Jack R. Lousma logged over 1,619 hours in space, serving as a pivotal figure in the development of long-duration orbital flight and early Space Shuttle testing. A career military officer turned NASA astronaut, he participated in both the Skylab program and the Space Shuttle Columbia era, bridging the gap between primitive orbital stations and modern reusable spacecraft.
Early Development and Military Service
Born on February 29, 1936, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lousma graduated from Pioneer High School in 1954. He earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1959. Following his commission as a United States Marine Corps officer that same year, he completed training at the Naval Air Training Command to receive his aviator wings in 1960. His military career included assignments with VMA-224 in Japan and service as a reconnaissance pilot at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. He later added a Master of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1965, accumulating 7,000 hours of total flight time across various aircraft.
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Selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 5 in April 1966, Lousma contributed to the Apollo program as a support crew member for missions 9, 10, and 13. During Apollo 13, he served as the CAPCOM official who received the urgent distress message from the spacecraft. His transition to flight status began with Skylab-3, a 59.5-day mission in 1973 where he conducted 11 hours of extravehicular activity and performed extensive solar observations. In 1982, he commanded STS-3, the third orbital flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia, which remains the only shuttle mission to land on the lake bed at White Sands, New Mexico.
Political Career and Retirement
Following his departure from NASA on October 1, 1983, and his retirement from the Marine Corps one month later, Lousma transitioned into public life. As a Republican candidate in 1984, he sought to represent Michigan in the United States Senate. After defeating former congressman Jim Dunn in a primary election, Lousma faced incumbent Carl Levin. Despite a national landslide victory for Ronald Reagan, Lousma secured 47% of the vote and did not win the seat. He was later inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997.
Fast facts
- Born: February 29, 1936, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Education: University of Michigan, Naval Postgraduate School
- Military rank: Colonel, United States Marine Corps
- NASA Group: Astronaut Group 5, selected 1966
- Space missions: Skylab-3 (1973), STS-3 (1982)
- Total space flight time: 1,619 hours
- Senate run: 1984, Michigan
- Hall of Fame induction: 1997
Questions readers ask
Did Lousma fly on the Apollo program?
He served as a support crew member for Apollo 9, 10, and 13 but did not fly as an active crew member on an Apollo mission.
What was the significance of the STS-3 landing?
It was the only Space Shuttle mission to land on the lake bed at White Sands, New Mexico.
Achievements
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at University of Michigan, Naval Postgraduate School and Pioneer High School
- Worked as military officer, astronaut and aircraft pilot
