping camera extension. By accomplishing these tasks without complications at such extreme separation from , the EVA empirically validated human capability for equipment retrieval and inspection in space, addressing prior uncertainties regarding physiological and procedural reliability in untested isolation conditions. Worden noted unobstructed vistas of the Earth-Moon system during the activity, underscoring the unique observational perspectives attainable only from this vantage.

Return Journey and Recovery

Following the deep space , the Apollo 15 crew conducted the transearth injection burn on August 4, 1971, at 223 hours 49 minutes ground elapsed time (GET), using the command and service module's service propulsion system to achieve a velocity of approximately 10,830 feet per second and escape . This maneuver placed the spacecraft on a direct back to , covering about 240,000 miles over the subsequent three days with no midcourse corrections required due to precise navigation. Reentry commenced on August 7, 1971, at entry interface (approximately 400,000 feet altitude) around 295 hours GET, with the withstanding peak temperatures exceeding 5,000°F through controlled material , resulting in nominal structural integrity and g-forces peaking at 6.95 for the crew. Two of the three main parachutes deployed successfully at 28,000 feet, providing sufficient deceleration despite the failure of the third due to line entanglement; parachutes had earlier stabilized descent from 25,000 feet. Splashdown occurred at 4:47 p.m. EDT in the Pacific Ocean, 330 miles north of Hawaii, just 0.3 miles from the planned target and 10 kilometers from the prime recovery ship USS Okinawa. Recovery teams from the Okinawa hoisted the command module Endeavour aboard within 30 minutes, followed by medical checks confirming the crew—David Scott, Alfred Worden, and James Irwin—were in good health with no lunar contaminants detected, allowing waiver of post-mission quarantine protocols for the first time in the Apollo program. Post-flight technical debriefs verified the mission's total duration of 295 hours 11 minutes 53 seconds, including 141 hours 9 minutes in lunar orbit across 74 revolutions.

Postal Covers Controversy

The Apollo 15 crew, consisting of commander , lunar module pilot , and command module pilot Alfred Worden, carried approximately 400 unauthorized postal covers aboard the mission from July 26 to August 7, 1971. These envelopes, prepared by West German stamp dealer Hermann Sieger, were intended by the astronauts as personal mementos but were secretly transported to and, in some cases, to the lunar surface without NASA's prior approval. The covers were hidden among personal items, with Worden stowing some in the command module and Scott and Irwin handling others in the . In exchange for carrying the covers, the crew received payments totaling around $7,000 from Sieger via an intermediary, which they later returned amid the ensuing investigation. Sieger marketed 100 of the returned covers at prices up to DM 4,850 each (approximately $1,800 at the time), capitalizing on their flown status despite the astronauts' initial assurances of non-commercial intent. discovered the arrangement in late 1971 after media inquiries, viewing it as an ethics violation that risked commercializing souvenirs and eroding in the agency during a period of declining Apollo funding and post-Vietnam skepticism toward government expenditures. On September 9, 1971, Administrator James Fletcher issued a formal to the crew, citing breach of regulations prohibiting the use of spaceflights for private gain and failure to disclose the covers' carriage. The astronauts were removed from flight rotation, effectively barring them from subsequent missions like , though no criminal charges were filed as the infraction lacked intent for direct personal enrichment beyond mementos. The crew defended their actions by referencing precedents, such as astronauts carrying similar items without repercussions, arguing the covers were akin to authorized personal effects and that any sales were handled post-mission without their ongoing involvement. Causal analysis reveals the controversy's amplification stemmed from broader institutional pressures rather than the act's severity: NASA's rigid sought to preempt allegations amid congressional of the space program's costs, despite empirical evidence of minimal financial impact and historical tolerance for analogous practices on prior flights. This episode underscored tensions between astronauts' operational —rooted in their test-pilot backgrounds—and NASA's centralized control to safeguard taxpayer-funded missions' integrity, resulting in disproportionate career penalties without legal .

