RIP Frank Borman: Astronaut Who Commanded Historic Apollo 8 Mission Passes Away at Age 95

NASA has announced the death of Frank Borman, the astronaut who commanded the historic Apollo 8 mission that orbited the moon in 1968. Borman, along with fellow astronauts James Lovell and William Anders, were the first humans to witness the far side of the moon and to see Earth as a distant sphere in space.

The mission, which launched in December of 1968, was the first to leave low Earth orbit and reach the moon. It was also the first to capture the iconic photograph “Earthrise,” showing the Earth half-covered in shadow above the moon’s horizon.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, in a statement, called Borman “one of NASA’s best” and “a true American hero.” Nelson also noted that Borman’s “lifelong love for aviation and exploration was only surpassed by his love for his wife Susan.”

After leaving the astronaut corps, Borman went on to lead troubled Eastern Airlines in the 1970s and early ‘80s. He died Tuesday in Billings, Montana.

Frank Borman was a true pioneer in the space exploration industry. His mission to the moon paved the way for future lunar landings and provided a unique perspective of Earth from space. He will be remembered as a hero and a symbol of exploration and discovery.