Russell L. Schweickart is an American astronaut and former fighter pilot who flew on the Apollo 9 mission in 1969. He was born on October 25, 1935, in Neptune, New Jersey.
Schweickart received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1957 and a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT in 1964. He joined the Air Force after college and became a fighter pilot, serving in the Vietnam War.
In 1963, Schweickart was selected to be an astronaut by NASA. He served as the backup pilot for the Gemini 9 mission in 1966 and then served as the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 9 mission in 1969. During the mission, he performed the first spacewalk of the Apollo program, testing the suits and equipment that would be used for future moon landings.
After the Apollo 9 mission, Schweickart left NASA and returned to MIT, where he served as an adjunct professor and worked on various projects related to space exploration and technology. He also served on the board of directors of various companies and organizations, including the B612 Foundation, which is focused on asteroid detection and deflection.
Schweickart is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Harmon Trophy. He is widely regarded as a pioneering astronaut and an important figure in the history of space exploration.