PHOTOGRAPH ***Signed***

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Signed "Alan Bean" in black ink. Color NASA photograph measures 10" X 8" and is FINE condition. The reverse of the photograph states, "APOLLO 12 EVA - Astronaut Alan L. Bean, lunar module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 12 Extrevehicular activity on the Moon. This picture was taken by Astronaut Charles Conrad, Jr., commander. Here, Bean is using a fuel transfer tool to remove the fuel element from the fuel cask mounted on the Lunar Module's descent stage. The fuel element was then placed in the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, the power source for the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package which was deployed on the Moon by the two astronauts. The RTG is next to Bean's right leg. Astronaut Richard F. Gordon, Jr., command module pilot, remained with the Apollo 12 Command and Service Modules in lunar orbit while Conrad and Bean descended in the LM to explore the Moon." Alan Bean was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. He served as backup astronaut for the Gemini 10 and Apollo 9 missions. Captain Bean was lunar module pilot on Apollo 12, mans second lunar landing. In November 1969, Captain Bean and Captain Pete Conrad landed in the moons Ocean of Storms after a flight of some 250,000 miles. They explored the lunar surface, deployed several lunar surface experiments, and installed the first nuclear power generator station on the moon to provide the power source. Captain Richard Gordon remained in lunar orbit photographing landing sites for future missions. Captain Bean was spacecraft commander of Skylab Mission II (SL-3), July 29 to September 25, 1973. With him on the 59-day, 24,400,000 mile world record setting flight were scientist-astronaut Dr. Owen K. Garriott and Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Jack R. Lousma. Mission II accomplished 150% of its pre-mission forecast goals. On his next assignment, Captain Bean was backup spacecraft commander of the United States flight crew for the joint American-Russian Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. Captain Bean has logged 1,671 hours and 45 minutes in space of which 10 hours and 26 minutes were spent in EVAs on the moon and in earth orbit. Captain Bean has flown 27 types of military aircraft as well as many civilian airplanes. He has logged more than 7,145 hours flying time including 4,890 hours in jet aircraft. Captain Bean retired from the Navy in October 1975 but continued as head of the Astronaut Candidate Operations and Training Group within the Astronaut Office in a civilian capacity. Bean resigned from NASA in June 1981 to devote his full time to painting. He said his decision was based on the fact that, in his 18 years as an astronaut, he was fortunate enough to visit worlds and see sights no artists eye, past or present, has ever viewed firsthand and he hopes to express these experiences through the medium of art. He is pursuing this dream at his home and studio in Houston. Seller Inventory # 002774

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