Ronald Evans (astronaut)

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Ronald Evans
NASA astronaut
RankCaptain, USN
Time in space
12d 13h 52m
SelectionNASA Group 5 (1966)
Total EVAs
1
Total EVA time
1h 5m
MissionsApollo 17
Mission insignia
RetirementMarch 15, 1977

Ronald Ellwin Evans Jr. (November 10, 1933 – April 7, 1990) was an American

Command Module Pilot on Apollo 17 he was one of the 24 astronauts to fly to the Moon, and one of 12 people to fly to the Moon without landing
.

Before becoming an astronaut, Evans graduated with a

captain
, he retired from the Navy in 1976.

Evans was selected as an astronaut by NASA as part of NASA Astronaut Group 5 in 1966 and made his only spaceflight as command Module pilot aboard Apollo 17 in December 1972, the last crewed mission to the Moon, with Commander Gene Cernan and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt. During the flight, Evans and five mice orbited the Moon a record 75 times as his two crewmates descended to and explored the surface. He is the last person to orbit the Moon alone and, at 147 hours and 43 minutes, holds the record for the most time spent in lunar orbit. During Apollo 17's return flight to Earth, Evans performed an extravehicular activity (EVA) to retrieve film cassettes from the service module. It was the third "deep space" EVA, and is the spacewalk performed at the greatest distance from any planetary body. As of 2024, it remains one of only three deep space EVAs, all made during the Apollo program's J-missions. It was the final spacewalk of the Apollo program.

In 1975, Evans served as backup Command Module Pilot for the

Apollo–Soyuz Test Project mission. He worked on the development of the Space Shuttle
before retiring from NASA in March 1977 to become a coal industry executive.

Early life and education

Ronald Ellwin Evans was born on November 10, 1933, in

Highland Park High School in Topeka, where he served on the Student Council, and was the president of the Science Club. He was a member of the school American football team,[5] and was an All-Conference guard.[2] His other brother, Dale, secured a football scholarship to Kansas State University where he played college football, and later played professionally for the Denver Broncos. Later Dale served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps.[6]

Evans decided to study

junior year he was elected to the Sigma Tau, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi engineering honor societies. During his final summer break he worked in a glass factory to gain general engineering experience. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in June 1956.[7]

Navy

In a letter dated December 12, 1955, the Navy offered Evans a commission as an

Rear Admiral Frank P. Akers handed out certificates to Evans' class designating them as naval aviator. Pollom pinned his aviator wings on his uniform.[10]

VF-142 group photo from the USS Ranger 1959 Western Pacific cruise. Evans is in the back row, fourth from the left

Evans became a

North American FJ-3 Fury.[11] He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant (junior grade), and married Pollom at the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Topeka on December 22, 1957. They had two children: a daughter, Jaime Dayle, and a son, Jon.[12]

In January 1959, VF-142 boarded the brand new aircraft carrier

Grumman F9F Cougar, although he was able to fly the F8U Crusader once a week or so to stay familiar with it.[15]

An F8U Crusader is launched from the USS Ticonderoga in July 1965

In 1962, Evans entered the U.S.

aeronautical engineering in 1964.[1]

After two years ashore, Evans rejoined VF-124 to re-qualify for aircraft carrier duty.[25] He was then assigned to Fighter Squadron 51 (VF-51), once again flying the F8U Crusader. The ship was already engaged in a combat tour of the Western Pacific on board the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga, an older sister ship of the Oriskany, so Evans was flown to Naval Air Station Cubi Point in the Philippines, where he collected an F8U Crusader that had been set aside for him, and flew out to the ship.[26] The Ticonderoga returned to San Diego in December 1964. Evans was appointed the squadron maintenance officer, a position usually held by a lieutenant commander, and soon after received a spot promotion to that rank.[27]

The Ticonderoga departed for its next Western Pacific cruise in September 1965, but this was not a normal peacetime cruise; the Ticonderoga was assigned to Dixie Station off the coast of South Vietnam, from whence aircraft carriers launched strikes in support of American and South Vietnamese troops engaged in combat operations in the Vietnam War. During a training exercise, Evans collided with his wingman, Lieutenant Roy E. Miller. Evans had to land at Tan Son Nhut Air Base because his aircraft was too badly damaged to be recovered by an aircraft carrier, and it had to be shipped back to the United States for repairs. It was seen by his wife, who recorded a duet of Side by Side with Miller's wife, adding to the ribbing Evans received from his shipmates. Within days he was flying combat missions over South Vietnam. Ordnance was in short supply, so in order to inflate the number of sorties flown, aircraft seldom carried full bomb loads. Evans' aircraft was holed by ground fire.[27]

