US space pioneer

“Apollo 8” commander Frank Borman is dead

One of the first people to ever see the far side of the moon, Frank Borman (the archive photo shows him in 2008), is dead.

(Bild: AFP/Getty Images/Alex Wong)

One of the first people to ever see the far side of the moon is dead. US astronaut Frank Borman, who led the "Apollo 8" mission in December 1968, died on Tuesday at the age of 95, the space agency NASA announced on Thursday.

During the mission, Borman's colleague William Anders took the still famous picture "Earthrise" (picture below), which shows the Earth as a rising crescent above the surface of the moon. Borman was "one of the best" at NASA, explained NASA chief Bill Nelson, adding: "His lifelong love for aviation and exploration was only surpassed by his love for his wife Susan."

Born in the US state of Indiana in 1928, Borman initially trained as a fighter jet pilot for the US Air Force. After years as a jet pilot, he became an assistant professor of thermodynamics at the West Point Military Academy in the US state of New York. 

"Earthrise": The creation of this photo was not part of the flight plan for the "Apollo 8" mission.

(Bild: gemeinfrei)

Was one of the pioneers of space travel
However, he became world-famous as one of the pioneers of space travel. In 1965, Borman spent a then record 14 days in space during the Gemini 7 space mission together with his later Apollo 8 companion Jim Lovell. 

After the end of his career for NASA in July 1970, Borman became Chairman of the Board of the American airline Eastern Airlines.