During the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, Fred Haise served as the Lunar Module pilot, coming within reach of the moon's surface before a critical system failure forced the crew to abort their landing. As the last surviving member of that mission, he remains a pivotal figure in the history of deep-space exploration and flight testing.
Early Military Career
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1933, Haise graduated from Biloxi High School before pursuing aviation training. After finishing the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1954, he served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. His military path included roles at MCAS Cherry Point and as a flight instructor at NAS Kingsville. Later, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1959, while simultaneously serving in the Oklahoma Air National Guard.
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Haise joined NASA in 1966 as part of the fifth astronaut group. His early duties included acting as the backup Lunar Module pilot for the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions. Initially slated for Apollo 14, he was moved to the Apollo 13 crew to accommodate training requirements for Alan Shepard. During the aborted 1970 flight, Haise endured significant health issues, specifically a urinary tract infection, while traveling to a record-breaking distance from Earth.
Shuttle Development and Later Career
Following the cancellation of his planned command for Apollo 19, Haise transitioned to the Space Shuttle program. In 1977, he commanded the Space Shuttle Enterprise during the Approach and Landing Tests at Edwards Air Force Base. He was subsequently assigned to lead the STS-2A mission to retrieve Skylab, though the project was canceled due to program delays. In 1979, he concluded his NASA service to join the Grumman Aerospace Corporation, where he worked until 1996.
Fast facts
- Born: 1933, Biloxi, Mississippi
- Military Rank: Captain
- NASA Career: 1966–1979
- Education: University of Oklahoma, Harvard Business School
- Apollo 13 Status: Lunar Module Pilot
- Post-NASA Career: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
- Presidential Medal of Freedom: Awarded 1970
- Autobiography: Never Panic Early (2022)
Questions readers ask
Did Fred Haise ever walk on the moon?
No. While he was slated to be the sixth person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 13 mission, the landing was aborted.
What aircraft did he pilot during the 1977 Shuttle tests?
He piloted the Space Shuttle Enterprise in free flight during the Approach and Landing Tests at Edwards Air Force Base.
Achievements
- Presidential Medal of Freedom — 1970
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- International Space Hall of Fame — 1983
- National Aviation Hall of Fame — 2023
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Harvard Business School, Harvard University and U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
- Worked as military officer, astronaut and aircraft pilot
