The fourth person to walk on the lunar surface, Alan Bean secured his place in history during the November 1969 Apollo 12 mission. Over the course of his professional life, he transitioned from a military test pilot into a civilian painter, using his artistic practice to document the specific sensory experiences of space exploration.
Military and Test Pilot Career
Born in 1932 in Wheeler, Texas, Bean attended R. L. Paschal High School before beginning his path toward aviation at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering in 1955. Following his naval commission, he became a carrier-based fighter pilot and graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School in 1960. His career as a pilot spanned over 7,145 total flying hours, including 4,890 hours operating jet aircraft.
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Selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 3 in 1963, Bean joined the Apollo program after the death of Clifton Williams. During the Apollo 12 mission, he served as the Lunar Module pilot, landing in the Ocean of Storms. He spent more than seven hours walking on the surface across two distinct excursions. During this mission, he and Pete Conrad deployed several scientific experiments, including the first nuclear power generator installed on the Moon.
Skylab and NASA Transition
In 1973, Bean commanded the Skylab 3 mission, spending 59 days aboard the orbital station alongside Owen Garriott and Jack R. Lousma. The crew traveled over 24.4 million miles and performed one spacewalk, achieving 150 percent of their mission objectives.
Artistic Pursuits
Bean retired from the U.S. Navy in 1975 as a captain and concluded his tenure with NASA in 1981. He dedicated the remainder of his life to painting. His work focused on the visual documentation of his own lunar experiences and the broader history of the Apollo program. His paintings included depictions of moments he experienced and scenes he envisioned, such as his failed attempt to photograph himself on the lunar surface.
Fast facts
- Born: 1932, Wheeler
- Died: 2018, Houston
- Education: University of Texas at Austin
- Space Missions: Apollo 12, Skylab 3
- Military Rank: Captain 1st rank
- Awards: NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1970, 1973)
- Hall of Fame Inductions: International Space Hall of Fame, National Aviation Hall of Fame
- Burial Site: Arlington National Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What role did Alan Bean play during the Apollo 12 mission?
He served as the Lunar Module pilot and was the fourth human to walk on the Moon.
What did Alan Bean do after retiring from NASA?
He transitioned into a career as a painter, focusing on documenting his experiences and the history of space exploration.
Achievements
- National Aviation Hall of Fame — 2010
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- International Space Hall of Fame — 1983
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at University of Texas at Austin, United States Naval Test Pilot School and R. L. Paschal High School
- Worked as military officer, test pilot and astronaut
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