Apollo Program Astronauts Guide

This is a comprehensive guide covering all astronauts involved in the Apollo program. Between December 1968 and December 1972, NASA’s Apollo program facilitated nine crewed missions to the Moon, involving 24 astronauts. Out of these missions, six were successful two-man lunar landings, during which 12 astronauts explored the lunar surface. Lunar Roving Vehicles were employed by six astronauts as part of the final three missions. 

Among the 24 astronauts, three journeyed to the Moon twice, with one only orbiting on both occasions, while the other two each landed once. To date, no human beyond these 24 astronauts has ventured past low Earth orbit, and no woman has traveled to the Moon. However, several non-human animals, including two tortoises and five mice, have orbited the Moon.

The nine crewed missions to the Moon comprised Apollo 8 and Apollo 10 through 17. Uncrewed missions included Apollo 4 through 6, AS-201, and AS-202, while AS-203 served as a test flight. Three additional crewed missions were part of the Apollo program: Apollo 1 (AS-204) experienced a fatal ground-based capsule fire and did not launch; Apollo 7 and Apollo 9 were low Earth orbit missions focused on testing spacecraft components and docking maneuvers. Apollo missions 18, 19, and 20 were canceled. 

Subsequently, nine astronauts participated in the Apollo Applications Program’s Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, utilizing unused Apollo command modules. Among the 24 astronauts who journeyed to the Moon, two commanded Skylab missions, one led Apollo–Soyuz, one served as commander for Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests, and two took charge of orbital Space Shuttle missions.

Lunar Exploration: Astronauts Who Have Ventured to the Moon

Between 1968 and 1972, twelve astronauts made history by walking on the Moon’s surface, while twelve others undertook the journey from Earth to the Moon, remaining in orbit. The twelve lunar explorers were part of NASA’s Apollo program, which aimed to establish a human presence on Earth’s celestial neighbor.

Moonwalkers:

1. Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) – First man on the Moon with Apollo 11 
2. Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (1930-) – The second man to walk on the Moon, Apollo 11 
3. Charles “Pete” Conrad (1930-1999) – Commander of the Apollo 12 mission 
4. Alan Bean (1932-2018) – Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 12 
5. Alan B. Shepard Jr. (1923-1998) – Led the Apollo 14 mission 
6. Edgar D. Mitchell (1930-2016) – Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 14 
7. David R. Scott (1932-) – Commander of Apollo 15 
8. James B. Irwin (1930-1991) – Lunar Module Pilot during Apollo 15 
9. John W. Young (1930-2018) – Part of Apollo 10 (orbital) and Apollo 16 (landing) 
10. Charles M. Duke (1935-) – Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 16 
11. Eugene Cernan (1934-2017) – Apollo 10 (orbital) crew member and Apollo 17 
12. Commander Harrison H. Schmitt (1935-) – Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 17

As of now, four of the twelve astronauts who walked on the Moon are still with us: Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), David Scott (Apollo 15), Charles Duke (Apollo 16), and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17).

In addition to the moonwalkers, twelve astronauts orbited the Moon without landing:

1. Frank Borman (1928-) – Commander of Apollo 8 
2. William A. Anders (1933-) – Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 8 
3. James A. Lovell Jr. (1928-) – Involved in both Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 missions 
4. Thomas Stafford (1930-) – Commander of Apollo 10 
5. Michael Collins (1930-2021) – Command Module Pilot for Apollo 11 
6. Richard F. Gordon Jr. (1929-2017) – Command Module Pilot of Apollo 12 
7. Fred W. Haise Jr. (1933-) – Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 13 
8. John L. Swigert Jr. (1931-1982) – Command Module Pilot during Apollo 13 
9. Stuart A. Roosa (1933-1994) – Command Module Pilot for Apollo 14 
10. Alfred M. Worden (1932-2020) – Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot 
11. Thomas K. Mattingly II (1936-) – Command Module Pilot on Apollo 16 
12. Ronald E. Evans (1933-1990) – Served as Command Module Pilot for Apollo 17

Three space travelers embarked on two separate trips from our planet to the lunar surface: James Lovell (participated in both Apollo 8 and Apollo 13), John Young (involved in Apollo 10 and later Apollo 16), and Eugene Cernan (initially part of Apollo 10 and then Apollo 17).

