(1932- ) Apollo and Skylab astronaut

Biographical Data

Born March 15, 1932, in Wheeler, Texas.

Married
Children 1 son, 1 daughter

Education

High School Paschal High School, Fort Worth, Texas
Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering University of Texas, 1955
Honorary Doctorate of Science Texas Wesleyan College, 1972
Honorary Doctorate of Engineering Science University of Akron (Ohio), 1974

Military Career

Commissioned into the U.S.Navy following graduation from the Naval ROTC program at the University of Texas.

Assigned to a jet attack squadron in Jacksonville, Florida; served four years.

Attended the Navy Test Pilot School.
Flew as a test pilot on several types of naval aircraft.

NASA Career

Selected as an astronaut in October 1963.

Served as backup astronaut for the Gemini X and Apollo IX missions.

Lunar module pilot on Apollo XII, the second manned lunar landing, November 14-24, 1969.

Spacecraft commander of Skylab III, July 29-September 25, 1973.

Backup spacecraft commander of the United States flight crew for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, 1975.

Post-NASA Career

Resigned from NASA in June 1981 to devote his full time to painting. His "space-based" paintings have earned him a reputation as a very accomplished artist. Still operates a studio in Houston, Texas.

Organizations

fellow, American Astronautical Society
member, Society of Experimental Test Pilots

Awards and Honors

11 world records in space and astronautics
two NASA Distinguished Service Medals
Navy Astronaut Wings
two Navy Distinguished Service Medals
Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award for Scientific and Technical Progress
University of Texas Distinguished Alumnus Award
University of Texas Distinguished Engineering Graduate Award
Godfrey L. Cabot Award
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Trustees Award
Texas Press Association's Man of the Year Award for 1969
City of Chicago Gold Medal
Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1973
Federation Aeronautique Internationale's Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal for 1973 (1974)
FAI V.M. Komarov Diploma for 1973 (1974)
Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy for 1975
AIAA Octave Chanute Award for 1975
AAS Flight Achievement Award for 1974 (1975)

Questions or comments about this page?

Astronaut Biographies. www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/bean-al.html

Texas
Jacksonville, Florida
Gemini Program
Skylab III

THE ROBINSON LIBRARY
Technology.--Motor Vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics.--Astronautics. Space Travel.--Biography.

About the Library | Sitemap | Terms of Use | Contact Information | Navigation Help