[News Figures] Frank Borman, Captain of Apollo 8, the First Human to Fly Behind the Moon

Died of Stroke on the 7th... Aged 95 Years

Frank Borman, the American astronaut who captained Apollo 8, the first manned spacecraft to enter lunar orbit and witness the far side of the moon before returning, has died at the age of 95, NASA announced on the 9th (local time).

American astronaut Frank Borman [Photo by Getty Images Yonhap News]

According to NASA and The Washington Post, Jim McCarthy, a spokesperson for Borman's family, stated that Borman passed away on the 7th while receiving treatment for a stroke at Billings Medical Center in Montana. After the death of American astronaut John Glenn in 2016, Borman was the oldest astronaut in the United States.

"The Earth seen from the Moon, the most beautiful moment of my life"

Borman was the commander of Apollo 8 in December 1968, the first mission in human history to enter lunar orbit. Along with pilots James Lovell and William Anders, Borman left Earth, traveled 378,000 km one way, entered lunar orbit, circled the moon 10 times, observed the far side of the moon, and then returned to Earth.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968, Borman, Lovell, and Anders orbited the moon and broadcast live the view of Earth from the moon, taking turns reading ten verses from the Book of Genesis. Anders, the photographer of Apollo 8, captured this scene in color with a NASA-issued camera. The photo showing Earth rising above the lunar surface was named "Earthrise."

After returning to Earth, Borman recalled this moment as "the most beautiful and captivating moment of my life." He said, "(Earth) was the only thing with color in space. Everything else was black or white, but not Earth." He described Earth as mostly a soft and peaceful blue, with continents outlined in pinkish-brown, and white clouds drifting like long cotton fibers floating over the vast Earth.

Originally, Apollo 8's mission was to orbit Earth, not the moon, but according to The Washington Post, NASA changed its plan after learning that the Soviet Union was preparing a manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. The Post described it as "a bold adventure to be the first humans to leave Earth's gravity and enter lunar orbit."

A photo of Earth taken from Apollo 8, titled 'Earthrise' (Photo by NASA)

Foreign media reported that the achievements of Apollo 8 paved the way for Apollo 11's landing on the lunar surface in July 1969, where Neil Armstrong left humanity's first footprints. Armstrong also helped with backup operations for Apollo 8.

West Point graduate Borman became CEO of a U.S. airline after retiring as an astronaut

Born in 1928, Borman entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1950 and joined the Air Force after graduation. He served as a fighter pilot for two years in the Philippines during the Korean War, then returned to the U.S. to earn a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the California Institute of Technology and returned to West Point as a technical instructor.

In 1960, Borman participated as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in California, helping to develop NASA's pilot program curriculum. He joined NASA as an astronaut in 1962 and was selected as the commander of Apollo 8 in 1968.

American astronaut Frank Borman [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

After completing the Apollo 8 mission, Borman retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 1970 and entered the business world. He joined Eastern Airlines, which was struggling financially, and rose to senior vice president before becoming CEO in 1975. As CEO, Borman implemented significant cost-cutting measures and appeared to improve management by turning a profit in his first year.

However, Eastern Airlines recorded losses close to $400 million from 1980 to 1985 and faced conflicts with labor unions. Ultimately, in 1986, Borman sold Eastern Airlines to Texas Air Corporation and resigned. In his memoir, he recalled going home after the sale, crying in his wife's arms, and lamenting, "For the first time in my life, I failed to complete a mission."

His wife, Susan, passed away in 2021. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), he is survived by two sons, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

NASA, announcing Borman's death, said, "Today we remember one of NASA's finest. Borman was a true American hero," adding, "The only love that rivaled his lifelong devotion to aviation and exploration was his love for his wife, Susan." They further stated, "Frank understood that 'exploration is the essence of the human spirit,' recognizing the unifying power of exploration for humanity."