For an in-depth look at the vital role of the Apollo Command Module Pilots, explore this informative article on Apollo Command Module Pilots.

Prime crew members

During the Gemini and Apollo programs, Donald K. “Deke” Slayton served as NASA’s Director of Flight Crew Operations. Slayton, a member of the initial Mercury Seven astronauts, faced medical disqualification in September 1962 as a result of a mild heart rhythm irregularity known as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. He was responsible for assigning all crew members for the Gemini and Apollo missions. In March 1972, Slayton’s flight status was reinstated, and he participated in the 1975 Apollo–Soyuz Test Project mission.

Prime crew members for the missions were chosen based on their NASA astronaut selection groups, and within each group, they were ordered according to their selection for flight. 

The Apollo Command/Service Module (CSM) spacecraft was developed in two versions: Block I, designed for initial low Earth orbit testing, and Block II, modified for lunar landing missions. The crew position titles for Block I was Command Pilot, Senior Pilot (second seat), and Pilot (third seat), while the corresponding titles for Block II were Commander, Command Module Pilot, and Lunar Module Pilot. 

The second-seat pilot was assigned the additional responsibility of celestial navigation to ensure the accurate calibration of the CSM’s guidance computer with the spacecraft’s true position. The third-seat pilot functioned as a flight engineer, responsible for monitoring the health of the spacecraft systems.

Apollo Astronauts Sorted by NASA Selection Dates

1959

Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom commenced his career at NASA in 1959. In 1966, he was chosen as the Command Pilot for the inaugural crewed Apollo mission, which was a low Earth orbit test. Unfortunately, the mission ended a month prior to its planned launch when a cabin fire on the launch pad tragically claimed the lives of Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee on January 27, 1967.

Walter M. Schirra Jr. initiated his career at NASA in the same year as Grissom, 1959. He was appointed in October 1968 as the Command Pilot for Apollo 7, an 11-day low Earth orbit test that aimed to evaluate the three-person Apollo Command/Service Module. This mission marked the first crewed launch for the Apollo project.

Alan B. Shepard Jr., America’s first astronaut in space aboard Freedom 7, was initially chosen to lead Gemini 3. However, he was temporarily grounded from participating in the Gemini program due to Ménière’s disease and instead assisted Slayton in Flight Operations. Following successful corrective surgery, Shepard regained his flight status and commanded Apollo 14, which became the third successful Moon landing mission.

1962

All of the following astronauts participated in the Gemini program, and with the exception of White, each of them commanded both a Gemini and an Apollo mission:

Edward H. White II: A veteran of Gemini 4, White completed the United States’ first spacewalk. He was selected as the Senior Pilot (second seat) for Apollo 1, but tragically lost his life in the Apollo 1 fire alongside Grissom and Chaffee.

James A. McDivitt: As the Commander of Gemini 4, McDivitt was chosen in late 1966 to lead the first Earth orbital flight test of the Apollo Lunar Module with the CSM. This mission took place in March 1969 as Apollo 9. After completing the mission, McDivitt was promoted to Manager of Lunar Landing Operations and later to Manager of the Apollo Spacecraft Program in August 1969.

Frank F. Borman II: The Commander of Gemini 7, Borman was initially selected to lead a higher Earth orbit test of the complete Apollo spacecraft. However, due to delays in the Lunar Module’s readiness, his mission was changed to the first lunar orbital flight of the CSM on Apollo 8.

James A. Lovell Jr.: A veteran of Gemini 7’s second seat and Commander of Gemini 12, Lovell served as Command Module Pilot (second seat) on Apollo 8. He later became the first person to fly a second Apollo mission as the Commander of Apollo 13, the third lunar landing attempt. Despite the mission’s failure due to a Service Module electrical system malfunction, Lovell and his crew safely returned to Earth. He remains the only person to fly to the Moon twice without landing on its surface.

Thomas P. Stafford: Having served in the second seat of Gemini 6A and as the Commander of Gemini 9A, Stafford led a lunar orbital test of the Lunar Module on Apollo 10. He also commanded the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission.

