EDGAR DEAN MITCHELL (CAPTAIN, USN, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born September 17, 1930, in Hereford, Texas, but considers 

Artesia, New Mexico, his hometown. Has resided in Palm Beach County, Florida 

since 1975. Divorced. Four daughters: Karlyn Mitchell, Ph.D Elizabeth Kendall, 

Kimberly Mitchell, Mary Beth Johnson. Two sons: Paul Mitchell, Adam Mitchell. 

Nine grandchildren.

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from Carnegie 

Mellon University (1952); Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics from the U.S. 

Naval Postgraduate School (1961); Doctorate of Science degree in Aeronautics and 

Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1964; Honorary 

Doctorates from New Mexico State University (1971), Carnegie-Mellon University

(1971), University of Akron (1979) and Embry-Riddle University (1996).

ORGANIZATIONS: Member, Society of Experimental Test Pilots (1966--), American Institute of Aeronautics and 

Astronautics (1963-1983), International Platform Association (1975-1983), Explorers Club (1972--), World Futures Society

(1975--), New York Academy of Sciences (1975-1983). Honorary member, Radio and Television Correspondents Association

(1972--).

HONORS AND AWARDS: Presidential Medal of Freedom. USN Distinguished Service Medal. NASA Distinguished 

Service Medal. NASA Distinguished Service Award. Three NASA Group Achievement Awards. USAF Aerospace Research 

Pilot School, First in Class Award. Medal of the City of New York. American Astronautical Society, Flight Achievement 

Award. Arnold Air Society, John F. Kennedy Award for Space Exploration. Carnegie Mellon University Alumni, Outstanding 

Man of the Year (1972). Kappa Sigma, Man of the Year Award (1972). Adventurers Club, Gold Medal Award for 

Exploration. Explorers Club, Lowell Thomas Award for Explorations in Human Consciousness (1980). Drexel University, 

Engineering and Science Award for Explorations in Consciousness (1974). Space Hall of Fame (inducted 1979). Astronaut 

Hall of Fame (inducted 1995). Nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize (2005).

EXPERIENCE: Mitchell’s experience includes Navy operational flight, test flight, engineering, engineering management, 

and experience as a college instructor. Mitchell came to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston after graduating first in his 

class from the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School where he was both student and instructor.

He entered the Navy in 1952 and completed his basic training at the San Diego Recruit Depot. In May 1953, after completing 

instruction at the Officers’ Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island, he was commissioned as an Ensign. He completed 

flight training in July 1954 at Hutchinson, Kansas, and subsequently was assigned to Patrol Squadron 29 deployed to Okinawa.

From 1957 to 1958, he flew A3 aircraft while assigned to Heavy Attack Squadron Two deployed aboard the USS BON 

HOMME RICHARD and USS TICONGEROGA; and he was a research project pilot with Air Development Squadron Five 

until 1959. From 1964 to 1965 he served as Chief, Project Management Division of the Navy Field Office for Manned 

Orbiting Laboratory. 1965-1966 was spent at the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School in preparation for astronaut 

duties, and certification as test pilot. Mitchell served as an instructor in advanced mathematics and navigation theory for 

astronaut candidates. 

NASA EXPERIENCE: Mitchell was a member of Group 5, selected for astronaut training in April 1966. He served as a 

member of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 9 and as backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 10.

On January 31, 1971, serving as lunar module pilot, Dr. Edgar Mitchell, then a U.S. Navy Captain, embarked on a journey 

through outer space of some 500,000 miles that resulted in becoming the sixth man to walk on the moon. That historic journey

terminated safely nine days later on February 9, 1971 and was made in the company of two other men of valor--Admiral Alan 

Shepard and Colonel Stuart Roosa. 

- more -

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
Maneuvering their lunar module, “Antares,” to a landing in the hilly upland Fra Mauro region of the moon, Shepard and 

Mitchell subsequently deployed and activated various scientific equipment and experiments and collected almost 100 pounds 

of lunar samples for return to Earth. Other Apollo 14 achievements included: first use of Mobile Equipment Transporter 

(MET); largest payload placed in lunar orbit; longest distance traversed on the lunar surface; largest payload returned from the 

lunar surface; longest lunar surface stay time (33 hours); longest lunar surface EVA (9 hours and 17 minutes); first use of 

shortened lunar orbit rendezvous techniques; first use of color TV with new vidicon tube on lunar surface; and first extensive 

orbital science period conducted during CSM solo operations.

In completing his first space flight, Mitchell logged a total of 216 hours and 42 minutes in space.

He was subsequently designated to serve as backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 16.

In 1972, Mitchell retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: Dr. Mitchell founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences in 1973, one year after retiring from 

government service. It is a foundation organized to sponsor research in the nature of consciousness. He also is co-founder of 

the Association of Space Explorers, an international organization founded in 1984 for all who share the experience of space 

travel. Both are educational organizations developed to provide new understanding of the human condition resulting from the 

epoch of space exploration.

Dr. Mitchell is author of Psychic Exploration: A Challenge for Science, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1974, a major reference book; and 

The Way of the Explorer Putnam 1996. He is also author and/or interviewee in dozens of articles in both professional and 

popular periodicals.

As a lecturer, Dr. Mitchell delivers 25 to 50 addresses annually on cosmology, human potential and topics relating to the 

evolving future of the species on planet Earth. His most current lecture series discusses the implications of recent discoveries 

in science as they affect our individual lives in the home, the workplace and society-at-large. He is a frequent guest on radio 

and television talk shows and has been featured in several documentary films relative to his interests.

Dr. Mitchell continues to write, speak and do research for a number of new books. He also is a consultant to a limited number 

of corporations and foundations.

SEPTEMBER 2007

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