AB

Alan Bean

44quotes

Alan Bean


Full Name and Common Aliases


Alan LaVern Bean was an American astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot, and artist.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on November 15, 1932, in Wheeler, Texas; passed away on May 26, 2018, at the age of 85.

Nationality and Profession(s)


American | Astronaut, Naval Aviator, Test Pilot, Artist

Early Life and Background


Alan Bean was born to Floyd and Minnie Bean in a small town near Amarillo, Texas. He grew up during World War II, an experience that would later influence his interest in aviation and space exploration. Bean's family moved frequently due to his father's work as a mechanic for the Continental Oil Company. This led him to attend several different schools before graduating from high school. After serving in the United States Navy, Bean graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Academy in 1955.

Major Accomplishments


Bean was selected as an astronaut by NASA in October 1963 and flew on four space missions between 1969 and 1973. His first mission was Apollo 12, where he served as lunar module pilot alongside Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon. During this mission, Bean stepped out of the lunar module onto the moon's surface twice, collecting over 75 pounds of samples.

In addition to his work on Apollo 12, Bean also flew on Apollo 13, although not landing on the moon due to a critical malfunction in an oxygen tank. He was part of the recovery team that helped bring the astronauts safely back to Earth after their mission was aborted.

Notable Works or Actions


Bean's artistic talents were discovered early by NASA officials who recognized his ability to capture detailed images with a camera while on space missions. After retiring from NASA, Bean pursued painting full-time and became an accomplished artist, exhibiting his work at galleries in the United States and abroad.

Impact and Legacy


Alan Bean played a significant role in advancing human exploration of space during the late 1960s and early 1970s. His dedication to scientific research and artistic expression left a lasting impact on both fields. As one of the few astronauts who walked on the moon, he brought back invaluable data from these missions.

Bean's work as an artist also allowed him to share his experiences in space with a wider audience through vibrant paintings that captured the beauty and wonder of the universe.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Alan Bean is remembered not only for his groundbreaking contributions to space exploration but also for the inspiring story he left behind. As one of 12 people who walked on the moon, his experiences offer valuable lessons about perseverance, teamwork, and pushing beyond human boundaries.

Quotes by Alan Bean

Alan Bean's insights on:

I believe that 100, 200, 300 years from now, all these paintings will be around because they're the first paintings of humans doing things off this Earth.
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I believe that 100, 200, 300 years from now, all these paintings will be around because they're the first paintings of humans doing things off this Earth.
AB
Just like some day, say, 1000 years from now, when we can go to another star and see a planet, that's what we would do because we will know how to cure cancer, cure birth defects, so we would teach them.
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Just like some day, say, 1000 years from now, when we can go to another star and see a planet, that's what we would do because we will know how to cure cancer, cure birth defects, so we would teach them.
AB
I do not believe that anyone from outer space has ever visited the Earth.
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I do not believe that anyone from outer space has ever visited the Earth.
AB
I feel blessed every day when I'm working on these paintings... the first artist to ever go to another world and try to tell stories that people care about.
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I feel blessed every day when I'm working on these paintings... the first artist to ever go to another world and try to tell stories that people care about.
AB
We're going through all the checklist, getting in position to make the entry and all that... And I think either Pete, Dick, or I said, 'Well, I wonder how those parachutes are doing?' And then someone else said... 'Well, we'll find out in about 55 minutes!'
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We're going through all the checklist, getting in position to make the entry and all that... And I think either Pete, Dick, or I said, 'Well, I wonder how those parachutes are doing?' And then someone else said... 'Well, we'll find out in about 55 minutes!'
AB
I had the good fortune and the gift to be one of the 12 men to walk on the moon.
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I had the good fortune and the gift to be one of the 12 men to walk on the moon.
AB
At one-sixth gravity in that suit, you have to move in a different way.
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At one-sixth gravity in that suit, you have to move in a different way.
AB
I was more of a person that liked flying and operating high-performance machinery, and I liked that, the skill it took, the intelligence it took to do that.
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I was more of a person that liked flying and operating high-performance machinery, and I liked that, the skill it took, the intelligence it took to do that.
AB
If you remember back to some of the television we saw, Buzz and Neil on the Moon with Apollo 11. Black and white. They were bouncing around a lot. They were really bouncing on their tip toes. Quite fun to do.
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If you remember back to some of the television we saw, Buzz and Neil on the Moon with Apollo 11. Black and white. They were bouncing around a lot. They were really bouncing on their tip toes. Quite fun to do.
AB
It was hard for me to believe. I would look down and say, 'This is the moon, this is the moon,' and I would look up and say, 'That's the Earth, that's the Earth,' in my head. So, it was science fiction to us even as we were doing it.
"
It was hard for me to believe. I would look down and say, 'This is the moon, this is the moon,' and I would look up and say, 'That's the Earth, that's the Earth,' in my head. So, it was science fiction to us even as we were doing it.
AB
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