James A. McDivitt, a former NASA astronaut and commander of the Apollo 9 mission, passed away on Thursday in Tucson, Arizona, surrounded by his loved ones, according to a statement released by NASA. He was 93.
Over the course of his career, McDivitt spent 14 days in space. After completing the Air Force Experimental Test Pilot School and working as an experimental test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in California, he was chosen in September 1962 to be a part of NASA’s second astronaut class.
He made his first space journey in June 1965 as the Gemini IV mission’s commander with fellow Air Force pilot Ed White, who made history by being the first American to leave his spacecraft for a spacewalk during the historic 4-day voyage, according to NASA.
The Apollo 9 mission, which took out from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on March 3, 1969, was his second trip into space. He shared command module pilot David Scott’s spacecraft with lunar module pilot Russell Schweickart.
After its launch, Apollo 9 reached Earth’s orbit where its crew tested the first crewed lunar module, known as “Spider,” and practiced maneuvers that would be used on real lunar missions, according to NASA.
The Apollo 9 spacecraft returned to Earth ten days later, on March 13, 1969, and splashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
He used to be an American soldier before becoming an astronaut. the Air Force He logged more than 5,000 flying hours over the course of his career as a pilot, according to NASA, including 145 combat missions in F-80 and F-86 planes during the Korean War.
And after his space missions, McDivitt rose to the position of operations manager for lunar landings. From August 1969 to June 1972, he managed the Apollo Spacecraft Program before retiring from NASA.
McDivitt received several honors during his illustrious career, including the NASA outstanding service medal, two NASA distinguished service medals, four distinguished flying crosses, five air medals, and a U.S. astronaut wings for the Air Force.