Artifact Category: autograph, business card.
Dimensions: 5.1 x 8.9 cm.
Description: Jim Irwin, born James Benson Irwin on March 17, 1930, was an American astronaut and a member of NASA's Apollo 15 mission.
Irwin attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He then served as a pilot in the United States Air Force, where he flew jet fighter planes. During his military career, Irwin logged over 7,015 hours of flying time.
In 1964, Jim Irwin joined NASA as one of the 19 astronauts selected in the third group of astronauts. He served as a member of the support crew for Apollo 10 and was later chosen as the lunar module pilot for Apollo 15. Apollo 15 was the fourth manned lunar landing mission and took place in July 1971.
During the Apollo 15 mission, Irwin and his fellow astronauts, David Scott and Alfred Worden, spent a total of 12 days in space, with three of those days on the lunar surface. Irwin and Scott became the eighth and ninth men to walk on the Moon. They conducted scientific experiments, explored the Hadley-Apennine region, and collected valuable samples of lunar material.
One of the notable moments during Apollo 15 was when Jim Irwin had a spiritual experience on the Moon's surface. He felt a deep connection with God and described the experience as a profound spiritual awakening. This experience greatly influenced his life after returning to Earth.
Following his retirement from NASA in 1972, Jim Irwin founded the High Flight Foundation, a religious organization aimed at spreading his Christian faith. He became an evangelist and traveled extensively, giving lectures and sharing his experiences of space exploration and spirituality. Irwin also wrote a book titled "To Rule the Night," in which he discussed his experiences as an astronaut and his spiritual journey.
Jim Irwin passed away on August 8, 1991, at the age of 61 due to a heart attack.