John W. Young: A veteran of Gemini 3’s second seat and Commander of Gemini 10, Young served as Command Module Pilot on Apollo 10. He later commanded the successful Apollo 16 lunar landing and went on to command the first Space Shuttle flight, STS-1 Columbia, from April 12-14, 1981, as well as STS-9, also on Columbia, from November 28 to December 8, 1983.

Neil A. Armstrong: As the Commander of Gemini 8, Armstrong later commanded Apollo 11 and became the first human to set foot on the Moon.

Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr.: A veteran of Gemini 5’s second seat and Commander of Gemini 11, Conrad commanded Apollo 12, the second lunar landing. He later commanded Skylab 2, successfully completing repairs to the spacecraft that enabled it to be used for two subsequent missions.

1963

This marked the first group of astronauts for whom test pilot experience was not a prerequisite; however, military jet fighter pilot experience was deemed acceptable.

Five members of this group gained their initial spaceflight experience in the second seat of Gemini missions:

David R. Scott: A veteran of Gemini 8’s second seat, Scott served as Command Module Pilot on Apollo 9 and commanded the Apollo 15 lunar landing.

Eugene A. Cernan: Having served in the second seat on Gemini 9A, Cernan flew as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 10 and commanded the final lunar landing mission, Apollo 17.

Michael Collins: A veteran of Gemini 10’s second seat, Collins served as Command Module Pilot on Apollo 11.

Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin Jr.: Having served in the second seat on Gemini 12, Aldrin flew as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 11, the first Moon landing.

Richard F. Gordon Jr.: A veteran of Gemini 11’s second seat, Gordon served as Command Module Pilot on Apollo 12. He was chosen to command the Apollo 18 lunar landing, which was ultimately canceled.

The remaining six members of this group were selected for their first spaceflights on Apollo missions:

Roger B. Chaffee: Selected as Pilot (third seat) on Apollo 1, Chaffee tragically lost his life in the fire along with Grissom and White.

Donn F. Eisele: Eisele flew in the second seat on Apollo 7.

R. Walter Cunningham: Cunningham served in the third seat on Apollo 7.

Russell L. “Rusty” Schweickart: Schweickart flew as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 9, during which he conducted an EVA outside the spacecraft to test the portable life support system used on the Moon.

William A. Anders: Anders served in the third seat on Apollo 8.

Alan L. Bean: Bean flew as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 12 and later commanded Skylab 3.

1965

In June 1965, NASA introduced a group of five scientist astronauts, marking the first time that individuals were qualified based on their doctorate degrees rather than test or military fighter pilot experience. 

Geologist Harrison H. “Jack” Schmitt played a significant role in the geological training of lunar landing astronauts, as well as in analyzing returned samples and preparing mission reports.

In 1970, Schmitt was chosen as Lunar Module Pilot for the Apollo 15 backup crew and the prime crew on Apollo 18. However, when program cutbacks led to the cancellation of missions 18 through 20, NASA’s lunar geological community advocated for the inclusion of a geologist on the Moon. As a result, Slayton reassigned Schmitt to Apollo 17.

1966

In April 1966, NASA announced a group of 19 additional astronauts, none of whom had prior spaceflight experience before their respective Apollo missions.

T. Kenneth Mattingly II: Initially selected as the prime Command Module Pilot for Apollo 13, Mattingly was exposed to German measles shortly before the flight and was grounded by the flight surgeon, although he did not ultimately contract the disease. He switched places with his backup and later flew on Apollo 16, as well as on STS-4 and STS-51-C.

John L. “Jack” Swigert Jr.: Swigert served as Mattingly’s backup on Apollo 13.

Fred W. Haise Jr.: Haise flew as Lunar Module Pilot on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. He was later chosen to command the canceled Apollo 19 lunar landing. Haise was ultimately designated as the commander for the initial crew during the Space Shuttle’s Approach and Landing Tests, utilizing the prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise.

Stuart A. Roosa: Roosa served as Command Module Pilot on Apollo 14.

Edgar D. Mitchell: Mitchell flew as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 14.

Alfred M. Worden: Worden served as Command Module Pilot on Apollo 15.

James B. Irwin: Irwin flew as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 15.

