Alan Bean

former astronaut, NASA

Alan Bean was born in Wheeler, Texas, on March 15, 1932. He received a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Texas in 1955 and was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from Texas Wesleyan College in 1972. He was also presented an honorary doctorate of engineering science from the University of Akron (Ohio) in 1974. Bean helped establish 11 world records in space and astronautics. He was awarded two NASA distinguished Service Medals, the Navy Astronaut Wings and two Navy Distinguished Service Medals. Alan Bean was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. He served as backup astronaut for the Gemini 10 and Apollo 9 missions. Captain Bean was lunar module pilot on Apollo 12, mans second lunar landing. He was spacecraft commander of Skylab Mission II (SL-3), from July 29 to September 25 in 1973. Captain Bean has logged 1,671 hours and 45 minutes in space and has flown 27 types of military aircraft as well as many civilian airplanes. He has logged more than 7,145 hours flying. Bean resigned from NASA in June 1981 to devote his full time to painting.