On August 1, 1971 Apollo 15 Astronaut James Irwin was photographed saluting the U.S. flag on the moon.
This iconic lunar salute was a moment of deep spiritual and physical triumph over extreme adversity. Apollo 15 was the most scientifically intensive mission to date, and the grueling moonwalks pushed the astronauts to their psychological and physical limits inside their rigid spacesuits. Unbeknownst to the millions watching back on Earth, both Irwin and commander David Scott were experiencing notable, previously undetected heart rhythm disturbances caused by extreme fatigue and potassium depletion. Irwin’s salute was a powerful testament to his endurance, and the profound isolation of the moon altered the trajectory of his life; upon returning home, he left NASA to become an evangelist, famously stating that walking on the moon made him realize that God walking on the Earth was infinitely more significant.
