Charles Conrad

Charles Conrad was an American NASA astronaut, Naval aviator, and test pilot who became the third person to walk on the Moon. He commanded the Apollo 12 mission and later served as commander of the first crewed mission to the Skylab space station. Known for his exceptional piloting skills and wry humor, Conrad logged over 1,179 hours in space across four spaceflights, including the Gemini program.

Early life and education

Born in Philadelphia, Conrad struggled with dyslexia but developed a passion for aviation. He attended the Haverford School before graduating from the Darrow School in New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Princeton University in 1953, where he participated in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy and completed flight training at the Naval Air Station Pensacola. He later attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, serving as a test pilot and flight instructor.

NASA career

Selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 2 in 1962, Conrad's first spaceflight was as pilot of Gemini 5 in 1965, a mission that set a new world endurance record. He then commanded Gemini 11 in 1966, which achieved a then-record high Earth orbit and demonstrated critical rendezvous and docking techniques. His expertise in orbital mechanics and spacecraft piloting made him a prime candidate for the Apollo program. After serving on the backup crew for Apollo 9, he was assigned to command Apollo 12.

Apollo 12 mission

Launched in November 1969, Apollo 12 was struck by lightning shortly after liftoff from Kennedy Space Center, but Conrad and his crew, including Alan Bean and Richard F. Gordon Jr., successfully restored their spacecraft's systems. Conrad piloted the Apollo Lunar Module *Intrepid* to a precise landing in the Ocean of Storms, near the site of the Surveyor 3 probe. Upon stepping onto the lunar surface, he famously exclaimed, "Whoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me." He and Bean conducted two extra-vehicular activities, deploying the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package and retrieving parts from Surveyor 3.

Post-NASA career and legacy

After leaving NASA and retiring from the United States Navy with the rank of captain in 1973, Conrad joined American Television and Communications Corporation. He later held executive positions at McDonnell Douglas and was a founder of the Space Services Inc. company. He was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978. Conrad is remembered for his pivotal role in proving the feasibility of long-duration spaceflight with Gemini 5, the precision landing techniques of Apollo 12, and saving the Skylab program. His contributions are honored at institutions like the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Personal life and death

Conrad was married twice, first to Jane DuBose, with whom he had four sons, and later to Nancy Crane. An avid motorcyclist and car enthusiast, he was known for his energetic personality. On July 8, 1999, he died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident near Ojai, California. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His spacesuit from Apollo 12 is displayed at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C..

Category:American astronauts Category:Apollo astronauts Category:United States Navy officers Category:1930 births Category:1999 deaths