The USS Ticonderoga recovers the Apollo 17 spacecraft in 1972

On September 10, 1965, NASA announced that it was recruiting another group of pilot astronauts.[28] Once again, the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) contacted Evans and asked if he wanted to volunteer, which he did. On November 12, a package of forms was received by his wife Jan in San Diego, with a cover letter that explained that BUPERS had recommended Evans to NASA. She contacted Slayton, and explained that Evans was on a deployment in the Western Pacific, and was unlikely to be able to return the forms before the December 1 deadline. Slayton reassured her that this would be taken into consideration. Evans managed to mail the forms on December 7. A few weeks later a letter arrived informing Evans that once again he had made the short list, and was invited to come to Brooks Air Force Base for another round of tests.[29]

Ticonderoga was back on Dixie station by January 28, and Evans was flying attack missions against

Navy Commendation Medal. On March 26, he received word that he had been selected for astronaut training.[30] He was one of the nineteen astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966.[31]

Evans completed a seven-month tour of duty flying combat missions. In his Navy service, Evans had logged 2,084 hours of flight time, including 4,600 hours in jet aircraft.[32] He had flown 112 combat missions. In a ceremony on the Ticonderoga's flight deck on April 1, he was awarded gold 5/16 inch stars in lieu of his second, third, fourth and fifth Air Medals. He flew his last mission, a combat air patrol, on April 21.[33]

NASA

Main article: Apollo 17

Support crew

The Ticonderoga left Dixie station on April 21, 1966, and returned to San Diego on May 16. Evans preceded it, after taking a mail plane to the Philippines, and then a

Manned Spacecraft Center.[34]

With his wife Jan in 1972

In earlier astronaut groups, the senior astronaut had assumed the role of

Ed Givens and Jack Swigert, two fellow members of his astronaut group. The astronauts assigned to this duty regarded it as the lowest rung on the ladder.[36] Usually low in seniority, they assembled the mission's rules, flight plan, and checklists, and kept them updated, and worked in the simulators developing procedures, especially those for emergency situations. They also stood by during spacecraft tests on the launch pad, and set up the cockpit, ensuring that all the switches were in the right positions.[37][38] In this role, Evans worked inside the Apollo spacecraft for a couple of hours on January 26, 1967. The support crew then flew back to Houston. On landing at Ellington Air Force Base they were informed that the prime crew had died in a fire inside the spacecraft.[39]

When planning for Apollo missions resumed, Evans, Givens and Swigert were assigned to the support crew of

capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for Apollo 7, Apollo 11 and Apollo 14.[42]

Backup crew

Under the rotation scheme developed by Slayton, the role of backup commander (CDR) for Apollo 13 would have been

Stu Roosa as CMP. Evans' selection as a member of the Apollo 14 backup crew was formally announced by NASA on August 6, 1969.[46] He was still a serving naval officer, and on October 1, 1969, was promoted to commander.[44]

Harrison H. Schmitt

That the backup crew of Apollo 14 would in due course become the prime crew of Apollo 17 as per the rotation scheme was far from certain. The absence of science astronauts on the prime or backup crews of Apollo 13 and Apollo 14 caused adverse reaction in the media, and there was pressure from the scientific community to send a scientist to the Moon.

Vance Brand as backup CMP and Richard Gordon as backup CDR. Under the rotation scheme, they could expect to become the prime crew for Apollo 18.[48]

When Apollo 18 was cancelled in September 1970, the scientific community pressed NASA to assign Schmitt, a geologist, to Apollo 17 rather than a pilot with non-professional geological training. This left Slayton with the question of who would fill the two other Apollo 17 slots: the rest of the Apollo 15 backup crew or the Apollo 14 backup crew (except for Engle). Gordon's crew's experience as backup to Apollo 15 was more relevant for the proposed Apollo 17 mission, as Apollo 15 was a similar J-class mission using the Extended Lunar Module, capable of three-day stays on the Moon, and carrying the Lunar Roving Vehicle. Nor was support for assigning Cernan to Apollo 17 unanimous within NASA; Tom Stafford, the acting chief of the Astronaut office with Shepard assigned to Apollo 14, strongly supported Cernan, with whom he had flown on Gemini 9A and Apollo 10, as did Shepard; but Gordon was supported by James McDivitt, the manager of the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office, and Pete Conrad, who had been Gordon's CDR on Apollo 12. Cernan crashed a Bell 47G helicopter into the Indian River near Cape Canaveral during a training exercise in January 1971; the accident was attributed to pilot error, as Cernan had misjudged his altitude before crashing into the water. Slayton dismissed concerns about Cernan's judgment. After being offered command of the mission, Cernan objected to Engle's omission from the crew, but acquiesced when it became clear that Schmitt would fly on Apollo 17 with or without Cernan. The fate of the CMP was tied to that of his CDR.[49][50][51]

