Apollo 14 Crew: Edgar Mitchell

While Granite Staters might first think of Alan Shepard when they think of Apollo 14, he was not the only astronaut to walk on the Moon during that mission. Edgar Mitchell was the pilot of the lunar module and spent 9 hours working on the Moon with Alan Shepard on February 5 & 6, 1971. 

As part of our celebration of Apollo 14’s 50th Anniversary, we’re posting information on Alan Shepard, the Apollo Program, and NASA.

The crew of Apollo 14- Edgar Mitchell is on the right. Image courtesy of NASA

Prior to his launch with Apollo 14, Edgar Mitchell was a pilot for the US Navy serving in Japan and aboard aircraft carriers before receiving training as a test pilot. During his time in the Navy, he also received a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering and a Sc.D in aeronautics and astronautics. In preparation for being an astronaut, he completed Aerospace Research Training School and was an instructor for other astronaut candidates.  

Mitchell was selected as an astronaut in 1966. He was originally assigned as back up lunar module pilot for Apollo 10, served as lunar module pilot for Apollo 14, and then was back up lunar module pilot again for Apollo 16. During Apollo 14 he and Alan Shepard completed the longest walk by humans on the Moon.