Pete Conrad

Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr. arrived in Philadelphia on June 2, 1930, launching a career that would redefine what a test pilot could achieve in space. He earned his Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from Princeton University despite battling dyslexia, making him the first astronaut to graduate from an Ivy League school. This academic foundation served him well when he joined the U.S. Navy, earning his wings as a naval aviator in 1954 before attending the Naval Test Pilot School. His early work as a fighter pilot and project test pilot set the stage for his selection as part of NASA's second astronaut class in 1962. Conrad made his mark early with Gemini 5, where he and Gordon Cooper set an eight-day endurance record in 1965. He returned to command Gemini 11 the following year and then led Apollo 12 in 1969. During that mission, he became the third human to walk on the lunar surface, famously quipping after stepping onto the dust that it was a short step for one man but a long one for the team. His final flight came with Skylab 2 in 1973, where he and his crew successfully repaired critical damage to the space station shortly after its launch. The White House recognized this feat by awarding him the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978. After retiring from both NASA and the Navy in 1973, Conrad transitioned into the corporate world. He served as vice president at American Television and Communications Company and later held several high-level positions at McDonnell Douglas, including senior vice president of marketing and staff vice president of international business development. His life ended abruptly on July 8, 1999, when he died at age 69 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.[edit]