Astronaut Frank Borman, commander of the Apollo 8 mission, dies

Arabia Weather - The US space agency NASA announced on Thursday the death of astronaut Frank Borman, at the age of 95, commander of the famous “Apollo 8” mission, during which he orbited the moon for the first time ever. In a statement announcing his death, NASA considered him an “American hero.”

Astronaut Frank Borman, commander of the Apollo 8 mission, dies

American astronaut Frank Borman has died at the age of 95. Borman was the commander of the historic Apollo 8 mission, which witnessed the first orbit around the moon. NASA announced his death on Thursday. NASA President Bill Nelson described Borman as an "American hero" and stressed that his exceptional experience in space exploration made him an important choice among astronauts. Borman began his career as an officer in the US Air Force and showed an interest in aviation from the beginning.

Frank Borman participated in the Gemini 7 mission in 1965, which was the first 14-day mission in space. After that, he participated as commander in the historic "Apollo 8" mission in December 1968, where he was accompanied by astronauts James Lovell and William Anders. It was during this mission that the famous "Earthrise" photo was taken.

NASA Director Bill Nelson welcomed Borman's legacy, noting that his accomplishments will inspire future generations, especially with NASA's commitment to returning to the moon through the "Artemis" program. NASA is preparing to send the "Artemis 2" mission at the end of 2024, which is a manned mission that will explore around the moon, and is a repeat of the success of the "Apollo 8" mission.

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