Charles M. Duke Jr.: Duke first gained public recognition as the capsule communicator during the Apollo 11 Moon landing, known for his quote: “…we copy you on the ground. You’ve got a bunch of guys about to turn blue; we’re breathing again. Thanks a lot.” Duke later served as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 16.

Ronald E. Evans Jr.: Evans flew as Command Module Pilot on Apollo 17.

Astronauts Who Trained for Apollo but Never Flew

L. Gordon Cooper Jr.: A member of the Mercury Seven, Cooper was a veteran of Mercury Faith 7 and commander of Gemini 5. He was replaced as Apollo 14 commander by Alan Shepard and subsequently resigned from NASA in 1970.

Clifton C. “C.C.” Williams Jr.: A member of Group 3, Williams was initially appointed as Schweickart’s Lunar Module Pilot backup crew but tragically lost his life in a T-38 jet crash near Tallahassee, Florida, on October 5, 1967. He was succeeded by Bean, who went on to fly on Apollo 12.

Vance D. Brand: A member of Group 5, Brand served on the support crew for Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 and was named as Apollo 15 backup Command Module Pilot. He later flew on the 1975 Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (not part of the Apollo program) and commanded STS-5, STS-41-B, and STS-35.

Edward G. Givens Jr.: A member of Group 5, Givens was part of the support crew for Apollo 7 but sadly passed away in a car accident near Houston, Texas, on June 6, 1967.

Joe H. Engle: Also from Group 5, Engle was initially chosen as Apollo 17 Lunar Module Pilot but was replaced by Schmitt. After the Apollo program, Engle participated in the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests and commanded STS-2 and STS-51-I.

Apollo Astronauts Who Set Foot on the Moon

Between July 1969 and December 1972, twelve men walked on the Moon during the six lunar landings of the Apollo program. Each astronaut landed on the surface only once, with five missions consisting of two or more surface extravehicular activities (EVAs). 

As of January 2023, four of these astronauts are still alive. The majority of astronauts at that time came from military service and were considered to be on active duty during their NASA service. However, a few exceptions were classified as civilian NASA astronauts, regardless of any prior military service.

During the third and final EVA of Apollo 17, Harrison Schmitt stepped out of the lunar module onto the Moon’s surface after Gene Cernan, making Schmitt the 12th and most recent person to have set foot on the lunar surface. When they re-entered the lunar module, Cernan stepped in last, becoming the last person to have walked on the Moon as of now.

Alan Shepard holds the distinction of being the oldest person to walk on the Moon at 47 years and 80 days, while Charles Duke was the youngest at 36 years and 201 days.

Jim Lovell and Fred Haise were initially slated to step onto the Moon during the Apollo 13 mission. However, an explosion in the service module en route forced them to abandon their lunar landing plans. Haise was later assigned to command Apollo 19 and walk on the Moon, but both Apollo 18 and 19 were canceled on September 2, 1970. 

Joe Engle had trained as a backup team member for Apollo 14, preparing to explore the lunar surface alongside Cernan. However, Schmitt replaced him as the main crew member for Apollo 17. Schmitt had been previously teamed up with Dick Gordon, the Apollo 12 Command Module pilot, in anticipation of Apollo 18. 

Following the cancellation of Apollo 18 and 19, Schmitt took Engle’s place on Apollo 17. As a result, Gordon became the final Apollo astronaut to undergo extensive training for lunar exploration without ever setting foot on the Moon.

Apollo Astronauts Who Traveled to the Moon Without Landing

Besides the 12 individuals who have set foot on the Moon, another 12 have journeyed within 0.001 lunar distance of its surface. During each of the six triumphant lunar landing missions, one astronaut stayed in lunar orbit as the other two descended. 

Furthermore, the three-member crews of both Apollo 8 and Apollo 10 entered lunar orbit, while the Apollo 13 team circled the Moon following a free-return trajectory.

All nine manned missions to the Moon took place under the Apollo program within a span of just under four years, from December 21, 1968, to December 19, 1972. The 24 people who have ventured to the Moon remain the only individuals to have traveled beyond low Earth orbit. Currently, ten of them are alive, with an average age of 90.8 years.

