Ken Mattingly, astronaut who missed Apollo 13 mission but helped bring crew home, dead at 87

Ken Mattingly, an astronaut who is best remembered for his efforts on the ground that helped bring the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft safely back to Earth, has died, NASA announced. He was 87.

Ken Mattingly, astronaut who missed Apollo 13 mission but helped bring crew home, dead at 87
A portrait photo of NASA astronaut Thomas (Ken) Mattingly II, which was taken on Dec. 20, 1971.

Ken Mattingly, an astronaut who is best remembered for his efforts on the ground that helped bring the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft safely back to Earth, has died, NASA announced. He was 87.