Ex-astronaut Irwin dies at 61

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. Former astronaut James B. Irwin, whowalked on the moon in 1971 and later became a minister who searchedfor traces of Noah's Ark, has died, a hospital spokeswoman said. Hewas 61.

Alice Sundeen, spokeswoman for Valley View Hospital, said Mr.Irwin died Thursday night, apparently of a heart attack.

Mr. Irwin, who had had a history of heart trouble, was on aspeaking tour of central Colorado Christian organizations at the timeof his death. He was the first to die of the 12 men who walked onthe moon.

Mr. Irwin viewed his Apollo 15 moon journey in July-August,1971, as a religious experience and said it led him to found the HighFlight Foundation, an interdenominational, evangelistic organizationbased in Colorado Springs.

Former astronaut Alan Bean rembered him today as "a wonderfulhuman being. . . . He was a wonderful astronaut because he was sucha good team player. He could decrease his own ego to work withpeople in Apollo to make a better mission."

In a telephone interview from his home in Houston, Bean said hehad run into Mr. Irwin just a week ago, and "I know he had so manyplans for the future."

The High Flight Foundation's most publicized efforts involvedsix expeditions led by Mr. Irwin to Mt. Ararat in Turkey in anunsuccessful search for remnants of Noah's Ark.

"Some people make light of it and ask how can a technicalperson, an astronaut, believe in the Bible," Mr. Irwin once told aninterviewer. "I guess I was also a skeptic in my early days, butI've come to believe what the Bible says as being true."

Mr. Irwin said in September, 1986, that he was giving up thesearch for the ark. "I think it is time for others to take up thesearch," he said.

Mr. Irwin retired from the astronaut corps and founded hisnonprofit foundation, whose main purpose was "to share the love ofJesus Christ," a year after his walk on the moon.

On July 26, 1971, Mr. Irwin, David R. Scott and Alfred M. Wordenblasted off on their 295-hour flight to the moon and back. He andScott were the first to use the Lunar Rover vehicle. Among thesamples they collected was a rock estimated to be 4.15 billion yearsold, nicknamed the Genesis Rock.

Mr. Irwin said it was because of that discovery that "I thoughtthe Lord wanted me involved in finding artifacts from the Genesistime that would be more important than the Genesis Rock we found onthe moon."

Several months after they returned to Earth, it was revealedthat Mr. Irwin and Scott, while on the moon, had hand-canceledstamped envelopes. Later, these envelopes, made more valuable by thelunar cancellation, were sold to a European stamp dealer.

The three crew members, who resigned within a few months, hadreceived thousands of dollars for their efforts. The NationalAeronautics and Space Administration issued a reprimand and changedits policy about what astronauts may carry into space.

Born in Pittsburgh on March 17, 1930, Mr. Irwin was a 1951graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Irwin transferred to the AirForce to become a test pilot. He accumulated more than 7,000 hoursof flying time and rose to the rank of colonel. He earned a master'sdegree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan in1957. In 1966, he entered the Apollo program. He received the NASAand Air Force distinguished service medals.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen, and five children.