Richard Gordon, a renowned test pilot in the U.S. Navy, experienced a mix of triumph and disappointment in his illustrious career.
Initially, Gordon was overlooked for the 1962 astronaut selection, but he was later accepted for the 1963 selection, paving the way for his journey to the cosmos.
Gordon's maiden voyage into space took place in September 1966, as the Pilot of Gemini XI, alongside Pete Conrad, the Command Pilot. During their three-day mission, Gordon made two historic spacewalks, and the duo set an altitude record of 850 miles, a testament to their exceptional piloting skills.
Fast forward to November 1969, Gordon flew as the Command Module Pilot of Apollo 12, the second lunar landing mission, alongside Commander Pete Conrad and Lunar Module Pilot Alan Bean. As they orbited the moon at an altitude of 60 miles, Conrad and Bean descended to the Ocean of Storms, leaving Gordon to navigate the vast expanse of space.
In 1971, Gordon served as the backup commander of Apollo 15, and although he was initially slated to command Apollo 18, the mission was tragically cancelled due to NASA budget cuts. Gordon ultimately retired from both NASA and the Navy in 1972, bringing an end to an extraordinary chapter in his life.
