NASA Administrator Bill Nelson recently paid homage to the late Richard Truly, a former NASA Administrator and an astronaut. Truly passed away on February 27, 2024, at the age of 86 in his Genesee, Colorado home.
“Richard Truly was a foundational pillar of NASA, imbued with a spirit of service, exceptional character, and a forward-thinking vision,” Nelson stated.
Truly’s distinguished career spanned both military and space exploration achievements, from serving as a test pilot and naval aviator in the Navy with over 300 aircraft carrier landings to holding the rank of vice admiral.
In his NASA tenure, Truly was notable as both an astronaut and an administrator. As an astronaut, he was part of space shuttle Enterprise’s Approach and Landing Tests crew, piloted the space shuttle Columbia in STS-2, and commanded the Challenger on its groundbreaking night launch and landing during STS-8. He proved to be an instrumental figure post-Challenger tragedy, guiding NASA back into spaceflight and leading the Space Shuttle Program.
Under Truly’s administration, the Voyager 1 spacecraft captured the iconic “Pale Blue Dot” image of Earth from 3.7 billion miles away. His tenure was marked by a bold and expansive vision for humanity’s foray into space.
“Truly was an exemplar of leadership, pioneering spirit, and an inspiration to many of us at NASA, choosing to tackle the hard challenges for greatness,” Nelson remarked. Nelson extended his personal condolences to Truly’s widow Cody, their three children, and invited those inspired by the quest for space exploration to pay tribute to Truly’s memory.
More information about Richard Truly’s career and contributions to NASA is available at:
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Contact information for further inquiries:
Faith McKie / Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
faith.d.mckie@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov
FAQ Section
Q: What was Richard Truly’s role at NASA?
A: Richard Truly served as a NASA astronaut and later as the NASA Administrator. Throughout his career, he had a substantial impact on advancing America’s space exploration efforts.
Q: What notable spaceflights did Richard Truly participate in?
A: He piloted the space shuttle Columbia during STS-2 and commanded the space shuttle Challenger for STS-8, which was the first night launch and landing of the shuttle.
Q: What was one of Richard Truly’s significant achievements as NASA administrator?
A: Under his leadership as NASA Administrator, the Voyager 1 spacecraft took what is famously known as the “Pale Blue Dot” photograph of Earth.
Q: How long did Richard Truly serve in the U.S. Navy?
A: Richard Truly had a 30-year tenure in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a test pilot, naval aviator, and ultimately rose to the rank of vice admiral.
Q: Where can one find more information about Richard Truly’s life and career?
A: Detailed information on Richard Truly’s NASA career and his biography can be found on NASA’s official website at the following URL: https://www.nasa.gov/people/richard-h-truly/
Conclusion
The legacy of Richard Truly is one marked by courage, leadership, and an undying commitment to space exploration. His contributions have shaped the course of NASA’s history and left an indelible impact on the world of astronautics. Richard Truly epitomized the spirit of discovery and the relentless pursuit of pushing beyond our limits. As we mourn the loss of one of space exploration’s great pioneers, we also celebrate the remarkable journey he charted for humanity’s future among the stars.