Origins & Early Life

Alan LaVern Bean (March 15, 1932 – May 26, 2018) was an American naval officer and aviator, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, NASA astronaut and painter. He was selected to become an astronaut by NASA in 1963 as part of Astronaut Group 3, and was the fourth person to walk on the Moon. Before becoming an astronaut, Bean graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from University of Texas at Austin in 1955 and re-joined the U.S. Navy—he served as an enlisted member for a year after his high school graduation.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He received his naval aviator wings in 1956 and served as a fighter pilot. In 1960, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, flew as a test pilot and was The New Nine selection finalist in 1962. Bean made his first flight into space aboard Apollo 12 in November 1969, the second crewed mission to land on the Moon. He spent over seven hours walking on the Moon during two lunar excursions.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He made his second and final flight into space on the Skylab 3 mission in 1973, the second crewed mission to the Skylab space station. After retiring from the United States Navy in 1975 and NASA in 1981, Bean pursued his interest in painting, depicting various...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Alvin Plantinga — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Leading American philosopher and theologian known for Reformed epistemology.
• Andrei Tarkovsky — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Master of metaphysical cinema, known for slow pacing and spiritual depth.
• Amos Oz — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): Pioneering Israeli novelist, journalist, and intellectual whose works explored Palestinian life.
• Aretha Franklin — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): The "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin defined American music with unparalleled vocal power.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): Indian statesman and poet, served as Prime Minister of India multiple times.
• Abe Saperstein — Shared historical date (03-15 · Died) (1966): Founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, revolutionized black basketball.
• Alia Bhatt — Shared historical date (03-15 · Born) (1993): Acclaimed British-Indian actress known for versatile roles in Hindi cinema.
• Alexander Pushkin — Shared historical date (05-26 · Born) (1799): Founder of modern Russian literature and a towering figure of the Romantic era.
• Bayezid II — Shared historical date (05-26 · Died) (1512): Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for consolidating power and resettling Sephardi Jews.
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