Apollo 16 and Space Shuttle Astronaut TLS on Apollo 13: “NASA’s finest hour”

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MATTINGLY, THOMAS KENNETH. (1936-2023). American astronaut who flew on Apollo 16 and Space Shuttle missions STS-4 and STS-51-C. TLS. (“T. K.”). ½p. 4to. Arlington, March 2, 1995. On his personal stationery. To American documentary filmmaker ELLIOTT HAIMOFF (b. 1955).

“Two days ago, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a copy of ‘Women Space Pioneers.’ Apparently its [sic.] been chasing me for some time and finally caught up with me here on the east coast. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and didn’t want you to think that I had failed to receive it or didn’t appreciate your thoughtfulness. You did an outstanding job of producing a balanced and interesting show. Now I’m really looking forward to seeing your Apollo 13 product with the hope that it will help the public understand what made this NASA’s finest hour…”

Apollo 16 and Space Shuttle Astronaut TLS on Apollo 13: “NASA’s finest hour”

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Thomas Kenneth Mattingly

Trained as an aeronautical engineer, Mattingly joined the Navy and, after training at U.S. Airforce Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, he was selected in 1965 for NASA’s fifth astronaut group. Starting out as support crew for Apollo 8 and backup command module pilot for Apollo 11, he was selected as command module pilot for Apollo 13, a manned mission to the moon. Removed from the flight three days prior to departure due to exposure to rubella, he narrowly missed the flight’s electrical and life-support systems malfunction that forced all four astronauts aboard to spend two days in the lunar module meant for only two people while mission control worked to return them to earth, the subject of the 1995 film Apollo 13. Mattingly served as command module pilot for Apollo 16, the fifth crewed lunar landing mission, and commanded several space shuttle missions.

A biologist and primatologist, Haimoff filmed endangered primates before founding his independent documentary company Global Science Productions in 1990. The company produced such documentaries as Moonwalkers: The Men of Apollo, The Rise and Fall of the Russian Space Program, Cosmic Travelers: Comets and Asteroids, and Apollo 13: The Untold Story. Haimoff is the author of Women Space Pioneers, mentioned in our letter.

Neatly folded into thirds with some ink transfer in the lower margin. In very good condition.

Apollo 16 and Space Shuttle Astronaut TLS on Apollo 13: “NASA’s finest hour”