DAVID R. SCOTT (COLONEL, USAF, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born June 6, 1932, in San Antonio, Texas. Married. Two 

children. Recreational interests include swimming, handball, skiing, and photography.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Western High School, Washington, D.C.; received a 

Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy and the degrees 

of Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics and Engineer in Aeronautics and 

Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; awarded an Honorary 

Doctorate of Astronautical Science from the University of Michigan in 1971. He has 

graduated from the Air Force Experimental Test Pilots School and Aerospace 

Research Pilots School.

ORGANIZATIONS: Scott is a fellow of the American Astronautical Society, 

Associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and 

member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi and Sigma Gamma Tau.

SPECIAL HONORS: Two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, two Air Force 

Distinguished Service Medals, the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Force Association’s David C. Schilling 

Trophy and the Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1971.

EXPERIENCE: Scott graduated fifth in a class of 633 at West Point and subsequently chose an Air Force career. He 

completed pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, in 1955 and then reported for gunnery training at Laughlin Air Force 

Base, Texas, and Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

He was assigned to the 32d Tactical Fighter squadron at Soesterberg Air Base (RNAF), Netherlands, from April 1956 to July 

1960. Upon completing this tour of duty, he returned to he United States for study at the Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology.

He retired from the Air Force in March 1975 with the rank of Colonel and over 5600 hours of flying time.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Scott was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963.

On March 16, 1966, he and command pilot Neil Armstrong were launched into space on the Gemini 8 mission--a flight 

originally scheduled to last three days but terminated early due to a malfunctioning thruster. The crew performed the first 

successful docking of two vehicles in space and demonstrated great piloting skill in overcoming the thruster problem and 

bringing the spacecraft to a safe landing.

Scott served as command module pilot for Apollo 9, March 3-13, 1969. This was the third manned flight in the Apollo series, 

the second to be launched by a Saturn V, and the first to complete a comprehensive earth-orbital qualification and verification 

test of a “fully configured Apollo spacecraft.” The ten-day flight provided vital information previously not available on the 

operational performance, stability, and reliability of lunar module propulsion and life support systems. Highlight of this 

evaluation was completion of a critical lunar-orbit rendezvous simulation and subsequent docking, initiated by James McDivitt 

and Russell Schweickart from within the lunar module at a separation distance which exceeded 100 miles from the 

command/service module piloted by Scott. The crew also demonstrated and confirmed the operational feasibility of crew 

transfer and extravehicular activity techniques and equipment, with Schweickart completing a 46-minute EVA outside the lunar 

module. During this period, Dave Scott completed a 1-hour stand-up EVA in the open command module hatch photographing 

Schweickart’s activities and also retrieving thermal samples from the command module exterior. Apollo 9 splashed down less 

than four miles from the helicopter carrier USS GUADALCANAL.

- more -

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
In his next assignment, Scott was designated backup spacecraft commander for Apollo 12.

He made his third space flight as spacecraft commander of Apollo 15, July 26 - August 7, 1971. His companions on the flight 

were Alfred M. Worden (command module pilot) and James B. Irwin (lunar module pilot). Apollo 15 was the fourth manned 

lunar landing mission and the first to visit and explore the moon’s Hadley Rille and Apennine Mountains which are located on 

the southeast edge of the Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains). The lunar module, “Falcon,” remained on the lunar surface for 66 

hours and 54 minutes (setting a new record for lunar surface stay time) and Scott and Irwin logged 18 hours and 35 minutes 

each in extravehicular activities conducted during three separate excursions onto the lunar surface. Using “Rover-1” to 

transport themselves and their equipment along portions of Hadley Rille and the Apennine Mountains, Scott and Irwin 

performed a selenological inspection and survey of the area and collected 180 pounds of lunar surface materials. They 

deployed an ALSEP package which involved the emplacement and activation of surface experiments, and their lunar surface 

activities were televised using a TV camera which was operated remotely by ground controllers stationed in the mission control 

center located at Houston, Texas. Other Apollo 15 achievements include: largest payloads ever placed into earth and lunar 

orbits; first scientific instrument module bay flown and operated on an Apollo spacecraft; longest distance traversed on lunar 

surface; first use of a lunar surface navigation device (mounted on Rover-1); first subsatellite launched in lunar orbit; and first 

extravehicular (EVA) from a command module during transearth coast. The latter feat performed by Worden during three 

excursions to “Endeavour’s” SIM-bay where he retrieved film cassettes from the panoramic and mapping cameras and reported 

his personal observations of the general condition of equipment housed there. Apollo 15 concluded with a Pacific Ocean 

splashdown and subsequent recovery by the USS OKINAWA.

He has logged 546 hours and 54 minutes in space, of which 20 hours and 46 minutes were in Extravehicular Activity. He is 

only one of three Astronauts who have flown both earth orbital and lunar Apollo Missions.

DECEMBER 1975

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.