CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden, who circled the moon alone in 1971 while his two crewmates test-drove the first lunar rover, died Wednesday at age 88.
His family said he died in his sleep in Houston. No cause of death was given. “Al was an American hero whose achievements in space and on Earth will never be forgotten," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a statement.
He also praised Worden for his appearances on “Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" to explain his moon mission to children. Worden flew to the moon in 1971 along with David Scott and Jim Irwin.
As command module pilot, Worden remained in lunar orbit aboard the Endeavour while Scott and Irwin descended to the surface and tried out NASA's first moon buggy.