CHARLES CONRAD, JR., (CAPTAIN, USN, RET.) 

NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED)

PERSONAL DATA: Born June 2, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Died 

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

Conrad, who divorced his first wife, is survived by his wife Nancy, three sons and 

seven grandchildren. A son preceded him in death.

EDUCATION: Attended primary and secondary schools at Haverford School in 

Haverford, Pennsylvania, and the Darrow School, New Lebanon, New York; 

received a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Princeton 

University in 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.

ORGANIZATIONS: Fellow, American Astronautical Society; New York Academy of Science; American Institute of 

Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

SPECIAL HONORS: 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.

AEROSPACE AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Following graduation from Princeton University in 1953, Mr. 

Conrad entered the Navy and became a naval aviator. He then attended the Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, 

Maryland, where he was assigned as a Project Test Pilot. Mr. Conrad also served as a flight instructor and performance 

engineer at the Test Pilot School. After completing his tour of duty at Patuxent River, he served as instructor pilot in F4H 

Phantoms on VF-121 and was then assigned duty in VF-96 on board USS Ranger.

In September of 1962, Mr. Conrad was selected as an astronaut by NASA. His first flight was Gemini V, which established 

the space endurance record and placed the United States in the lead for man-hours in space. As commander of Gemini XI, 

Mr. Conrad helped to set a world's altitude record. He then served as commander of Apollo XII, the second lunar landing. 

On Mr. Conrad's final mission, he served as commander of Skylab II, the first United States Space Station.

In December 1973, after serving 20 years (11 of which were as an astronaut in the space program), Mr. Conrad retired from 

the U.S. Navy to accept a position as Vice President - Operations and Chief Operating Office of American Television and 

Communications Corporation (ATC). At ATC, he was responsible for both the operation of existing systems and the 

national development of new cable television systems. In 1976, he resigned from ATC to accept the position of Vice 

President and consultant to McDonnell Douglas Corporation. In 1978, he became Vice President of marketing and was 

responsible for all commercial and military sales for Douglas Aircraft Company. Mr. Conrad then became Senior Vice 

President-Marketing in 1980. He was appointed as Senior Vice President Marketing and Product Support in 1982 and 

1984, was named Staff Vice President of International Business Development for McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

- more -

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
In 1990, Mr. Conrad became Staff Vice President - New Business for McDonell Douglas Space Company, where he 

participated in research and development for the Space Exploration Initiative. Included for research and development in 

the Space Exploration Initiative are the construction of Space Station Freedom, the return to and colonization of the Moon, 

and the exploration of Mars. Mr. Conrad contributed his expertise on SSTO, the Single-Stage-To-Orbit and return space 

transportation system called the Delta Clipper. In 1993, Mr. Conrad became Vice President-Project Development.

Mr. Conrad died July 8, 1999 from injuries sustained in a motor cycle accident in Ojai, California.

JULY 1999