Irwin, James

Born Mar. 17, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pa. US pilot and astronaut; Air Force colonel.

Irwin graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1951 with the degree of bachelor of naval science. In 1957 he received the master of science degree in aeronautics, astronautics, and instrument engineering from the University of Michigan. He served in various units of the United States Air Force. In 1961 he graduated from the Air Force Experimental Flight Test Pilot School and in 1963 from the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School. In 1966, Irwin joined the group of astronauts of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). From July 26 to Aug. 7, 1971, together with D. Scott and A. Worden, he completed a flight to the moon as pilot of the lunar module of the Apollo 15 spacecraft. The lunar module carrying Irwin and Scott landed on the moon in the vicinity of Hadley Rille and the Appenine Mountains (eastern edge of the Mare Imbrium) on July 31, 1971. Irwin spent 66 hours, 55 minutes on the moon, including three excursions onto its surface lasting a total of 18 hours, 37 minutes. On the moon, Irwin and Scott used a lunar vehicle to travel about in.