James Irwin was an American astronaut and engineer, best known for being the eighth person to walk on the Moon. He was part of the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, where he and fellow astronaut David Scott spent three days exploring the lunar surface. Irwin's work contributed significantly to our understanding of the Moon's geology. Before his spaceflight career, Irwin served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force and later became a test pilot. After retiring from NASA, he focused on his passion for Christian ministry and founded the High Flight Foundation, which aimed to inspire others through his experiences in space.