Irwin James



Jim Irwin, Apollo XV Moon Walking Astronaut, ALS: "Your friend from beyond the earth"  

1p ALS inscribed overall and signed by American astronaut James B. Irwin (1930-1991) as "Jim Irwin / Apollo 15," with a hand-drawn doodle of a crescent moon located at right. Written in Colorado Springs, Colorado on October 4, 1979. On watermarked pale blue stationery paper with "High Flight Foundation / 202 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd. / P.O. Box 1387 / Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901" letterhead. Accompanied by a color publicity photo of Irwin's official white space suit NASA portrait, and a matching pale blue "High Flight Foundation" envelope addressed to a different letter recipient.  

The Apollo XV mission--the fourth manned lunar mission of its kind--took place between July 26-August 7, 1971. Commander David R. Scott (born 1932) oversaw a 3-man crew comprised of Command Module Pilot Alfred M. Worden (born 1932) and Lunar Module Pilot James B. Irwin.  

Apollo XV was the first of NASA's extended missions, eventually clocking in at 12 days, 7 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds. This longer period enabled astronauts to more comprehensively study, document, and explore the moon. They collected geological samples, conducted scientific experiments, ventured further out using a Lunar Roving Vehicle, performed the first deep space walk, and also extensively photographed and filmed their surroundings, vehicles, equipment, and each other using a variety of tools.  

Apollo XV astronaut Jim Irwin was deeply affected by his experience on the moon. In fact, it inspired his later evangelicalism. His letter reads in full, with original untouched spelling and punctuation:  

"4 Oct 1979  

Dear Phillip,  

The visit to the moon was a high light of my physical life thus far. That three day stay gave me new insight into the spiritual dimension of my life so I came back renewed in my relation with Jesus Christ. I was light, I was hot, and I was illumined within by His pure light.  

May your life be blessed with the reality of His presence and His love.  

Your friend from beyond the earth,  

Jim Irwin  

Apollo XV  ?."  

Irwin resigned from NASA a year after Apollo XV, and in 1972, become the founding member and president of the High Flight Foundation headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The charitable organization's name was inspired by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.'s poem of the same name describing the intensely spiritual experience of flying.  

The High Flight Foundation's website explained Irwin's mission in the following way: "[Irwin] spent the next 20 years of his life reaching for a higher goal, one even higher than leaving the earth's atmosphere in search of new discoveries. This adventure was to reach out to his fellow man, and help them reach their Highest Flight In Life. He traveled around the globe with his family sharing his unique experience and a message of hope and encouragement."  

One of Irwin's first acts as a "goodwill ambassador" was traveling around the world returning the flags of United Nations countries that Apollo XV had brought to the moon and back. Irwin wrote several books and conducted lecture tours to fundraise for the High Flight Foundation. The organization hosted trips to the Holy Land and religious retreats. The non-profit still spearheads a variety of philanthropic and religious programs today. For example, its Operation Uplift continues to provide emotional, spiritual, financial, and life skill support to military personnel.  

A fascinating lot relating to astronaut and born-again Christian Jim Irwin!  


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