Apollo astronaut Colonel Frank Borman died on Tuesday, 7 November 2023. He was 95.
Frank Borman dies: What’s the cause of death?
As reported by CNN, the colonel who commanded the first mission to orbit the moon sighed his last breath at his home in Billings, Montana, USA.
An official cause of death was not disclosed when this article was published.
In a statement, NASA remembered Col. Borman as “a true American hero.”
“Among his many accomplishments, he served as the commander of the Apollo 8 mission, humanity’s first mission around the Moon in 1968,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson wrote.
Frank Borman obituary
Born on 14 March 1928, Frank Frederick Borman II’s journey was marked by dedication and excellence from an early age.
Graduating eighth in his class from West Point in 1950, Borman was commissioned in the United States Air Force (USAF) and served as a fighter pilot in the Philippines.
His thirst for knowledge led him to earn a Master of Science degree from Caltech in 1957, after which he taught thermodynamics and fluid mechanics at West Point.
Borman’s astronaut career with NASA began in 1962 when he was selected as part of the “Next Nine” astronaut group. He set a fourteen-day spaceflight endurance record as commander of Gemini 7 in 1966.
His pivotal role in the Apollo 8 mission brought him, along with his crewmates Jim Lovell and William Anders, into the annals of history as the first humans to orbit the Moon.
This mission is famed for the iconic “Earthrise” photograph and the Christmas Eve Genesis reading from lunar orbit.
After retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1970, Borman transitioned to a successful career in the aviation industry, becoming the CEO and chairman of Eastern Air Lines.
His tenure saw some of the most profitable years in the airline’s history, though it faced challenges during the era of airline deregulation.
Borman’s later years were spent in Montana, where he purchased a cattle ranch and indulged in his passion for rebuilding and modelling aircraft.
He restored a rare Bell P-63 Kingcobra World War II fighter, winning the Grand Champion Warbird award in 1998. A devoted family man, Borman cared for his wife, Susan, during her battle with Alzheimer’s until her passing in 2021.
Reactions to Borman’s death
Remembered as the oldest living American astronaut following John Glenn’s death in 2016, Borman was a symbol of exploration, innovation, and resilience. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of explorers and dreamers.
Here’s how social media reacted to news of his death:
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