Post-NASA Professional Activities

Government and Scientific Positions

Following the Apollo 15 mission, Worden served as Senior Aerospace Scientist at from 1972 to 1973, focusing on advanced aerospace research initiatives. He subsequently advanced to Chief of the Systems Study Division at the same facility from 1973 to 1975, overseeing analytical efforts in and technology applications for and . These positions represented his final contributions within federal government scientific frameworks before retiring from and the U.S. , with the rank of , effective September 5, 1975. No further government-held roles are documented after this date.

Private Sector Engagements

Following his retirement from and the U.S. in September 1975, Worden entered the as president of an energy management consulting company, focusing on applications of aerospace-derived technologies to commercial energy efficiency. In 1985, Worden co-founded Maris Worden , Inc., with fellow aerospace engineer John Maris, serving as its president until 2004; the firm specialized in developing systems, including an aerodynamic performance monitor and stall warning technology for aircraft. From 1990 to 1993, he also presided over Jet Electronics and Technology, Inc., a B.F. Goodrich that manufactured components, overseeing operations with annual gross sales exceeding $100 million. Worden held the role of at B.F. Goodrich in Brecksville, Ohio, contributing to advanced materials and systems development, and engaged in hands-on private ventures such as piloting sightseeing helicopters and pioneering integrations for to enhance flight and reliability. These positions underscored his shift toward market-oriented applications of and expertise, distinct from government-funded programs. He retired from full-time business activities in 1996, prioritizing selective consulting on verifiable technologies over broader commercial space ventures.

Writings and Public Outreach

Authored Books

Worden authored five books, spanning , , and children's literature inspired by his experiences and broader reflections on . His debut publication, Hello Earth: Greetings from Endeavour, released in 1974 by Nash Publishing, consists of 80 pages of composed during his solitary orbital tenure aboard the command module Endeavour, offering introspective verses on isolation, , and the astronaut's perspective. That same year, Doubleday issued I Want to Know About a Flight to the Moon, a 64-page children's detailing Worden's path to becoming an , pre-mission training, and the trajectory, including crew selection, simulations, and mission phases, with a linked to his collaboration with . In 2011, Smithsonian Books published Falling to Earth: An Astronaut's Journey to the Moon, a 288-page co-authored with space historian Francis French, chronicling Worden's selection for in 1966, technical challenges of the command module role, mission execution on July 26–August 7, 1971, and post-flight repercussions including the postal covers incident. Worden's final works emerged posthumously in 2021. Astronaut Al Travels to the Moon, co-authored with Francis French and illustrated by Michelle Rouch through Bookpress Publishing, presents a poetic narrative for young readers retracing the voyage, emphasizing sensory and emotional aspects of deep-space travel. The Light of Earth: Reflections on a Life in Space, co-authored with French and issued by , compiles 184 pages of essays and poems on themes like orbital solitude, environmental vistas, and career transitions, with Worden completing most content prior to his death on March 18, 2020, at age 88.

Media and Speaking Appearances

Following his NASA career, Alfred Worden frequently engaged in and media appearances to discuss the Apollo program's engineering accomplishments and advocate for continued human . He delivered lectures at conferences such as the International Space Development Conference in 2019, where he served as a featured speaker sharing insights from Apollo 15. In these talks, Worden highlighted the mission's scientific objectives and the precision required for deep-space operations, emphasizing causal benefits like technological advancements derived from bold missions over bureaucratic caution. Worden appeared in the 1989 documentary For All Mankind, contributing personal accounts of lunar orbit experiences that underscored the program's triumphs in human ingenuity and exploration rather than contemporaneous controversies. He critiqued post-Apollo NASA's shift toward risk-averse policies in interviews, arguing that excessive safety measures stifled innovation and delayed progress in , favoring instead the decisive approaches that enabled Apollo's successes. In digital media, Worden participated in events like a 2011 Talks at Google presentation on his Apollo experiences, promoting direct communication about the mission's realities and the value of unfiltered astronaut perspectives. He also featured in television interviews, such as on Good Morning Britain in 2017, where he reflected on orbiting the Moon solo and stressed the irreplaceable empirical insights gained from . These appearances reinforced his view that space realism—grounded in firsthand and of mission outcomes—outweighed narrative-driven accounts in understanding Apollo's legacy.

