NASA Astronaut Group 4

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Main article: List of astronauts by selection

Astronaut Group 4 was the fourth group of astronauts selected by NASA in June 1965. While the astronauts of the previous three groups were required to have college degrees, they were primarily chosen for their test pilot backgrounds. The six members of Group 4, on the other hand, were chosen for their research and academic backgrounds (Doctorate degrees were required and minimum flight time requirements were waived). Of the six, four had previous military experience, with Garriott also having completed the USAF Pilot Training Programme; Schmitt, a geologist, walked on the Moon, while Garriott, Gibson and Kerwin all flew to Skylab. Garriott also flew on the Space Shuttle. Graveline and Michel left NASA without flying in space.

A chart showing Group 4 assignments in relation to other astronaut groups. Graphed this way, it clearly shows how Group 5 military pilots were assigned ahead of Group 4, with most of Group 4 required to spend a full year at UPT to get qualified as jet pilots (which all of Group 5 and prior groups had done early in their military careers). The requirement for scientists to get qualified as jet pilots was eventually lifted with the creation of the Mission Specialist position in the shuttle program
Skylab 3 — July–September 1973 — Science Pilot — Second crew of the Skylab space station[1]
STS-9 Columbia — November 1983 — Mission specialist — Spacelab mission[1]
Skylab 4 — November 1973–February 1974 — Science Pilot — Third crew of the Skylab space station[2]
Resigned from NASA before being assigned to a crew[3]
Skylab 2 — May–June 1973 — Science Pilot — First crew of the Skylab space station[4]
Resigned from NASA before being assigned to a crew[5]
Apollo 17 — December 1972 — Lunar Module Pilot — Last manned lunar landing, twelfth man to walk on the moon[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c NASA (August 2008). "Astronaut Bio: Owen K. Garriott". http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/garriott-ok.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-20. 
  2. ^ a b NASA (December 1993). "Astronaut Bio: Edward G. Gibson". http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/gibson-eg.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-20. 
  3. ^ a b NASA (September 1999). "Astronaut Bio: D. Graveline". http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/graveline-de.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-20. 
  4. ^ a b NASA (February 2008). "Astronaut Bio: Joseph P. Kerwin". http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kerwin-jp.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-20. 
  5. ^ a b NASA (December 1975). "Astronaut Bio: F. Curtis Michel". http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/michel-fc.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-20. 
  6. ^ a b NASA (December 1994). "Astronaut Bio: Harrison Schmitt". http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/schmitt-hh.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-20. 

[edit] External links

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NASA Astronaut Group 4 "The Scientists"
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NASA Astronaut Groups

NASA Astronaut Group 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · List of astronauts by selection
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Astronaut_Group_4"
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