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posted 07-14-2013 02:35 PM               

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Dr. John Anthony "Tony" Llewellyn, who in 1967 was chosen as a scientist-astronaut by NASA and who resigned from the program a year later, died on July 2, 2013. He was 80.

Wales Online reported on Llewellyn's passing.

The Welsh astronaut who missed out on the chance of becoming one of the first men on the moon because he had problems learning to fly has died, aged 80.

Cardiff-born Dr John "Tony" Llewellyn resigned from NASA's spaceman corps in 1968, less than 12 months before the historic lunar landings which could have seen his name added to the cosmic annals of history.

In the role for just 12 months, Llewellyn took the torturous decision to opt out because he'd failed to master piloting jet aircraft "blindfolded" — a mandatory part of his training.

"Astronauts had to be supermen back then," said his 67-year-old brother Roger, who’d grown up with him and their other sibling David in the Adamsdown area of the capital.

"They'd black-out the cockpits and you'd have to rely on some sort of seventh sense about whether or not the plane was losing altitude, and if that didn’t kick in you'd be in trouble."

“My brother didn't have that instinct, but what he did have was a brilliant talent for chemistry and that’s the reason NASA gave him a job in the first place."

The family requests that condolences and memories be directed through Caring Bridge. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in his name to Metropolitan Ministries or Habitat for Humanities.

A moment of silence can be signified by a reply with no words and only a period.

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posted 07-15-2013 01:47 PM            

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quote:

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Originally posted by kyra:
RIP Dr. Llewellyn "Super Retro" of GT-10.

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John Anthony Llewellyn, 1933-2013, former astronaut, this thread.

John Stanley Llewellyn, 1931-2012, former flight controller.

RIP both of you.

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posted 07-21-2013 01:38 AM               

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Truly sorry to hear this. The "Excess Eleven" as they came to be known, was the first "whole group" of astronauts I really got started writing to, right after their selection announcement. I used my pure brilliance in tracking down addresses I could write to them to, congratulating them on their acceptance and then writing to their parents, congratulating them! I think I heard from every one back and was truly amazed, but I wanted to get to them before they became moonwalkers!

Rest in peace, my friend.

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posted 08-11-2013 01:45 PM            

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Another member of the first seven astronaut groups gone. RIP