Recognition and Honors

NASA and Government Awards

Worden received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1971, the agency's highest honor, recognizing his contributions as command module pilot on , including the first deep-space . In 2009, presented him with the Ambassador of Exploration Award, which included a sample from , acknowledging his role in advancing exploration. As a , Worden was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility, encompassing his duties, selection, and Apollo mission execution. He also earned the Meritorious Service Medal upon his Air Force retirement, citing superior leadership and technical expertise in aeronautical systems and space operations. These decorations reflect his pre-NASA career as a and experimental at .

Other Accolades

Worden was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983, recognizing his contributions to as the Apollo 15 command module pilot. He received further independent validation through induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on October 11, 1997, at the , honoring his operational achievements in and deep-space operations during . In 2016, he was enshrined in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the , acknowledging his pioneering beyond . During the Apollo 15 mission on August 5, 1971, Worden achieved the Guinness World Record for the most isolated human being, reaching a maximum separation of 3,596.4 kilometers from his crewmates on the lunar surface and remaining the farthest from any other person—a feat empirically tied to the mission's extended trajectory and his solitary orbital phase. This record underscores the causal demands of his role, including unaided and while the descended, without reliance on proximity to ground support or other spacecraft.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Alfred Worden was born on February 7, 1932, in , to parents Merrill and Helen Worden; he was the eldest son in a family of six children, including an older sister, Sally, and younger siblings such as brothers Jim and Pete. Worden married Pamela Vander Beek in June 1955; the couple had two daughters, Alison (later Penczak) and Merrill (later Bohaning), but divorced in December 1969 amid strains following the , marking him as the first U.S. whose career endured a . His second marriage was to Sandra Lee Wilder, a former , in 1974; it ended in in 1980, and no children from this union are documented in primary accounts. In 1982, Worden married Jill Lee Hotchkiss (née Lafferty) on July 9 in ; she predeceased him in 2014, with no children reported from this marriage, though some records note Worden had three children overall, potentially including an unpublicized offspring from prior relationships.

Interests Outside Aviation

Raised on a in , Worden from age 12 managed field work, milking cows, and other rural tasks until departing for college, instilling practical and hands-on experience with farm operations. These early years shaped a grounded perspective, distinct from his later career. Worden cultivated personal interests in athletic recreation, including , , , and , reflecting a relaxed approach to . He also turned to as an introspective pursuit, composing verses on coffee-stained legal pads after to process the mission's isolation; his 1974 collection Hello : Greetings from Endeavour marked the first poems published by a traveler, with works like "Floating" evoking deep-space : "I float outside to look around / Slowly, soundlessly, / And my security cord lengthens."

Death and Legacy

Final Years


In retirement, Alfred Worden resided in . He served as a technical consultant for the 2018 biographical film First Man, advising on Apollo mission procedures and astronaut experiences. In 2019, Worden established the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship in collaboration with Kallman Worldwide to support students in STEM fields and appeared as a speaker at the (SXSW) festival, discussing Apollo achievements. Early in 2020, Worden contracted an infection that resulted in a collapse at his home, after which he received treatment at Medical Center and was transferred to an assisted living facility in . He died there on March 18, 2020, at the age of 88. His son-in-law stated that Worden suffered an apparent .

