NASA said on thursday that former US astronaut Frank Borman, who made history by leading the first manned journey to orbit the moon and later led Eastern airlines as chairman during intense economic turmoil, has passed away at the age of 95. nasa stated in a statement on its website that Borman, who traveled into space twice in the 1960s for a total of nearly 20 days, passed away in Billings, Montana, on Tuesday.

He was the oldest American astronaut still alive when he was born in Gary, Indiana, on march 14, 1928; Jim Lovell, who is 95 years old but eleven days younger, has taken over that title. Borman's passion for aeroplanes began at an early age. As a kid in Arizona, he paid for flying lessons by delivering newspapers.

After completing his studies at the U.S. Military Academy in 1950, he joined the air Force as a fighter pilot. Prior to being chosen for NASA's second astronaut program in 1962, he trained as a test pilot, just like the majority of his fellow generation of astronauts. According to his memoirs, that event was crucial.

"We were veteran pilots before we became rookie astronauts, and that made the difference," he stated.

In 1965, he made his first space trip as captain of gemini 7, a 14-day mission that included a rendezvous with another gemini spacecraft.

Three years later, he flew with his two crewmates on Apollo 8, the first lunar orbital mission, for ten moon orbits, including one on christmas Eve and one on christmas Day.

The mission produced the famous "Earthrise" photograph, which shows a partially illuminated lunar surface with a blue and white Earth visible as a striking and unique image taken by William Anders, Borman's crewmate.

Following his retirement from the air Force and nasa in 1970, Borman joined Eastern airlines as an advisor. He rose from his position as president of the airline in 1975 to chairman the following year.

He previously remarked of his decision to change careers, "I didn't want to ride for the rest of my life on the publicity I had received from nasa and become a dancing bear." "I knew (Eastern) had some problems and I thought I could contribute."

One of his first moves was to institute the first-ever salary freeze in a high-paying business, but he softened the blow by providing profit-sharing to workers.

Eastern reported a $380 million deficit over a five-year period in 1984, and Borman faced backlash for pushing through an expensive fleet modernization programme in spite of financial difficulties.

Borman was obliged to go outside the firm for a solution a year later due to Eastern's financial issues, even though the company's return to profitability was not very outstanding (earning $6.3 million in 1985). Eastern consented to be acquired by the smaller texas air Corp, which grew to become the country's biggest airline holding company.

Announced his retirement in 1986, Borman said he was going to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to assist run his son's auto business, work on a book, and be nearer to his family.

Borman spoke with Politico on the U.S. space programme in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission. He stated that while he supported the idea of a voyage to Mars, he thought it was "preposterous" to try to colonise there.

Borman had two boys with his spouse, Susan.
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SIBY JEYYA

10/11/2023 06:12 AM