Artifact: Jim Irwin signed litho
Dimensions: 20.3 x 25.5 cm.

Description:

Jim Irwin signed litho with the preprinted inscription "His love from the Moon".

Jim Irwin, born on March 17, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was chosen as Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 15 and on July 26, 1971, he became the eighth person to walk on the Moon. Irwin spent a total of 18.5 hours on the lunar surface, conducting scientific experiments and collecting samples.

During his time on the Moon, Jim Irwin had a transformative experience that profoundly impacted his life. He described feeling a strong spiritual connection and a sense of awe while exploring the lunar landscape. This experience led him to devote his post-NASA career to exploring the relationship between faith and science.

After leaving NASA in 1972, Jim Irwin founded the High Flight Foundation, a Christian ministry aimed at integrating faith and space exploration. He traveled extensively, sharing his experiences as an astronaut and delivering inspirational speeches about his faith. He sought to bridge the gap between science and spirituality, encouraging others to explore the wonders of the universe while deepening their understanding of God.

In my collection I have a signed business card from the High Flight Foundation (see here).

On August 8, 1991, he passed away at the age of 61 due to a heart attack while climbing Mount Aetna in Washington state.

Artifact: Jim Irwin handsigned business card
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.