NASA Group 3

Pilot Astronauts

October, 1963

Aldrin, Buzz (Air Force)

Anders, William A. (Air Force)

Bassett, Charles A., II (Air Force)

Bean, Alan L. (Navy)

Cernan, Eugene A. (Navy)

Chaffee, Roger B. (Navy)

Collins, Michael L. (Air Force)

Cunningham, Walter (Marine Corps)

Eisele, Donn F. (Air Force)

Freeman, Theodore C. (Air Force)

Gordon, Richard F., Jr. (Navy)

Schweickart, Russell L. (Civilian)

Scott, David R. (Air Force)

Williams, Clifton C., Jr. (Marine Corps)

NASA Group 3 Background

By Cliff Lethbridge

With the two-astronaut Gemini program well under development, NASA prepared for the even more ambitious three-astronaut Apollo program, designed to carry astronauts to the Moon and back. This required even more astronauts, so a third request for astronaut candidates was issued.

Requirements for these astronaut candidates were identical to those selected in NASA Group 2. A total of about 400 astronaut candidates applied during the third draft, of which 14 were selected.