Conrad, Charles, Jr. (1930-1999), a United States astronaut, commanded the Apollo 12 mission that made the second moon landing. On Nov. 19, 1969, Conrad and astronaut Alan L. Bean landed in their lunar module, Intrepid, and stayed for about 31 hours. Conrad and Bean set up scientific instruments and collected rock and soil samples. They also removed parts from Surveyor 3 for scientific examination. Surveyor 3 was a crewless spacecraft that had landed on the moon in April 1967. In 1973, Conrad was commander of the initial mission of the first U.S. space station, Skylab. Working in space, he helped repair the station’s solar panel wing. This work made the station safe.
Charles “Pete” Conrad was born on June 2, 1930, in Philadelphia. In 1953, he graduated from Princeton University and entered the Navy. Conrad completed Navy Test Pilot School and then served as a flight instructor. He became an astronaut in 1962. In 1965, Conrad piloted the Gemini 5 mission. He commanded the Gemini 11 mission in 1966.
In 1974, Conrad retired from the astronaut program and the Navy. He then served as staff vice president for the New Business Space Systems Division of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. He died on July 8, 1999.
