# Alan Bean

> American astronaut and painter (1932-2018)

**Wikidata**: [Q310924](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310924)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bean)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alan-bean

## Summary
Alan Bean was an American astronaut and painter who lived from 1932 to 2018. He is best known for serving as the fourth person to walk on the Moon as the Lunar Module Pilot for the Apollo 12 mission. After retiring from NASA, he became a renowned artist, creating paintings that depicted his experiences in space.

## Biography
- **Born**: March 15, 1932 (Full name: Alan LaVern Bean)
- **Nationality**: United States (Citizen of the United States of America)
- **Education**: University of Texas at Austin; United States Naval Test Pilot School
- **Known for**: Being the fourth human to walk on the Moon and for his career as a space-themed painter
- **Employer(s)**: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); United States Navy (as a military officer and test pilot)
- **Field(s)**: Aerospace exploration, military aviation, fine art painting

## Contributions
- **Apollo 12 Mission (1969)**: Served as the Lunar Module Pilot, landing the spacecraft on the Moon and conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs) alongside Commander Pete Conrad. This mission demonstrated the capability to land precisely on a specific lunar target.
- **Space Art**: Following his retirement from NASA, Bean dedicated his career to painting scenes of space exploration. He utilized actual lunar dust mixed with acrylics to create authentic textures in his artwork, aiming to convey the visual and emotional experience of space to the public.
- **Military Aviation**: Served as a test pilot, evaluating and certifying the performance of new or modified aircraft for the United States Navy.
- **NASA Service**: Selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 3 in 1963, contributing to the early era of the American space program.

## FAQs
**What was Alan Bean's primary role in the space program?**
Alan Bean was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1963 and served as the Lunar Module Pilot for the Apollo 12 mission in 1969. During this historic flight, he became the fourth person to walk on the lunar surface.

**How did Alan Bean transition from astronaut to artist?**
After retiring from NASA, Bean pursued a second career as a painter, focusing exclusively on space themes. He famously incorporated actual moon dust into his paintings to add authenticity and texture to his depictions of lunar landscapes.

**What military background did Alan Bean have before becoming an astronaut?**
Before joining NASA, Bean served as a military officer in the United States Navy. He trained as a test pilot at the United States Naval Test Pilot School, where he flew new aircraft to evaluate their performance.

**Which institutions was Alan Bean affiliated with during his education and career?**
Bean attended the University of Texas at Austin for his higher education. His professional affiliations included the United States Navy, the United States Naval Test Pilot School, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

**What honors and awards did Alan Bean receive?**
Bean was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame. He also received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to the space program.

## Why They Matter
Alan Bean's significance lies in his dual legacy as a pioneer of human spaceflight and a unique interpreter of the space age through art. As the fourth human to walk on the Moon, he played a critical role in the Apollo program's success, proving that precise lunar landings were possible. His transition to painting provided a rare, first-person artistic perspective on the lunar environment, bridging the gap between technical space exploration and public imagination. Without his artistic contributions, the visual record of the Apollo era would lack the personal, emotional depth that his work provides. His life exemplifies the versatility of the astronaut corps, showing how technical expertise can translate into cultural expression.

## Notable For
- **Fourth Human on the Moon**: Walked on the lunar surface during the Apollo 12 mission in November 1969.
- **NASA Astronaut Group 3**: Selected in 1963 as part of the third group of astronauts chosen by NASA.
- **Space Artist**: Created a unique body of work using moon dust mixed with paint to depict space scenes.
- **Test Pilot**: Served as a qualified test pilot for the United States Navy, evaluating aircraft performance.
- **Hall of Fame Inductee**: Honored in both the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.
- **NASA Distinguished Service Medal**: Recipient of this prestigious award for his service to the agency.
- **Military Officer**: Served with authority in the United States armed forces before his civilian space career.
- **University of Texas Alumnus**: Educated at the University of Texas at Austin.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Alan LaVern Bean was born on March 15, 1932. He was a citizen of the United States of America. His educational foundation included studies at the University of Texas at Austin, a public university located in Austin, Texas. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued specialized military aviation training at the United States Naval Test Pilot School, a post-graduate professional education establishment in the USA founded in 1945.

### Military and Test Pilot Career
Before his selection as an astronaut, Bean served as a military officer in the United States Navy. In this capacity, he held a position of authority within the armed forces. He also worked as an aircraft pilot, controlling aircraft in flight. A significant portion of his early career was dedicated to his role as a test pilot. In this role, he flew new or modified aircraft to evaluate and certify their performance during test flights. This experience in high-stakes aviation prepared him for the rigors of spaceflight.

### NASA Career and Apollo 12
In 1963, Alan Bean was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 3. This group was selected in 1963 and consisted of fourteen astronauts. He was employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), an American space and aeronautics agency established in 1958. His most notable achievement occurred during the Apollo 12 mission. On November 14, 1969, Bean signed his name as a crew member of the mission. He served as the Lunar Module Pilot, a role that involved piloting the lunar module to the surface of the Moon. This mission made him the fourth person in history to walk on the Moon. His signature from this date is a recorded historical artifact.

### Artistic Career and Legacy
After retiring from NASA, Bean reinvented himself as a painter. He is recognized as an artist who practices painting. His work focused on depicting the space environment, drawing from his unique experiences as an astronaut. He is often cited as a painter who brought the reality of the Moon to canvas. His artistic contributions are distinct in the field of space art, as he utilized actual lunar dust in his paintings to create authentic textures. This technique allowed him to capture the specific visual qualities of the lunar surface that other artists could not replicate.

### Awards and Recognition
Alan Bean's contributions were recognized with several prestigious honors. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, an aviation museum and learning center established in 1962. He was also honored by the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame, a facility at Kennedy Space Center dedicated to honoring American astronauts. Additionally, he received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, an award established in 1959 to recognize exceptional contributions to the agency. These awards reflect his dual impact on both aviation and space exploration.

### Personal Details and Identifiers
Alan Bean passed away on May 26, 2018. He was a human being, a member of the species Homo sapiens. His full name was Alan LaVern Bean. He held various identification numbers and codes, including the ISNI 0000000114923525, VIAF 60929989, and GND 12468212X. He is associated with the Wikimedia Commons category "Alan Bean." His Wikipedia title is "Alan Bean." He is listed in the Library of Congress with the control number n2004007753. His professional identifiers include the ORCID 0000-0002-1492-3525 and the IMDb ID nm0063765. He was a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 3 and was affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin and the United States Naval Test Pilot School.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2018/05/27/l-astronaute-americain-alan-bean-est-mort_5305250_3382.html)
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6. [Source](https://www.nmspacemuseum.org/inductee/alan-l-bean/)
7. [Space Hall Inducts 14 Apollo Program Astronauts. El Paso Times. 1983](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29964158/el_paso_times/)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
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20. [Source](https://library.si.edu/art-and-artist-files)