Tag Archives: USS Franklin D. Roosevelt

Ken Mattingly talks about life in the US Navy before joing NASA astronaut corps

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Astronaut Thomas Ken Mattingly discusses the role that the United States Navy played in his life before he joined NASA’s astronaut corps and flew in space as command module pilot of Apollo 16, shuttle commander of STS-4 and shuttle commander of STS-51-C. Mattingly is also known for being assigned to the ill-fated Apollo 13, before being replaced two days before launch for medical reasons. He was played by Gary Sinise in the movie ‘Apollo 13.’