Edgar Mitchell, who 45 years ago became the sixth man to walk on the moon, died on Thursday (Feb. 4), on the eve of his lunar landing anniversary. He was 85.
The lunar module pilot on board NASA's Apollo 14 mission in 1971, Mitchell died peacefully in his sleep after a short illness at a hospice facility located near his home in West Palm Beach, Fla., his family confirmed.
For nine hours over the course of two moonwalks, Mitchell explored the Fra Mauro highlands with the commander of Apollo 14, Alan Shepard. Flying to and from the moon with Stuart Roosa on the command module Kitty Hawk, Mitchell and Shepard achieved the third U.S. moon landing on Feb. 5, 1971.
A moment of silence is signified by an entry with no words and only a period.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53399 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-05-2016 04:16 PM
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the passing of Edgar Mitchell:
"On behalf of the entire NASA family, I would like to express my condolences to the family and friends of NASA astronaut Edgar Mitchell. As a member of the Apollo 14 crew, Edgar is one of only 12 men to walk on the moon and he helped to change how we view our place in the universe.
"Edgar spoke poetically about seeing our home planet from the moon saying: 'Suddenly, from behind the rim of the moon, in long, slow-motion moments of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue and white jewel, a light, delicate sky-blue sphere laced with slowly swirling veils of white, rising gradually like a small pearl in a thick sea of black mystery. It takes more than a moment to fully realize this is Earth ... home.'
"He believed in exploration, having been drawn to NASA by President Kennedy's call to send humans to the moon. He is one of the pioneers in space exploration on whose shoulders we now stand."
fredtrav Member
Posts: 1799 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
Posts: 759 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
posted 02-05-2016 02:00 PM
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FFrench Member
Posts: 3298 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002
posted 02-05-2016 02:00 PM
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R. Wandelt Member
Posts: 11 From: Registered: Jun 2015
posted 02-05-2016 02:01 PM
Was able to meet him about 4 years ago at a local private speaking engagement.
Very humble.
Sadly the Q&A session was dominated by UFO and alien inquiries.
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MSS Member
Posts: 1081 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
posted 02-05-2016 02:04 PM
RIP Edgar Dean!
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issman1 Member
Posts: 1142 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
posted 02-05-2016 02:05 PM
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lordolsen Member
Posts: 112 From: Denmark Registered: Jun 2010
posted 02-05-2016 02:10 PM
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DCCollector Member
Posts: 240 From: Washington, DC USA Registered: Dec 2006
posted 02-05-2016 02:12 PM
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cspg Member
Posts: 6376 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 02-05-2016 02:13 PM
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Wehaveliftoff Member
Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 02-05-2016 02:15 PM
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How many moonwalkers still alive? How many Apollo astronauts still alive? These past few months, heroes and respected artists have been "dropping like flies."
BMckay Member
Posts: 4106 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
posted 02-05-2016 02:18 PM
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apolloprojeckt Member
Posts: 1565 From: Arnhem, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2009
posted 02-05-2016 02:20 PM
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David C Member
Posts: 1460 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 02-05-2016 02:21 PM
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Spacefest Member
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posted 02-05-2016 02:26 PM
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cponcehdz Member
Posts: 29 From: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Registered: Feb 2004
posted 02-05-2016 02:26 PM
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4allmankind Member
Posts: 1128 From: Dallas TX Registered: Jan 2004
posted 02-05-2016 02:28 PM
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LM-12 Member
Posts: 4009 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 02-05-2016 02:31 PM
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rjurek349 Member
Posts: 1241 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002
posted 02-05-2016 02:31 PM
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Whizzospace Member
Posts: 110 From: San Antonio, TX Registered: Jan 2006
posted 02-05-2016 02:35 PM
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Tronplex New Member
Posts: 5 From: Ireland Registered: Aug 2015
posted 02-05-2016 02:36 PM
Apollo 14 is now the only flown mission where all members are dead.
Posts: 1482 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
posted 02-05-2016 02:45 PM
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ringo67 Member
Posts: 197 From: Seekonk, Mass., USA Registered: May 2003
posted 02-05-2016 02:51 PM
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Kite Member
Posts: 1163 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
posted 02-05-2016 02:53 PM
. RIP
Very sad news. Always appreciated the way he took the trouble to come to Featherstone after having a few weekls earlier been halfway across the Atlantic only to have to return to the USA through the Icelandic volcano dust.
East-Frisian Member
Posts: 682 From: Germany Registered: Apr 2005
posted 02-05-2016 02:54 PM
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Spoon Member
Posts: 155 From: Cumbria, UK Registered: May 2006
posted 02-05-2016 03:03 PM
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dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 02-05-2016 03:09 PM
quote:Originally posted by Wehaveliftoff: How many moonwalkers still alive?
Seven remaining: Aldrin, Apollo 11; Bean, Apollo 12; Scott, Apollo 15; Young and Duke, Apollo 16; and Cernan and Schmitt, Apollo 17.
OWL Member
Posts: 189 From: United Kingdom Registered: Aug 2007
posted 02-05-2016 03:19 PM
A true American Hero and free thinker.
RIP Edgar.
Delta7 Member
Posts: 1768 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
posted 02-05-2016 03:22 PM
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space1 Member
Posts: 951 From: Danville, Ohio Registered: Dec 2002
posted 02-05-2016 03:23 PM
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jasonelam Member
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posted 02-05-2016 03:24 PM
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rgarner Member
Posts: 1479 From: London, United Kingdom Registered: Mar 2012
posted 02-05-2016 03:27 PM
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carl walker unregistered
posted 02-05-2016 03:28 PM
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Jurg Bolli Member
Posts: 1241 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
posted 02-05-2016 03:29 PM
Very sad news.
Glint Member
Posts: 1146 From: New Windsor, Maryland USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 02-05-2016 03:29 PM
Sad, and also makes Apollo 14 the first Apollo mission whose entire crew is deceased, since Apollo 1.
posted 02-05-2016 01:56 PM
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