Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot, Al Worden, Has Died at 88

The family of Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot Al Worden has confirmed his passing on Wednesday. He was 88. Fox News reported that “Worden circled the moon alone in 1971 while, below, his two crewmates test-drove the first lunar rover.”

According to his NASA biographical data, he received a Bachelor of Military Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1955; Master of Science degrees in Astronautical/Aeronautical Engineering and Instrumentation Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1963; and honorary Doctorate of Science in Astronautical Engineering from University of Michigan in 1971.

His NASA biodata added that Worden was “one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. He served as a member of the astronaut support crew for the Apollo 9 flight and as backup command module pilot for the Apollo 12 flight.” The Apollo 15 mission was his only spaceflight.

On Wednesday, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted: “I’m deeply saddened to hear that Apollo astronaut Al Worden has passed away. Al was an American hero whose achievements in space and on Earth will never be forgotten. My prayers are with his family and friends.”

Buzz Aldrin, Worden’s fellow West Point graduate, tweeted: “‘Line of Grey, Be Thou at Peace!’ Godspeed Al. #Apollo15”

According to Worden’s family, he died in his sleep in Houston. No cause of death was given.

“Of the 24 men who flew to the moon from 1968 through 1972, only 11 are still alive. Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott is one of four moonwalkers still alive. Jim Irwin died in 1991,” reported Fox News.