Astronaut Alan Bean, fourth person to walk on the moon, dies aged 86

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

The astronaut Alan Bean, who in 1969 became the fourth person to walk on the moon, has died. He was 86.

A statement released by Nasa and family members said Bean died on Saturday in Houston, after a short illness.

A Texan and former test pilot for the US navy, Bean was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 12, which made the second moon landing. He then commanded the second crewed flight to the first US space station, Skylab, in 1973. On that mission, he orbited the Earth for 59 days.

Bean spent a total of 69 days in space, including 31 hours on the moon. Only 12 people have ever set foot on the lunar surface. Bean left his footprints on a region called the Ocean of Storms just four months after Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon, in the historic Apollo 11 mission of July 1969.



Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/26/astronaut-alan-bean-fourth-person-walk-on-moon-dies

[jpak]

1. RIP brave explorer

[Plucketeer]

2. One less

representative of an era of pride and dignity in this country. We not only believed in science, we strived to push it farther and farther beyond the age of ignorance that American had spawned from. With personified inspirations like Bean, we forged ahead in so many realms of knowledge - unlike the horse and buggy revival we're now floundering in.

[hamsterjill]

15. It was a time of pride and dignity, wasn't it!!!

There was such hope and expectation. Excitement. All at a time when there was war, and riots and distress. But the hope still beamed through.

Unlike now. The future looks bleak.

[shenmue]

3. Rest in peace

[LongTomH]

4. Only four of the original Apollo moonwalkers are still alive

Buzz Aldrin, Dave Scott, Charlie Duke and Harrison "Jack" Schmitt.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Read up about this man. One of the most multi-faceted astronauts ever...

Cross gently, Alan...

[SeattleVet]

6. Only 4 of the 12 that walked on the Moon are still alive.

In order of stepping onto the lunar surface:

Apollo 11:
Neil Armstrong
**Buzz Aldrin

Apollo 12:
Pete Conrad
Alan Bean

Apollo 14:
Alan Shepard
Edgar Mitchell

Apollo 15:
**David Scott
James Irwin

Apollo 16:
John Young
**Charles Duke

Apollo 17:
Eugene Cernan
**Harrison Schmitt

** - still among us.

All of those still living are into their 80's.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Thank you for the list. I had no idea that there were so few left.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. I'm actually surprised that there are that many left

considering how long it's been (going on the 50th anniversary of the first moon walk next year). Most were 1930s babies who grew up during the Depression and as military pilots, were in top physical shape... but time has flown by!

[Aristus]

7. Quite a talented painter, too.

And Bean was portrayed winningly and charmingly by Dave Foley in From The Earth To The Moon.

[Dennis Donovan]

13. Dave did a great job, didn't he?

I'm a KITH fiend so I'm biased, but the ep with Foley as Bean was the most entertaining in the series.

[defacto7]

8. ...

[47of74]

9. RIP Alan Bean

[AZ8theist]

11. RIP Captain Bean

Thank you, sir.

I spent an inordinate amount of time during my childhood watching every last minute of televised moon walks, including yours. I was fascinated by the wonder of it all. Back then, the moon wasn't exactly in "prime time", so some of the walks occurred at all kinds of crazy hours. There was no cable TV, internet or Youtube back then, either. I remember setting my alarm for 2:30 or 3am so I could sneak downstairs and watch the lunar astronauts on the color console. (trying not to wake my parents).

Those were memories I will always cherish. I am truly grateful that I was alive at a time to observe first hand humans walking on the moon. The incredible courage you and your fellow astronauts displayed was truly amazing. Knowing that your footprints will forever remain on the lunar surface for millions of years is an incredible inspiration to us all and a beacon of hope for the human destiny.

Thank you, Alan Bean.

To a great explorer, may you Rest in Peace.

[displacedtexan]

14. I went to school with his nephew.

He came to our school and gave an amzing presentation on what the earth looked like from space and how totally quiet the moon surface was. He also told us how hard it was to talk to people about space because only a few people had had the same experience so far.

[Vinca]

16. He was so lucky to have been a part of making the most exciting time in America in anyone's

memory. I remember following the space program like some people follow baseball. You knew all the players and never missed a game. A great man who made a difference.