Origins & Early Life

Alfred Merrill Worden (February 7, 1932 – March 18, 2020) was an American test pilot, engineer and NASA astronaut who was command module pilot for the Apollo 15 lunar mission in 1971. One of the 24 Apollo astronauts to reach the Moon, he orbited it 74 times in the command module (CM) Endeavour. Worden was born in Michigan in 1932; he spent his early years living on farms and attended the University of Michigan for one year, before securing an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Graduating in 1955, he elected to be commissioned in the United States Air Force, though he had no piloting experience.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He proved adept at flying fighter planes, and honed his skills, becoming a test pilot before his selection as a Group 5 astronaut in 1966. He served on the support crew for Apollo 9 and the backup crew for Apollo 12 before his selection for the Apollo 15 crew in 1970, with David Scott as commander and James Irwin as lunar module pilot. After Apollo 15 reached lunar orbit, and his crewmates landed on the Moon, Worden spent three days alone in the CM, becoming in the process the individual who traveled the farthest from any other human being, a distinction...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Alan Bean — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• Alvin Plantinga — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Leading American philosopher and theologian known for Reformed epistemology.
• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Albert Uderzo — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering French comic artist, co-creator of the iconic Astérix series.
• Alki Zei — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed Greek novelist and children's author known for semi-autobiographical works.
• Albert Finney — Shared historical date (02-07 · Died) (2019): Esteemed English actor celebrated for his versatile stage and screen performances.
• An Wang — Shared historical date (02-07 · Born) (1920): Pioneering Chinese-American computer engineer and cofounder of Wang Laboratories.
• Alexei Yagudin — Shared historical date (03-18 · Born) (1980): Pioneering Russian figure skater, celebrated for multiple World and Olympic titles.
• Anne Robert Jacques Turgot — Shared historical date (03-18 · Died) (1781): Pioneering French economist and statesman advocating for economic liberalism.
• 1932 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1932
• February 7 (02-07) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 7
• 2020 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2020
• March 18 (03-18) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 18