Jack Swigert

Jack Swigert loved to fly.

He even flew small planes when he was young.

Jack was an astronaut. He flew on a mission to the Moon. An air tank broke on his ship. This was a big problem.

Jack told the team about the problem.

He helped the crew stay safe. They flew far from Earth. They returned home safely.

Jack also worked in government. He wanted to help his home state. He was elected to a big job.

He became sick later in life. He died before he could start his new job.

Many people came to say goodbye. We remember him for his brave work.

Jack Swigert was a pilot and an engineer. He loved flying from a very young age.

By age 16, he was already a private pilot. Later, he worked as a pilot for the Air Force. He also worked as a test pilot. This means he flew planes to see how they worked.

In 1970, Jack became an astronaut for NASA. He flew on the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon. During the flight, an oxygen tank broke. This was a very dangerous problem. Jack was the first to say, "Houston, we've had a problem here."

The crew had to fly a long way around the Moon to get home. They returned to Earth safely after five days.

After NASA, Jack went into politics. He ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the election in 1982. Sadly, Jack had bone marrow cancer.

He died before he could start his new job. Many people came to his funeral to honor him.

Jack Swigert was a pilot, an engineer, and an astronaut. He was born on August 30, 1931, in Denver, Colorado. From a young age, he loved watching planes fly.

He even worked a newspaper route to pay for flying lessons. By age 16, he was already a licensed private pilot. He later studied mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering. His many skills helped him prepare for a life in the sky.

In 1970, Swigert became a key part of the Apollo 13 mission. He was the command module pilot for the trip to the Moon.

Just three days before launch, he joined the crew to replace Ken Mattingly. During the flight, an oxygen tank in the spacecraft ruptured. This caused a major emergency for the crew. Swigert was the first to say, "Houston, we've had a problem here." This famous phrase helped everyone know there was trouble.

To get home safely, the crew had to take a special path. They used a "slingshot" route around the Moon.

This path took them farther away from Earth than any other astronauts had gone. They traveled for about five days and 23 hours. Because of their skill, they all returned to Earth safely on April 17, 1970. For his bravery, Swigert received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was one of 24 astronauts who ever flew to the Moon.

After his time at NASA, Swigert entered the world of politics. He worked for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. In 1982, he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the election for Colorado's 6th district with 64% of the vote. However, he was facing a very hard job with his health. He had been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. He died on December 27, 1982, just seven days before his term began.

Many people gathered to honor Jack Swigert after he passed away. His funeral in Denver had one thousand mourners.

Fifteen astronauts attended to say goodbye to their friend. The ceremony included a special flyover by the Colorado Air National Guard. Today, his life is remembered through many awards and even a statue. His statue stands in the United States Capitol Building to honor his service. He remains a hero for those who love science and flight.

Jack Swigert was a multi-talented American professional. He served as a NASA astronaut, a mechanical engineer, and a politician. He was also a pilot for the United States Air Force. Swigert is most famous for his role in the Apollo 13 mission. This mission was a major part of the effort to reach the Moon. His ability to handle emergencies helped save his crew.

Swigert's interest in flight began during his childhood in Denver, Colorado. He was born on August 30, 1931. At age 14, he became fascinated by aviation. He watched planes take off from a nearby field called Combs Field. He wanted to do more than just watch. He worked a newspaper route to pay for flying lessons. By age 16, he was a licensed private pilot. He later earned degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He also studied business administration.

Before joining NASA, Swigert gained extensive flight experience. He joined the United States Air Force after graduating from college. He served as a fighter pilot in Japan and South Korea. During his service in 1953, he survived a plane crash on a Korean airstrip. He later worked as a jet fighter pilot in the Air National Guard. He also worked as an engineering test pilot for companies like Pratt & Whitney. In total, he logged over 7,200 hours in flight. More than 5,725 of those hours were in jet aircraft.

Swigert joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in April 1966. He was part of NASA Astronaut Group 5. He specialized in the Apollo command module. This is the part of the spacecraft that carries the crew. He was assigned to the Apollo 13 mission in April 1970. He joined the crew only three days before the launch. He replaced astronaut Ken Mattingly. Mattingly could not fly because he had no immunity to the rubella virus.

The Apollo 13 mission faced a sudden and dangerous crisis. An oxygen tank in the service module ruptured. This caused the mission to abort its landing on the Moon. Swigert was the first to report the emergency. He said, "Houston, we've had a problem here." This was later repeated by commander Jim Lovell. To return home, the crew used a "slingshot" route around the Moon. This path sent them farther from Earth than any other astronauts had traveled. They returned safely on April 17, 1970.

After his NASA career, Swigert moved into the world of politics. He worked for the Committee on Science and Astronautics in Washington, D.C. In 1982, he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented Colorado's 6th congressional district. He won the election with 64% of the vote. However, he was struggling with a serious illness. He had been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. Swigert died on December 27, 1982. This was only seven days before his term was supposed to start.

Many honors were given to Swigert for his service. President Richard Nixon gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was also inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame. A statue of Swigert stands in the United States Capitol Building. This honors his connection to the state of Colorado. His funeral in Denver was attended by one thousand mourners. Fifteen astronauts attended the service. The ceremony included a special flyover by the Colorado Air National Guard. His life remains a significant part of space exploration history.