Posthumous Tributes

Following Worden's death on March 18, 2020, Administrator issued a statement describing him as "an American hero whose achievements in and on will not be forgotten," emphasizing his role in advancing through Apollo 15's orbital science and the first deep- extravehicular activity (EVA) to retrieve exposed film from the service module, conducted at a distance of approximately 22,000 miles from . Media obituaries, including those from and , highlighted this EVA as a technical milestone that demonstrated solo operations in cislunar , while noting Worden's isolation during the 74-hour solo phase in lunar orbit, where he managed spacecraft systems and conducted geological mapping that complemented surface activities. These accounts praised his contributions to orbital precedents, such as deploying the subsatellite for magnetic field measurements, which informed subsequent missions' emphasis on extended command module piloting. Fellow astronauts, including Group 5 peers Charlie Duke, , and Jack Lousma, offered memorials during an online celebration of Worden's life on September 19, 2020, focusing on his technical proficiency and personal resilience amid Apollo's operational demands. Tributes underscored his candor in post-mission writings and interviews about the psychological isolation of orbital duty—contrasting the surface explorers' glamour—and the crew's navigation of technical hurdles like the mass spectrometer boom retraction failure, which he resolved independently. However, critical perspectives in historical analyses persist regarding NASA's handling of the crew's unauthorized postal covers incident, which involved 400 envelopes carried for private sale and led to their removal from flight rotation; Worden's openness about such internal frictions highlighted systemic pressures on astronauts but did not fully mitigate the mission's reputational shadow in agency records. Worden's orbital legacy, as reflected in posthumous evaluations, advanced causal understandings of solo deep-space operations, establishing protocols for monitoring and EVA retrieval that influenced and later shuttle-era activities, though his role remains underemphasized relative to lunar surface feats in popular narratives. Organizations like the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation mourned him as a dedicated supporter whose experiences underscored the unglamorous yet essential command module functions, with tributes noting his advocacy for recognizing these contributions amid Apollo's competitive era.

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  45. https://books.google.com/books/about/Hello_Earth_Greetings_from_Endeavour.html?id=OqMgAQAAIAAJ
  46. https://alworden.com/hello-earth-greetings-from-endeavour-out-of-print/
  47. https://www.amazon.com/want-know-about-flight-moon/dp/0385058373
  48. https://alworden.com/a-flight-to-the-moon/
  49. https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/aviation-military-history/falling-to-earth-an-apollo-15-astronauts-journey-to-the-moon/
  50. https://www.bookpresspublishing.com/books/astronaut-al-travels-to-the-moon
  51. https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496228659/the-light-of-earth/
  52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzWtknkrDow
  53. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/audio-classic-lecture-series-the-apollo-15-mission-by-al-worden/
  54. https://www.criterion.com/films/599-for-all-mankind
  55. https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2019/01/The_past_and_future_of_lunar_exploration_by_Al_Worden
  56. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTpIawwJ6Qo
  57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP05nhB2WLU
  58. https://access.historyhit.com/videos/in-conversation-with-astronaut-al-worden
  59. https://spacecenter.org/remembering-apollo-astronaut-al-worden/
  60. https://www.space.com/20565-al-worden-apollo-15-astronaut.html
  61. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-honors-apollo-astronaut-al-worden-with-moon-rock/
  62. https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/344237806073367-al-wordens-air-force-distinguished-service-medal-and-certificate/
  63. https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/344237906073403-al-wordens-meritorious-service-award-and-air-force-retirement-certificate/
  64. https://nmspacemuseum.org/international-space-hall-of-fame/
  65. https://sandiegoairandspace.org/press/release/san-diego-air-space-museum-mourns-the-loss-of-apollo-15s-al-worden
  66. https://www.adaa.it/2020/05/18/obituary-al-worden-1932-2020/
  67. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/04/15/alfred-worden-apollo-15-astronaut-became-first-man-walk-deep/
  68. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/al-worden-obituary-gqdzcbxhm
  69. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/alfred-worden-who-orbited-the-moon-and-walked-in-deep-space-dies-at-88/2020/03/19/4aff1b62-69ec-11ea-9923-57073adce27c_story.html
  70. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/al-worden-poet-apollo-15-180974479/
  71. https://nypost.com/2018/10/11/meet-the-former-astronaut-who-prepped-ryan-gosling-for-first-man/
  72. https://www.collectspace.com/news/news-031820a-apollo-astronaut-alfred-worden-obituary.html
  73. https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/speakers/2012301
  74. https://www.npr.org/2020/03/18/517135308/retired-apollo-15-astronaut-al-worden-dies-at-88
  75. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/apollo-15-astronaut-al-worden-who-circled-moon-dies-at-88
  76. https://www.space.com/astronaut-worden-celebration-life.html
  77. https://vintageaviationnews.com/warbird-articles/an-interview-with-apollo-15s-al-worden.html
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