James Irwin

James Benson "Jim" Irwin (March 17, 1930 – August 8, 1991) was an American astronaut, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and a United States Air Force pilot. He served as Apollo Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 15, the fourth human lunar landing. He was the eighth person to walk on the Moon and the first, and youngest, of those astronauts to die.

Quotes

 * The Earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space. As we got farther and farther away it diminished in size. Finally it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine. That beautiful, warm, living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man, has to make a man appreciate the creation of God and the love of God.
 * In Kevin W. Kelley The Home Planet, with Plate 38; as quoted by C.C. Gaither & Alma E Cavazos-Gaither (2003). Astronomically Speaking: A Dictionary of Quotations on Astronomy and Physics. p. 262. CRC Press. ISBN: 9781420034677


 * Being on the moon had a profound spiritual impact upon my life. Before I entered space with the Apollo 15 mission in July of 1971, I was a lukewarm Christian, to say the least! I was even a silent Christian, but I feel the Lord sent me to the moon so I could return to the earth and share his Son, Jesus Christ. The entire space achievement is put in proper perspective when one realizes that God walking on the earth is more important than man walking on the moon. I believe that God walked on the earth 2,000 years ago in the person of Jesus Christ. I have totally yielded my life to the Lord’s service to tell people everywhere about the life-changing message of Christ.
 * More Than Earthlings: An Astronaut's Thoughts for Christ-Centered Living (1983)


 * I felt the power of God as I'd never felt it before.
 * In reference to an epiphany he felt at the moon. As quoted in his interview in The New York Times