The Complete Book of Spaceflight: From Apollo 1 to Zero Gravity

far-infrared line mapper (FILM), and a far-infrared photometer
(FIRP). MIRS and FIRP were built in collaboration
with American researchers. IRTS operated from
March 30, 1995, to April 26, 1995, when its supply of cryogenic
coolant ran out.
Irwin, James Benson (1930–1991)
An American astronaut and the Lunar Module pilot for
Apollo 15. Irwin received a B.S. in naval science from the
Irwin, James Benson 209
U.S. Naval Academy in 1951 and M.S. degrees in aeronautical
engineering and instrumentation engineering
from the University of Michigan. In the Air Force, he
served as a fighter pilot and a test pilot. His first application
to be an astronaut in 1964 failed because he was still
recovering from injuries sustained in a plane crash. However,
he was among 19 astronauts selected by NASA in
April 1966. Although he served on the backup crews for
Apollo 12 and Apollo 17, his only flight was on Apollo
James Irwin Irwin, Lunar Module pilot, uses a scoop in making a trench in the lunar soil during an Apollo 15 moonwalk. Mount
Hadley rises approximately 4,500 meters above the plain in the background. NASA