Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr.

conradportrait

Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr., a Captain in the United States Navy, was born on June 2, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1990, Conrad became Staff Vice President – New Business for McDonell Douglas Space Company, where he participated in research and development for the Space Exploration Initiative.

He contributed his expertise on SSTO, the Single-Stage-To-Orbit and return space transportation system called the Delta Clipper. In 1993, Conrad became Vice President-Project Development.

Conrad died on July 8, 1999 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Ojai, California.

NASA Biography

Space Flights:

  • Pilot, Gemini 5, August 21-29, 1965
  • Commander, Gemini 11, September 12-15, 1966, tethered the spacecraft to an Agena target vehicle. His Gemini 11 crewmate Gordon is also buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
  • Commander, Apollo 12, November 14-24, 1969. Conrad was the third man to walk on the Moon. Lunar Module landed within walking distance of the Surveyor 3 spacecraft, which landed on the Moon in April 1967. His Apollo 12 crewmates Bean and Gordon are also buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
  • Commander, Skylab 2, May 25-June 22, 1973, first manned mission to the Skylab space station

Total Hours in Space: 1,179+

Astronaut Group: 2-September 17, 1962

Degrees: BS, Aeronautical Engineering, Princeton University, 1953; an honorary master of arts degree from Princeton in 1966; an honorary doctorate of laws degree from Lincoln-Weslyan University in 1970, and an honorary doctorate of science degree from Kings college, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 1971.

Military Service & Awards: Awarded Congressional Space Medal of Honor (October 1978); awarded two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, two NASA Exceptional Service Medals, the Navy Astronaut Wings, two Navy Distinguished Service Medals, and two Distinguished Flying Crosses; recipient of Princeton’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for 1965; the U.S. Jaycee’s 10 Outstanding Young Men Award in 1965; American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award for 1966; Pennsylvania’s Award for Excellence in Science and Technology in 1967 and 1969; the Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award for Scientific and Technical Progress in 1970; Godfrey L. Cabot Award in 1970; Silver Medal of the Union League of Philadelphia in 1970; the FAI Yur Gagarin Gold Space Medal and the De La Vaulx Medal in 1970 for Apollo 12; National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special Trustees Award in 1970; Federal Aviation Agency’s Space Mechanic Technician Award in 1973; the Collier Trophy in 1973; FAI gold Medal and the De La Vaulx Medal in 1974 for Skylab I, and the AIAA Haley Astronautics Award in 1974 for Skylab I; the Harmon Trophy in 1974; enshrined in the Aviation Hall of Fame in 1980.

Apollo 12 crew
Apollo 12 crew

Interred at Arlington National Cemetery: July 19, 1999

Section: 11
Grave: 113-3
Grid: N-14/15

How to locate: From the Memorial Amphitheater walk south on Memorial Drive, turn right on Porter Drive, then left on McPherson Drive. Continue walking past the next two roads on your left. The gravesite is located on your left about six rows east of McPherson Drive, at about the mid-point of the section. Back of the headstone is easily visible from McPherson Drive.

Conrad headstone front
Conrad headstone back