Astronaut Group 3

Astronaut Group 3, was the third group of Astronauts selected by NASA in October 1963. This was the first time that NASA included candidates who had no test pilot background (as would be the case for all future groups, except for the Group 7 MOL transfer). All of the third group (except those who died) flew on the Apollo program - Aldrin, Bean, Cernan and Scott walked on the Moon. Five of them (Aldrin, Cernan, Collins, Gordon and Scott) also flew missions during the Gemini program. Bassett, Chaffee, Freeman and Williams all died before they could fly in space - Chaffee in the Apollo 1 fire, the rest in plane crashes.

Main article: List of astronauts by selection

A chart showing Group 3 assignments in Gemini and Apollo in relation to assignments from other astronaut groups. It clearly shows how all 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

Gemini 12, Apollo 11

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

• William A. Anders

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

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

• Alan L. Bean

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

Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, Apollo 17

Lunar Module Pilot, lunar module test in lunar orbit, highest velocity attained by manned vehicle. Commander, (as of 2008) final manned mission to the moon. As of 2008, last man to walk on the moon.

• Roger B. Chaffee

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

• Michael Collins

Gemini 10, Apollo 11

Command Module Pilot, first manned lunar landing.

• R. Walter Cunningham

Apollo 7

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

• Donn F. Eisele

Apollo 7

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

• Theodore C. Freeman

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

• Richard F. Gordon, Jr

Gemini 11, Apollo 12

Command Module Pilot, second manned lunar landing.

• Russell L. Schweickart

Apollo 9

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

• David R. Scott

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

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