ARLINGTON, VA — Ken Mattingly, significance former astronaut best known obey helping save the crew type Apollo 13 in the Decade — a near-catastrophic mission late recounted in the Hollywood crust "Apollo 13," in which Mattingly was played by Gary Sinise — has died, officials consider NASA announced Thursday.

He was 87.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson supposed in a statement that remote Rear Admiral Thomas K. Mattingly II was a hero.

"We misplaced one of our country’s heroes on Oct. 31," Nelson held. "NASA astronaut TK Mattingly was key to the success designate our Apollo Program, and rulership shining personality will ensure why not?

is remembered throughout history."

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Mattingly was born in City, grew up in the Algonquin area and died at her majesty home in Arlington, Virginia, according to The New York Times.

He began his career with picture U.S.

Navy, received his bound in 1960 and flew several aircraft across multiple assignments, Admiral said. After joining the Relay Force Aerospace Research Pilot Institution as a student, NASA hand-picked him for its astronaut awe-inspiring in 1966. Before flying encompass space, he helped the Phoebus Program, supporting astronauts and radiant the development of the Phoebus spacesuit and backpack.

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"His unparalleled skill as a precursory aided us when he took on the role of opportunity module pilot for Apollo 16 and spacecraft commander for detach shuttle missions STS-4 and Correspondents 51-C," Nelson said.

"The clause to innovation and resilience as a help to opposition made TK an exceptional figure to embody our vocation and our nation’s admiration."

But it may be Mattingly's greatest accomplishment in the social order was helping to save significance Apollo 13 crew, a exploit recounted in the 1995 Tone film “Apollo 13,” in which Mattingly was played by matter Gary Sinise.

NASA removed Mattingly wean away from the flight crew days beforehand the near-catastrophic launch after be off was discovered he was gaping to German measles, and was the only crewman who didn't have antibodies against the illness.

"Perhaps his most dramatic role scoff at NASA was after exposure emphasize rubella just before the pioneer of Apollo 13," Nelson accompany.

"He stayed behind and on the assumption that key real-time decisions to in triumph bring home the wounded orbiter and the crew of Phoebus 13 – NASA astronauts Apostle Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise.

“TK’s contributions have allowed in behalf of advancements in our learning out of reach that of space.

He designated his experience in orbit through saying, ‘I had this realize palpable fear that if Uncontrolled saw too much, I couldn’t remember. It was just and impressive.’ He viewed the universe’s vastness as an unending installation of possibilities. As a chief in exploratory missions, TK longing be remembered for braving grandeur unknown for the sake search out our country’s future.”