The prime crew of Apollo 17 was publicly announced on August 13, 1971.[52] The original backup crew for Apollo 17, announced at the same time, was the crew of Apollo 15: David Scott as CDR, Alfred Worden as CMP and James Irwin as LMP;[52] but they were removed because of their roles in the Apollo 15 postal covers incident.[53] On May 23, 1972, they were replaced with Young and Duke from the crew of Apollo 16, as backup CDR and LMP respectively, and Roosa from the Apollo 14 crew as backup CMP. Thus, Evans served as Roosa's backup on Apollo 14, and Roosa as Evans' backup on Apollo 17.[54][55][56][57] The two men studied geology with Farouk El-Baz, often on their own time. They became close friends. They would talk about the Moon and the mission at length, and often end with a few beers.[58] Their training was directed at developing the ability to make observations and take photographs of features from orbit. They would fly over geological features in NASA Northrop T-38 Talon jets and tape record their observations and take photographs. These would then be critiqued by geologists.[59] Farouk sometimes flew with Evans or Roosa in the T-38s or small United States Geological Survey aircraft.[60]

Prime crew

Evans on Apollo 17

While suited up for the Apollo 17 mission, but before his helmet was attached, Evans smoked a last cigarette. His crewmates had urged him to quit, and Schmitt suggested that he could take advantage of the two-week mission to go

SIM bay.[1] Cernan and Schmitt referred to Evans as "Captain America", after the comic book character.[64]

The orbit of the CSM having been modified to an elliptical orbit in preparation for the LM's departure and eventual descent, one of Evans' first solo tasks in the CSM was to circularize its orbit such that the CSM would remain at approximately the same distance above the surface throughout its orbit. Thereafter, he observed ten visual targets that had been assigned prior to launch, all of which were successfully identified during the course of the mission. He focused on surface features as well as the

solar corona at "sunrise," or the period of time during which the CSM would pass from the darkened portion of the Moon to the illuminated portion when the Moon itself mostly obscured the sun. To photograph portions of the surface that were not illuminated by the sun while Evans passed over them, Evans relied in conjunction on exposure and Earthlight. Evans photographed such features as the craters Eratosthenes and Copernicus, as well as the vicinity of Mare Orientale, using this technique.[65] According to the Apollo 17 Mission Report, Evans was able to capture all scientific photographic targets, as well as some other targets of interest.[66]

trans-Earth EVA
on Apollo 17

The instruments in the SIM bay functioned without significant hindrance during the orbital portion of the mission, though the two antennas of the lunar sounder as well as the mapping camera encountered minor issues. The indicator on the instrument panel for the extension of one of the sounder's antennas was not functional and the second antenna suffered an apparent stall during its extension. Despite these technical difficulties, both antennas were deployed fully and the sounder achieved its planned observational purpose. Similarly, the extension and retraction of the mapping camera took longer than planned (about four minutes, longer than the nominal two) and, though deployment and retraction was not otherwise hindered, the use of this piece of equipment was reduced to avoid exhausting it by overuse.[67]

Evans was also responsible for piloting the CSM during the orbital phase of the mission, maneuvering the spacecraft to alter and maintain its orbital trajectory. In addition to the initial orbital recircularization maneuver shortly after the LM's departure, one of the final significant solo activities Evans performed in the CSM in preparation for the return of his crewmates from the lunar surface was the

plane change maneuver. This maneuver was meant to align the CSM's trajectory to the eventual trajectory of the LM to facilitate rendezvous in orbit. Evans fired the SPS engine of the CSM for about 20 seconds in successfully adjusting the CSM's orbital plane.[67] He holds the record of most time spent in lunar orbit: 147 hours, 43 minutes and 37.11 seconds.[68][69]

Hot diggety dog!

