The months of October and November saw the unfortunate passing of two American heroes – T.K. Mattingly and Frank Borman. Mattingly died on October 31st and Borman passed away shortly thereafter, on November 7th. Both men were institutions in America’s space program (both heavily involved in the Apollo program, Borman was also Command Pilot on Gemini 7, and Mattingly was Commander of both Shuttle missions STS-4 and STS-51-C). Mattingly and Borman also served as pilots in the military (U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, respectively), and both were aeronautical engineers and test pilots as well. The records and achievements of these two men in space and aviation history are enough to fill volumes, and our national efforts in space simply wouldn’t be the same without them. (Coincidentally, Frank Borman graduated high school from the same school as two of my children.)
Deep and wonderful tributes have been written about the lives, dignity, and accomplishments of both men – all fitting and appropriate given their dedication to so much more than themselves and the lifelong services they provided for our country, and to a greater extent, for all mankind. We can learn a lot from studying the careers and devotion to duty of both Mattingly and Borman. But for me, the passing of these two great and patriotic Americans carries more profound meaning – and has prompted reflection on a number of other thoughts and issues.
One is the idea of service – commitment to the needs and positive advancements of the community, state and, nation. I’m continually concerned that the idea of duty to something beyond one’s sole self-interest is dissipating. Of course, one can look at the news, see the corruption and the internal decay in some of our institutions and reasonably understand why individual Americans may not have much interest in serving a higher purpose. And, as destructive forces seek to incessantly deconstruct our culture and to marginalize the exceptional aspects and feats of our nation, it’s easy to lose morale and hope.
But this can’t go on forever if we’re ever to fix what’s wrong in the country, regain our footing and push ahead – the stakes are too high to simply roll over and give up. For perspective, both Mattingly and Borman (as well as that entire generation of our first astronauts) worked intensely throughout the mid-to-late 1960’s and early 70’s – a most convulsive and divisive time in American history – to advance America’s progress in space. Their example, to focus on a vitally important mission of great national purpose, not only inspired the world, but it fostered unity in a time of disunity. Imagine if we could belong to a moment, a cause, or an opportunity to do that again.
Additionally, Borman and Mattingly epitomize the devotion to purpose. Let’s face it, one does not just become an astronaut – it is in fact one of those few specialized elite-tier duties that requires total commitment, years of training, constant learning and a combination of physical ability, skill, brains, and guts that most people don’t possess. Imagine what it takes to pilot the most sophisticated craft, literally leave Earth, and accept the highest levels of risk and remain calm and focused while performing a mission that may never have been done before...sometimes when all alone in space for days on end. In our current era of constant distractions, excuses, and a lack of accountability, we can learn a lot from the astronauts’ level of focus, diligence, and responsibility.
Thinking about both Mattingly and Borman, I’m also reminded of the need to learn from and cherish those of their generation who are still with us. And by that I don’t just mean the astronaut community, but all Americans in their late 80s and even 100s who’ve lived through the toughest and darkest of times, but who persevered, kept things together and went on to make their mark in a positive and contributive way. Of course, the astronaut corps is a great place to start, given the risks and demands of the job – but veterans of World War II and Korea, survivors of the Great Depression, or warriors of the Cold War are all people we can, and should, learn from while we still can. Time of course marches on, and it waits for no one – which is more reason we shouldn’t waste a moment.
It is in times of tension, rancor, and strife that real leaders are needed most – to rise above the haze of turmoil, to guide the nation through stormy waters, to lead, to accomplish missions critical to all people and to show the rest of us the way. I’m thankful for Borman and Mattingly – and their fellow colleagues and corps – for providing us with an inspiring template to follow.
I wish both Frank Frederick Borman II and Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II farewell – Godspeed and rest in peace. Thank you for all that you have done for your families, community and nation – and I hope that the high standards you set continue to inspire the rest of us to do the right things, the right way, for the right reasons.
Grant Anderson, P.E. is the President & CEO of Paragon Space Development Corporation, a recognized leader in life support and thermal control in extreme environments. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from Stanford University.
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