Astronaut Group 3
Astronaut Group 3 was the third group of astronauts selected by NASA. Their selection was announced in October 1963. Fourteen astronauts made up Group 3. Four died in training accidents before they could fly in space. All of the surviving ten flew in the Apollo program; five also flew Gemini missions. Aldrin, Bean, Cernan and Scott walked on the Moon.
Group 3 was the first group to include candidates with no test pilot background, as would be the case for all future groups except for the Group 7 MOL transfer.
- Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr, USAF
Gemini 12, Apollo 11
Performed first productive Extra-Vehicular Activity without tiring; Lunar Module Pilot, first manned lunar landing. Second man to walk on the moon.
- William A. Anders, USAF
Apollo 8
Lunar Module Pilot (systems engineer), first manned flight to orbit the moon (no LM); responsible for significant photography.
- Charles A. Bassett, II, USAF (1931-1966)
Selected as Pilot for Gemini 9, but died in a plane crash before the mission.
- Alan L. Bean, USN
Apollo 12, Skylab 3
Lunar Module Pilot, second manned lunar landing. Fourth man to walk on the moon. Commander, second American space station mission.
- Eugene A. Cernan, USN
Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, Apollo 17
Lunar Module Pilot, lunar module test in lunar orbit, highest velocity attained by manned vehicle. Commander, (as of 2009) final manned mission to the moon. As of 2009, last man to walk on the moon.
- Roger B. Chaffee, USN (1935-1967)
Slated to be Prime Crew Pilot for first manned Apollo 1 mission, but killed in a cabin fire during launch rehearsal.
- Michael Collins, USAF
Gemini 10, Apollo 11
Command Module Pilot, first manned lunar landing.
- R. Walter Cunningham, ex-USMC
Apollo 7
Lunar Module Pilot (systems engineer), first Apollo manned mission in earth orbit (no LM).
- Donn F. Eisele, USAF
Apollo 7
Command Module Pilot, first Apollo manned mission in earth orbit. Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo 10.
- Theodore C. Freeman, USAF (1930-1964)
Killed in jet trainer crash in 1964 before being selected for any flight assignment.
- Richard F. Gordon, Jr, USN
Gemini 11, Apollo 12
Command Module Pilot, second manned lunar landing. Backup Commander Apollo 15. Slated to land as Commander on Apollo 18.
- Russell L. Schweickart, ex-USAF
Apollo 9
Lunar Module Pilot, first flight of LM in earth orbit. Backup Commander of First Skylab Mission.
- David R. Scott, USAF
Gemini 8, Apollo 9, Apollo 15
Command Module Pilot, first all-up test flight of Apollo spacecraft Apollo 9, Commanded the fourth manned lunar landing. Seventh man to walk on the moon.
- Clifton C. Williams, USMC (1932-1967)
Trained as Lunar Module Pilot. Served on the backup crew for Gemini 10. Selected as a member of the backup crew for Apollo 9, but died in a plane crash before the mission.