Evans, upon taking his first steps in space.[70]

On the way back to Earth, Evans completed a one-hour, five-minute, 44-second extravehicular activity, during which he made three trips to the scientific instrument module (SIM) bay to retrieve lunar sounder film, the panoramic camera, and three camera mapping cassettes, and completed a personal inspection of the equipment bay area.[68] For this Evans donned Cernan's lunar visor assembly with its red stripe, and the top part of his lunar backpack. He set up the movie camera and TV camera to record the EVA, allowing it to be televised live.[71] After a flight of 301 hours, 51 minutes and 59 seconds, America splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, where it was retrieved by the Ticonderoga.[72] To the dismay of his Apollo 17 crewmates, the first thing that Evans did when he got on board was ask one of the crew for a cigarette.[73]

Astronauts normally received a spot promotion on the successful completion of a mission; Evans' promotion to captain was made official in January 1973. He received his Navy astronaut wings from John Warner, the United States Secretary of the Navy. The Apollo 17 crew were fêted at parties and receptions. They were driven around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Super Bowl VII, they met Elvis Presley in Las Vegas and were hosted by President Richard Nixon at the White House and Camp David. Cernan and Evans refused to meet with Muhammad Ali because of the boxer's 1967 refusal to serve in the U.S. armed forces, but accepted hospitality from Frank Sinatra.[74]

Evans and his wife Jan (left) visit the White House with President Richard Nixon, Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt and their partners

Evans was later backup CMP for the 1975

Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission.[69] The Russian he had learned years before came in handy, but was limited. Asked to give a speech at a cosmonauts' dinner event, he recited Humpty Dumpty in Russian, which his hosts found hilarious.[75] Evans retired from the U.S. Navy as captain on April 30, 1976, with 21 years of service, but remained active as a NASA astronaut involved in the development of NASA's Space Shuttle program.[69][1] He served as a member of the operations and training group within the Astronaut Office, responsible for launch and ascent phases of the Space Shuttle program.[69] He retired from NASA on March 8, 1977.[76]

Later years

Jan's parents had retired to live in

Sperry Flight Systems, which made electronic components and cockpit instrumentation for the Space Shuttle, as its Director of Space Systems Marketing. But the president of the company who had brought him in died, and Evans had a falling out with his successor. He left to form his own consulting company, and formed a lucrative partnership with a Japanese entrepreneur who was building a theme park devoted to space exploration.[77]

Evans died in his sleep of a heart attack at his home in Scottsdale on April 7, 1990, at the age of 56.[78][79] He was buried at the Valley Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden in Paradise Valley, Arizona, where Jan would leave a red rose on the anniversaries of his birth, marriage, spaceflight and death.[80]

