Astronaut Al Worden, who circled the moon, dies at 88

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Mamadou SALL

3/18/20 at 10:32 PM

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TheApollo 15 astronaut Al Worden, who circled the moon alone in 1971 while his two teammates tested the first lunar rover, has died at 88, his family announced on Wednesday March 18, 2020.

His family said he died in his sleep in Houston. No cause of death was given.

“Al was an American hero whose achievements in space and on Earth will never be forgotten,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement.

He also praised Worden for appearing in “Mister Rogers Neighborhood,” for explaining spaceflight to children.

Worden flew to the moon in 1971 with David Scott and Jim Irwin. As a command module pilot, Worden remained in lunar orbit aboard the Endeavor while Scott and Irwin descended to the surface and tried out NASA’s first lunar buggy.

Scott is one of four moon walkers still alive. Irwin died in 1991.

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