Jim Lovell, John Young, and Eugene Cernan hold the distinction of being the only three individuals to have journeyed to the Moon twice. Young and Cernan each landed on the lunar surface during their second respective missions, while Lovell remains the sole person to have flown to the Moon twice without touching down.

During Cernan’s initial lunar mission on Apollo 10, he equaled the existing record established by Bill Anders on Apollo 8 as the youngest individual to travel to the Moon. Both were 35 years and 65 days old at the time of their launches and 35 years and 68 days old upon entering lunar orbit.

Alan Shepard, the oldest individual to travel to the Moon, stepped onto the lunar surface during the Apollo 14 mission. At the time of his launch, Shepard was 47 years and 74 days old, and he was 47 years and 78 days old upon entering lunar orbit.

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Jim Lovell and Fred Haise were initially slated to walk on the Moon as part of the Apollo 13 mission. However, a significant malfunction en route led to the abandonment of their lunar landing. Haise was later scheduled to walk on the Moon as commander of Apollo 19, but both Apollo 18 and 19 were canceled on September 2, 1970.

Owing to Apollo 13’s free-return trajectory, Lovell, Swigert, and Haise achieved a higher altitude above the Moon’s 180° meridian (opposite Earth) than any other individuals, ascending to 254 km (158 miles). 

Interestingly, given the Moon’s position relative to Earth at that time, they concurrently established the existing record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, attaining an altitude of 400,171 km (248,655 mi) above sea level at 0:21 UTC on April 15, 1970.

Apollo Astronauts Who Never Traveled to the Moon

Besides the nine lunar expeditions, the Apollo program featured two crewed flights that stayed in Earth orbit to test the spacecraft. Apollo 7 served as a crewed trial of the CSM, while Apollo 9 conducted a manned flight test for both the CSM and LEM. Out of the six astronauts involved in these missions, five never transitioned to a lunar expedition.

Furthermore, the three Skylab missions and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project employed manned CSMs in Earth orbit and are viewed as components of the Apollo Applications Project. While Conrad, Bean, and Stafford led three of these four missions, the remaining crew members were inexperienced and had long lost the opportunity to partake in a lunar expedition.

Out of the seven rookies who took part in Skylab, three of them (Paul J. Weitz, Owen K. Garriott, and Jack R. Lousma) went on to join Space Shuttle missions later in their careers.

Vance Brand, who served as Command Module Pilot on the ASTP, went on to command three Shuttle missions. With the exception of Garriott, all Apollo astronauts who also journeyed on the Shuttle assumed the role of commanders.

1. Walter M. Schirra Jr. – Apollo 7 Commander. 
2. Donn F. Eisele – Apollo 7 Command Module Pilot. 
3. R. Walter Cunningham – Apollo 7 Lunar Module Pilot. 
4. James A. McDivitt – Apollo 9 Commander. 
5. Russell L. “Rusty” Schweickart – Apollo 9 Lunar Module Pilot. 
6. Joseph P. Kerwin – Skylab 2 Science Pilot. 
7. Paul J. Weitz – Skylab 2 Pilot. 
8. Owen K. Garriott – Skylab 3 Science Pilot. 
9. Jack R. Lousma – Skylab 3 Pilot. 
10. Gerald P. Carr – Skylab 4 Commander. 
11. Edward G. Gibson – Skylab 4 Science Pilot. 
12. William R. Pogue – Skylab 4 Pilot. 
13. Vance D. Brand – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Command Module Pilot.
14. Donald K. Slayton – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Docking Module Pilot.

Astronauts Who Passed Away During the Apollo Program

Three astronauts tragically lost their lives during training for the inaugural crewed Apollo mission, Apollo 1.

1. Command Pilot – Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, who would have embarked on his third spaceflight. 
2. Senior Pilot – Edward H. White II, preparing for his second spaceflight. 
3. Pilot – Roger B. Chaffee, who would have experienced his first spaceflight.

References

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The above references cover a wide range of topics related to the Apollo program, including astronaut biographies and in-depth mission analyses. Collectively, they provide a thorough understanding.

To gain a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and significance of the Apollo mission commander, check out this insightful article on the role of the Apollo mission commander.