Awards and honors

Evans was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1973,[81] the Johnson Space Center Superior Achievement Award in 1970, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal in 1973, Navy Astronaut Wings, eight Air Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing service.[82] He received a University of Kansas Distinguished Service Citation in 1973, and was named Kansan of the Year in 1972.[83] He was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983,[82][84] and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on October 4, 1997.[85][86]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Biographical data: Ronald E. Evans (Captain, USN ret.) NASA Astronaut (deceased)" (PDF). NASA. April 1990. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Shayler & Burgess 2017, pp. 43–45.
  3. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 4.
  4. ^ "Astronauts With Scouting Experience". IEEE. July 31, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  5. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 8–12.
  6. ^ "Obituary of Jay Dale Evans". Hedges Scott Funeral Homes. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  7. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 13–23.
  8. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 24–31.
  9. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 31–34.
  10. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 35–39.
  11. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 42–43.
  12. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 47, 49, 56, 70.
  13. ^ "USS Ranger (CVA 61) WestPac Cruise Book 1959". www.navysite.de.
  14. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 61, 63, 65.
  15. ^ a b Bowman 2021, pp. 67–69.
  16. ^ Cernan & Davis 2000, p. 55.
  17. ^ Morse & Bays 1973, p. 61.
  18. ^ Burgess 2013, p. 199.
  19. ^ Cernan & Davis 2000, pp. 52–53.
  20. ^ a b Bowman 2021, pp. 78–81.
  21. ^ Burgess 2013, p. 204.
  22. ^ "14 New Astronauts Introduced at Press Conference" (PDF). NASA Roundup. Vol. 3, no. 1. NASA. October 30, 1963. pp. 1, 4, 5, 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 17, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  23. ^ Burgess 2013, pp. 208–210.
  24. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 82, as told by Evans to Andy Chaikin in 1986.
  25. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 86.
  26. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 91–92.
  27. ^ a b Bowman 2021, pp. 98–105.
  28. ^ "NASA Recruiting Additional Pilot-Astronauts" (PDF). NASA Roundup. Vol. 24, no. 4. September 10, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  29. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 109–111.
  30. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 113–121.
  31. ^ Thompson, Ronald (April 5, 1966). "19 New Spacemen Are Named". The High Point Enterprise. High Point, North Carolina. p. 2A – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Newly-Selected Group of 19 Astronauts" (PDF). NASA Roundup. Vol. 5, no. 13. April 15, 1966. pp. 4–5. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  33. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 124–125.
  34. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 127–134.
  35. ^ Shayler & Burgess 2017, pp. 157–158.
  36. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 147.
  37. ^ Hersch, Matthew (July 19, 2009). "The fourth crewmember". Air & Space/Smithsonian. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  38. ^ a b c Brooks, Grimwood & Swenson 1979, p. 261.
  39. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 150–152.
  40. ^ Shayler & Burgess 2017, pp. 170–172.
  41. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 155.
  42. ^ a b Brooks, Grimwood & Swenson 1979, p. 375.
  43. ^ Cernan & Davis 2000, pp. 228–230.
  44. ^ a b Bowman 2021, pp. 191–193.
  45. ^ Cernan & Davis 2000, pp. 238–240.
  46. ^ "News Release Announcing Crews for Apollo 13 and 14" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. August 6, 1969. 69-56. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  47. ^ Brooks, Grimwood & Swenson 1979, pp. 220–221.
  48. ^ Brooks, Grimwood & Swenson 1979, p. 219.
  49. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 215–221.
  50. ^ Kraft 2002, pp. 346–348.
  51. ^ "News – Released at NASA Headquarters" (PDF). Manned Spacecraft Center: Public Information Offie. October 18, 1971. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  52. ^ a b "Apollo 17 Crew Announcement" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. August 13, 1971. 71-56. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  53. ^ Phinney 2015, p. 130.
  54. ^ Orloff & Harland 2006, pp. 507–508.
  55. Toledo Blade
    . Associated Press. May 24, 1972. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  56. ^ Slayton & Cassutt 1994, p. 279.
  57. ^ Riley, John E. (May 23, 1972). "Release No. 72-113: Astronauts Mitchell and Irwin to Retire" (PDF). NASA: Manned Spacecraft Center. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  58. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 202–203.
  59. ^ Phinney 2015, p. 134.
  60. ^ Phinney 2015, p. 145.
  61. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 219–220.
  62. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 237.
  63. ^ Chaikin 1995, p. 532.
  64. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 136.
  65. ^ Mission Report, pp. 10-34–10-38.
  66. ^ Mission Report, p. 10-37.
  67. ^ a b Mission Report, p. 10-38.
  68. ^ a b Orloff 2004, p. 250.
  69. ^ a b c d Howell, Elizabeth (April 23, 2013). "Ron Evans: Apollo 17 Command Module Pilot". Space.com. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  70. ^ "Ron Evans quotation". Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  71. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 287–289.
  72. ^ Orloff 2004, p. 251.
  73. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 301.
  74. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 307–313.
  75. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 320–321.
  76. ^ Riley, Jack (March 8, 1977). "Astronaut Evans to Leave NASA" (PDF) (Press release). 77-17. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  77. ^ Bowman 2021, pp. 329–335.
  78. ^ Date of death according to death certificate issued by the State of Arizona on April 27, 1990, Certificate Number 169985, signed by G. E. Bolduc, MD.
  79. ^ Strom, Stephanie (April 9, 1990). "Ronald E. Evans, 56, Astronaut Who Piloted Apollo 17 Mission". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  80. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 344.
  81. ^ "Historical Recipient List" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  82. ^ a b "Military service". New Mexico Museum of Space History. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  83. ^ Bowman 2021, p. 111.
  84. ^ Sheppard, David (October 2, 1983). "Space Hall Inducts 14 Apollo Program Astronauts". El Paso Times. El Paso, Texas. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  85. ^ "Ronald E. Evans". Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  86. ^ Meyer, Marilyn (October 2, 1997). "Ceremony to Honor Astronauts". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.

References

External links

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