Colonel, pilot, and astronaut who flew on the Apollo 15 mission, becoming the first person to walk in space during a deep space mission. He also conducted the first scientific experiments in space.
As one of the select few to have flown to the Moon, Alfred Worden's name is etched in the annals of space exploration history. But it's his solo orbit of the Moon in the command module Endeavour that sets him apart, earning him the distinction of being the individual who has traveled the farthest from any other human being.
Born on February 7, 1932, in Michigan, Worden spent his early years living on farms. He attended the University of Michigan for a year before securing an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Graduating in 1955, Worden elected to be commissioned in the United States Air Force, despite having no prior piloting experience.
Worden's aptitude for flying fighter planes soon became apparent, and he 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 being chosen for the Apollo 15 crew in 1970, alongside David Scott as commander and James Irwin as lunar module pilot.
As Apollo 15 reached lunar orbit, Worden remained in the command module, while his crewmates descended to the Moon's surface. During this time, he took numerous photographs of the Moon and operated a suite of scientific instruments that probed the Moon. On the return flight to Earth, Worden performed an extravehicular activity (EVA), also known as a spacewalk, to retrieve film cassettes from cameras on the exterior of the spacecraft. This EVA remains the farthest from Earth ever undertaken.
The Apollo 15 crew became embroiled 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, working at the Ames Research Center, before entering the private sector. Despite the controversy, Worden's legacy as an astronaut and engineer continues to inspire generations.
"The reason I went to the Moon was to explore, and to see what was out there. And I think that's what drives all of us, is to see what's out there, to explore, to discover."
Alfred Worden's remarkable journey serves as a testament to human curiosity and the allure of the unknown. His bravery and pioneering spirit have left an indelible mark on the world of space exploration.
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