NASA Astronaut Group 3

Group photograph

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 Group 7 in which MOL participants transferred to NASA. They are the only ones of the first 19 NASA astronaut groups to have no members at all fly on the Space Shuttle.

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

Performed first productive Extra-Vehicular Activity without tiring; Lunar Module Pilot, first manned lunar landing. Second man to walk on the moon.

• William A. Anders, USAF

Apollo 8

Lunar Module Pilot (systems engineer), first manned flight to orbit the moon (no LM); responsible for significant photography.

• Charles A. Bassett, II, USAF (1931-1966)

Selected as 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 2010) final manned mission to the moon. As of 2011, last man to walk on the moon.

• Roger B. Chaffee, USN (1935-1967)

Slated to be Pilot on the Prime Crew for first manned Apollo mission, but was killed in a cabin fire during launch rehearsal.

• Michael Collins, USAF

Gemini 10, Apollo 11

Command Module Pilot, first manned lunar landing.

• R. Walter Cunningham, USMC

Apollo 7

Lunar Module Pilot (systems engineer), first Apollo manned mission in earth orbit (no LM).

• Donn F. Eisele, USAF (1930-1987)

Apollo 7

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

• Theodore C. Freeman, USAF (1930-1964)

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. Backup Commander Apollo 15. Slated to land as Commander on Apollo 18.

• Russell L. Schweickart, ex-USAF

Apollo 9

Lunar Module Pilot, first flight of LM in earth orbit. Backup Commander of First Skylab Mission.

• 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 (1932-1967)

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.

See also

• List of lunar astronauts

External links

• Astronaut Group Three from Great Images in NASA