Before joining NASA in 1966, Swigert was a civilian test pilot and fighter pilot in the Air National Guard. After leaving NASA, he ran for Senate but lost in a primary election against Bill Armstrong. Later he ran for Congress, but while running was diagnosed with cancer. He won the election for Colorado's new 6th district in 1982, but died before being sworn in.
Early life
John Leonard Swigert Jr. was born on August 30, 1931, in Denver, Colorado to parents Dr. John Leonard Swigert Sr. (1901–1974) and Virginia Seep Swigert (1906–1994). Swigert's father was an ophthalmologist.[1][2] At the age of 14, he became fascinated by aviation. While he would have been content just watching planes take off from nearby Combs Field, young Jack became determined to do more than be a spectator. He took on a newspaper route to earn money for flying lessons, and by age 16 he was a licensed private pilot.[3] He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and attained the rank of Second Class Scout.[4][5] He attended Blessed Sacrament School, Regis Jesuit High School and East High School, from which he graduated in 1949.[6]
Swigert (right) with the "mailbox" rig improvised to adapt the Apollo 13command moduleOdyssey's square carbon dioxide scrubber cartridges to fit the lunar moduleAquarius, which took a round cartridge
After completing his tour of active duty in the USAF, he served as a jet fighter pilot with the Massachusetts (1957–1960) and Connecticut Air National Guard (1960–1965).[9] Swigert held a position as engineering test pilot for North American Aviation before joining NASA. He was previously an engineering test pilot for Pratt & Whitney, from February 1957 to June 1964.[10]
He logged over 7,200 hours in flight, including more than 5,725 hours in jet aircraft.[6]
Swigert was a member of Apollo 7's astronaut support crew, the first support crew for an Apollo mission; he served as Capsule communicator (CAPCOM) during the ascent phase of the flight.[13]
Swigert was one of three astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 Moon mission launched April 11, 1970. Originally part of the backup crew for the mission, he was assigned to the mission three days before launch, replacing astronaut Ken Mattingly. The prime crew had been exposed to German Measles (the rubella virus) from Charles Duke and, because Mattingly had no immunity to the disease, NASA did not want to risk him falling ill during critical phases of the flight.[14]
Apollo 13 was the third crewed lunar-landing attempt, but was aborted after the rupture of an oxygen tank in the spacecraft's service module. Swigert was the astronaut who first announced, "Houston, we've had a problem here".[15] The statement was then repeated by commander of the flight Jim Lovell. Swigert, along with fellow astronauts Lovell and Fred Haise, traveled around the Moon and returned safely to Earth on April 17 after about 5 days and 23 hours, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom the next day.[16]
Apollo–Soyuz Test Project
NASA Director of Flight Crew Operations Deke Slayton, who selected the astronauts, recommended Swigert as command module pilot for the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, the first joint mission with the Soviet Union. Slayton felt Swigert deserved another chance to fly after having been selected for Apollo 13 two days before launch, and performing well.[17]
During 1972, the Apollo 15 postal covers incident caused NASA investigators to inquire into other astronauts.[3] A number of Apollo astronauts, including Swigert, had made agreements with West German stamp dealer Hermann Sieger, who originated the idea for the Apollo 15 covers, to autograph philatelic items in exchange for a payment of about $2,500. Swigert originally denied involvement when interviewed by NASA investigators.[18] According to Christopher C. Kraft, the investigators subpoenaed his bank records, finding more funds than expected, and records of a predated charitable donation.[19] Swigert's subsequent admission caused NASA Deputy Administrator George M. Low to remove him from Apollo–Soyuz.[3]
Swigert eventually left NASA and the committee in August 1977 to enter politics.[21] He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1978, but was soundly defeated in the Republican primary in September by CongressmanBill Armstrong, who was far better known.[22] In 1979, Swigert became vice president of B.D.M. Corporation in Golden.[13] He left in 1981 to join International Gold and Minerals Limited as vice president for financial and corporate affairs.[23]
In February 1982, Swigert left International Gold and Minerals Limited to run for U.S. Congress in the newly created 6th district as a Republican. When a malignant tumor in his right nasal passage was found, the astronaut-politician disclosed this to the voters. Doctors told him he would finish radiation treatments on June 15 and make a complete recovery.[24] However, in August, Swigert developed back pain and was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer.[25] On November 2, 1982, he won the seat with 64% of the popular vote.[26]
President Richard Nixon awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Apollo 13 crew shortly after the conclusion of their mission.[33] Following a sparse parade, Swigert received the City of New York Gold Medal on June 3.[34] He received the City of Houston Medal for Valor, 1970.[35] Swigert received the American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award for 1970.[36] He was given University of Colorado-Boulder's Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 1970.[6] Vice President Spiro Agnew presented the crews of Apollo 11, 12, and 13 with the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1970.[37] The Apollo 13 crew also received the AIAA Haley Astronautics Award in 1971, which included a small monetary award and a medal.[38][39]
Swigert was awarded the 1972 Antonian Gold Medal.[6]
In 1997, Swigert, along with 23 other Apollo astronauts, was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame which is located at the Kennedy Space Center.[46][47]
The Space Foundation was founded in 1983 in part to honor the memory and accomplishments of Swigert.[53][54] In 2004, the Space Foundation launched the John L. "Jack" Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration, which is presented annually to an individual, group, or organization that has made a significant contribution to space exploration. On August 18, 2009, the Space Foundation and Colorado Springs District 11 partnered to open the Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy.[55][56]
