Saturday, July 20th, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of human kind’s first footsteps on the moon. First, Neil Armstrong, and then Buzz Aldrin, descended on to the lunar surface and made a human mark on a frontier that, 50 years later, is still the furthest from home we have ever been.
Of the 12 people who walked on the moon during 9 Apollo Missions from 1968 to 1972, one, David Scott, was perhaps most comfortable in a weightless environment. That’s because Scott was a competitive swimmer in high school and college, swimming at the University of Michigan on a scholarship before going on to earn All-America honors as a swimmer at Army (West Point).
He was later a part of the Apollo 15 mission, where he served as commander. Over the course of the mission, he would walk on the moon 3 times; in his career, he logged more than 20 hours in EVA (space-walk) time, both on the moon and in orbit.
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He wasn’t back up commander he was the Commander!
You’re right! He was backup commander on Apollo 12, and commander on 15. Updated above!
And don’t forget the contribution of Fred Schmidt who won bronze (200 fly) and gold (4 x 100 medley relay) medals at the Tokyo Games in 1964 and then as a US Navy Seal was in the water securing the Apollo capsules when they returned from their missions.
Tradition of the leaders and best. Go Blue!
Dave Scott swam 1 year at Michigan and then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1954. He was an All American in 1954 as a member of the 300 yd medley relay (no fly yet!)
Buzz Aldren, the second man to walk on the moon, was also a West Point graduate and little known fact, swam on the plebe (freshman) team his first year at Army!
50 years later and we still don’t have a firm date on when someone will ever do it again.
Mars or bust!
Okay cool that he walked on a moon and whatever but can he go under 1:30 in a 200 free and is his name Dean Farris? Didn’t think so
So interesting! Thanks for a cool post.
This is cool. Most of the Apollo astronauts tended to be shorter since they were pilots. Swimmers tend to be taller, well not all of them.
Interesting observation. I saw the pilot capsule of Vostok1 (Yuri Gagarin). You can sit there only putting your head between your knees.
Where my boy Justin Wright at!?!
(That’s right…that 5’ 6” beast of a man is at worlds right now!)