NASA Astronaut Group 3

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Astronaut Group 3, was the third group of astronauts selected by NASA. Their selection was announced in October 1963. Fourteen astronauts made up Group 3. Four died in training accidents before they could fly in space. All of the surviving ten flew in the Apollo program; five also flew Gemini missions. Aldrin, Bean, Cernan and Scott walked on the Moon.

Group 3 was the first group to include candidates with no test pilot background, as would be the case for all future groups, except for the Group 7 MOL transfer.

A chart showing Group 3 assignments in Gemini and Apollo in relation to assignments from other astronaut groups. It shows how that surviving members of this group flew on Apollo, providing more moonwalkers than any other group (four), with half of the group (seven) making it to lunar orbit. This group also bore the brunt of casualties, with four members dying in the span of three years.

• Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr, USAF

Gemini 12, Apollo 11

Lunar Module Pilot, first manned lunar landing. Second man to walk on the moon.

• William A. Anders, USAF

Apollo 8

Lunar Module Pilot, first manned flight to orbit the moon. Since no LM on mission, handled the spacecraft's electrical systems and was responsible for significant photography.

• Charles A. Bassett, II, USAF

Selected as a pilot for Gemini 9, but died in a plane crash before the mission.

• Alan L. Bean, USN

Apollo 12, Skylab 3

Lunar Module Pilot, second manned lunar landing. Fourth man to walk on the moon. Commander, second American space station mission.

• Eugene A. Cernan, USN

Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, Apollo 17

Lunar Module Pilot, lunar module test in lunar orbit, highest velocity attained by manned vehicle. Commander, (as of 2009) final manned mission to the moon. As of 2009, last man to walk on the moon.

• Roger B. Chaffee, USN

Trained as a Junior Pilot, died in the Apollo 1 fire.

• Michael Collins, USAF

Gemini 10, Apollo 11

Command Module Pilot, first manned lunar landing.

• R. Walter Cunningham, ex-USMC

Apollo 7

Junior Pilot, first Apollo manned mission in earth orbit. The LM was not flown for this mission.

• Donn F. Eisele, USAF

Apollo 7

Command Module Pilot, first Apollo manned mission in earth orbit. Back-Up Pilot for Apollo 10.

• Theodore C. Freeman, USAF

Killed in jet trainer crash in 1964 before being selected for any flight assignment.

• Richard F. Gordon, Jr, USN

Gemini 11, Apollo 12

Command Module Pilot, second manned lunar landing.

• Russell L. Schweickart, ex-USAF

Apollo 9

Lunar Module Pilot, first flight of LM in earth orbit.

• David R. Scott, USAF

Gemini 8, Apollo 9, Apollo 15

Command Module Pilot, first all-up test flight of Apollo spacecraft Apollo 9, Commanded the fourth manned lunar landing. Seventh man to walk on the moon.

• Clifton C. Williams, USMC

Trained as Lunar Module Pilot. Served on the backup crew for Gemini 10. Selected as a member of the backup crew for Apollo 9, but died in a plane crash before the mission.

[edit] See also

• List of lunar astronauts

[edit] External links

• Astronaut Group Three from Great Images in NASA