Apollo 12 – Michael G. Neece

Apollo Astronaut Alan Bean has died

Al Bean with Tony Jenzano at Morehead Planetarium, 1970Feb01, courtesy of Carol Jenzano, copyright 2018

Chapel Hill, NC May 26, 2018 by Michael G. Neece The fourth man to walk on the surface of the moon, Alan Bean, took ill on May 11 and today has died. It was widely misreported that he died yesterday, and as much as this writer wishes this were a continuation of misreporting, it sadlyContinue reading “Apollo Astronaut Alan Bean has died”

Part of the Club

Pete Conrad, Commander of Apollo 12, with Carol Jenzano, daughter of Morehead Planetarium director Tony Jenzano. (1965, Courtesy of Carol Jenzano)

I traveled to Carol Jenzano’s home this past weekend to conduct more research about Morehead Planetarium’s astronaut training program in the 1960’s and 70’s. I drank from a fire hose of stories, documents, and photographs, and supped on finally-solved mysteries and good company. Carol has kept much of her father’s memorabilia from when he wasContinue reading “Part of the Club”

Astronaut Dick Gordon has died

In March of 1964, Dick Gordon first set foot in Morehead Planetarium for training, coming back six other times over the next four years. He worked with trainers in Morehead’s dome and classrooms, learning how to align his spacecraft with the stars. This training aided him in piloting Gemini 11 and eventually circling the Moon asContinue reading “Astronaut Dick Gordon has died”