Mass Wing Members Meet Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred Haise

Cadets and senior members of the Massachusetts Wing Civil Air Patrol had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with a living legend of space exploration, Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise. The teleconference, held recently, gave members the rare chance to hear firsthand stories from Haise—one of only 24 people to have voyaged to the moon.

Haise, who served as the Lunar Module Pilot on the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, captivated the audience with personal insights from his career in both aeronautics and astronautics. A former NASA research pilot and the commander of the Space Shuttle orbiter Enterprise, Haise shared stories from a golden era of space exploration and what it took to survive one of NASA's most famous missions.

“A Successful Failure”

The session, titled “Apollo 13: A Successful Failure,” focused on the intense and dramatic events surrounding the ill-fated mission. Intended to be the third moon landing, Apollo 13 was abruptly rerouted when an onboard explosion crippled the spacecraft. Despite the odds, Haise and his crewmates (Jim Lovell and Jack Swigert) made it home safely.  Haise stressed the importance of the extraordinary teamwork of literally thousands of people who worked to bring the crew home.  

Haise described those harrowing days in space with clarity and humility, offering cadets a powerful reminder of the resilience, adaptability, and courage required in both aviation and spaceflight.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Throughout the session, cadets asked Haise a range of questions, from personal experiences to technical aspects of the Apollo mission to his thoughts on today’s space program and NASA’s Artemis efforts to return humans to the moon.  

Now approaching 92 years old, Haise spoke with astonishing clarity and energy, recalling vivid details of the early space program, the politics surrounding NASA's direction, and the evolution of human spaceflight over the past five decades.

“He was absolutely amazing,” one member remarked. “He answered every question thoughtfully and never missed a beat. It was such a special opportunity for all of us to speak with him.”

A Moment to Remember

For everyone in attendance, the call was more than just a history lesson—it was a personal conversation with someone who helped shape the history of human spaceflight. Haise's stories and reflections reminded cadets that greatness is achieved through teamwork, preparation, and the courage to face the unknown.

The Massachusetts Wing is deeply grateful to Fred Haise for his time, wisdom, and inspiration. His visit will no doubt motivate the next generation of aerospace leaders within Civil Air Patrol and beyond.  In addition, we would like to give a special thank you to Logan Jaeren, founder of STEAM4Space for organizing this program.

For More Information:

Maj. Leslie Kneipfer
Leslie.Kneipfer@mawg.cap.gov